#5:  Schuyler Carter is a PhD candidate in Urban and Regional Science who began researching her genealogy when she was eighteen years old.  What began as a search for scholarships evolved into a way has she connected not only with her ancestors, but also her living family as she shares what she learns and with her community as she strives to honor the legacy of her ancestors.

In this episode Schuyler shares:

• Looking for ways to fund her college education got her started researching her family tree [2:43]
• Why she considers herself a millennial kin keeper [5:17]
• The story of her great-grandfather, Reverend L. W. Thomas, who founded the community of Summit, Oklahoma, and why she particularly connects with him [8:55]
• What she did that combined preserving a community’s heritage as well as preserving her great-grandfather’s story and how that continued his legacy [15:29]
• Her family’s long-standing relationship with African American fraternities and sororities and their mission of community building [18:13]
• Her advice for those beginning their genealogy journey [22:34]

About Schuyler:

Schuyler S. Carter is a native of Muskogee, Oklahoma. She holds a Masters degree in Urban Planning from Alabama A&M University. There she completed her thesis which focused on planning process engagement of Historically Black Towns within Eastern Oklahoma. She is currently a first year student pursuing a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science at Texas A&M University. Her major research interests include historically black settlements, museum curation and heritage/place preservation specifically related to the historic communities settled by former slaves, black indigeneity and Afro-Native American culture, rural/unincorporated area planning, museum curation, archive management, grassroots archives, black placemaking, museum curation, African American museum curation and advocacy. She has been acknowledged on multiple occasions for her ongoing preservation projects in Oklahoma related to historically black communities. 

Despite her young age, Schuyler has been doing family research since 2009. Prior to entering into her doctoral program, Schuyler has dedicated a significant amount of time researching her family history and was able to successfully nominate her great grandfather, Rev. L.W. Thomas’ home in Summit, Oklahoma to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In effort to expand the narrative of African Americans in America, Schuyler established the online Millennial Archivist brand. This platform is aimed at acknowledging the diversity in African American heritage as well as encouraging younger generations to take interest in researching their own histories to see how they impact their own lives.

Also Mentioned:

• FamilySearch.com
• GenWeb (usgenweb.com)
• Dawes Roll
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated

Connect with Schuyler:

Facebook: @themillennialarchivist
Instagram: @themillennialarchivist
YouTube: The Millennial Archivist

Episode Sponsor:
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