Poignant and moving beyond measure: the newspaper advertisements placed by formerly enslaved people looking for loved ones from all over the United States can be packed with genealogical researchable information. The names of family members left behind, the names of enslavers, and places of enslavement often feature in these adverts. The emotion and longing behind their desire to re-connect with long-lost family due to slavery leap out in so many of the adverts that were placed.In our research, we have found ads which date from 1863 to 1902. Newspapers like Philadelphia's Christian Recorder, the newspaper of the AME Church; New Orleans' Black Republican, Nashville’s The Colored Tennessean, Charleston's South Carolina Leader, the Free Men's Press of Galveston, Texas, and Cincinnati's The Colored Citizen represent a handful of papers which ran these advertisements.While the language used is sometimes sparse, the ads represent the deep family ties that endured through slavery, the Civil War, and beyond slavery - despite the best effort of enslavers to sever those ties. In some instances, the ads were placed decades after the family members had last been in contact.In this episode, we talk about the genealogical importance of these ads for African American genealogists…and where to find them.We were so pleased to welcome Prof. Judy Giesberg of Villanova University to the show. She is the director of the Digital project "Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery". We are excited to have her join the conversation.The Information Wanted website: http://informationwanted.org

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Our book clubs have become so popular that we can't wait for our third book chat!Black narratives of the Civil War are few. Susie King Taylor’s 1902 slender volume, "Reminiscences of My Life in Camp", is written with earnest simplicity. Her account records the wartime camp experience of a woman born into slavery who was a regimental laundress and nurse in the Thirty-third United States Colored Infantry for 4 years. Like our other book clubs, this book will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. And there are some surprising things Taylor says about the lived Black experience in America at the time of publication (1902) that directly link to events that have occurred in the very recent past. You can download the book for free via https://archive.org/details/reminiscencesofm00tayl

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The Society of the First African Families of English America is a lineage organization that seeks to inform its members and the public of the historical significance of the first Africans who arrived in English America, and how they forged the beginnings of our country’s democracy. The Society of the First African Families of English America promotes the relevance of these early beginnings and connects them to the present day.Ric Murphy joined us to answer questions about the Society as well as share the Society’s mission and strategic vision - and why this is so important.

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If you have ever wondered what goes into a county archives digitization project...you won't want to miss this show!Rosemary McFarland joined the show to talk about a records digitization project that is currently happening in Kentucky. This promises to be an interesting glimpse into how a state or a county prepares to digitize its history public records and other genealogically useful documents and resources.

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Those who have taken a DNA test know the initial thrill that’s felt when the results come in. We know the excitement in talking about our results with others…as well as sharing other family members’ results with them if we are managing their DNA test kits.Imagine taking our excitement about our results, or our family members’ results, to an entirely different level. How would you feel if you could see a virtual DNA result for an ancestor who lived long ago?Kevin Borland joined the show to talk about a company that has this as a feature: Borland Genetics. Kevin talked about other Borland tools, small cMs and DNA matches, and more.Borland Genetics is a unique autosomal DNA database where users create public DNA profiles for their deceased ancestors, using the tools and methods provided on the site. Subscribers will not only be matched against the DNA kits of living donors – they will typically find user-sourced reconstructed DNA kits for individuals who lived long ago. Kevin is the company’s Founder and President.

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Dr. Evelyn McDowell joined the show to talk about this special African American lineage society and the work that it does. Founded in 2011, it is a society for descendants of individuals enslaved in English colonial America and the United States of America from 1619-1865. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of our freed and enslaved ancestors.Sons & Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage: https://sdusmp.org/

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Louisiana-native Ja’el Gordon is a historian and genealogist who specializes in interpreting antebellum history, genetic genealogy, and conducting oral history interviews. Always staying true to her Louisiana Creole and Cajun heritage, Ja’el has over fifteen years of experience as a professional researcher with a special focus on the Deep South plantation history. Her expertise also includes repository research, collection curation, exhibition installations, transcribing and indexing, cemetery preservation, database management, and conducting genealogy and history-related workshops.

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Elizabeth’s DNA Journey began in 2016. After her mother was diagnosed with cancer, she decided to take a DNA test. She hoped the results would expedite the search for her ancestors. This was a journey she wanted to share with her mom. After sending DNA samples for herself and her parents, she discovered she had a different biological father. Over the next four years, her journey would have her find her birth father, nine siblings, and a living aunt and uncle. Elizabeth’s approach to engaging her new tribe was both a blessing and inspiring. Elizabeth is a Maryland resident. She is a retired Administrator in the industries of Public Accounting and Law. Since retirement, she commits much of her time in public service as a community leader and serves on the Board of Directors for the Park Heights Renaissance CDC in Baltimore Maryland. She enjoys coaching acquaintances of Generation X. She also aids many Baby Boomers on transitioning to Medicare. Her story will be the subject of a forthcoming book.

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We were so pleased to welcome Regina Griffin, Jasmine Redden, and Romona Burns to the show to talk about Mischlingskinders (Brown babies) - the children of African American servicemen and German women."Brown Babies: The Mischlingskinder Story" reveals the tragic lives of biracial, bicultural children who were unwanted, ignored and forgotten by enemy nations.Imagine being born in a place and time where racism and hatred run rampant. Your mother is white and German and your father is a black American serviceman."Brown Babies" tells the painful and personal story of a forgotten piece of world history through eyes of the people who suffered most: those who lived it.Emmy award-winning TV News Executive Producer Regina Griffin is the director, writer and producer of "Brown Babies". Regina and Romana are Mischlingskinders who talk candidly about their life experiences.Documentary link: https://www.brownbabiesfilm.com/

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We welcomed Lalita to the show to discuss her new book "Circumcision of a Wounded Heart: An Unjust Journey Due to Systemic Racism, Classism, & Oppression"Lalita Yeldell was in for the ride of her life when a terrible head-on collision ended in tragedy. With two people dead, one injured, and Lalita fighting for her life and unconscious for almost a month; she woke to a complete nightmare. With broken arms, legs, memory lost, a shattered pelvis, and a ruptured liver, it was just the beginning of her world being turned upside down. While the worst was yet to happen, Lalita had no idea of the hell she was about to face. With crooked cops, prosecutorial overzealousness, and an unjust legal and judicial system, Lalita landed in prison for crimes she did not commit. After trying to overcome obstacles of racism, classism, and oppression, she looked to God for answers through prayer, which led her to truth and understanding... helping her to find peace.We talked about the brokenness of the U.S. Judicial System - especially were women and women of color are concerned. And we discussed ways that this systemic injustice can be addressed pro-actively.Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Circumcision-Wounded-Heart-Systemic-Oppression/dp/1736672312

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