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OUR NEXT MEETING IS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

The Annual Karl Hamilton Field Trip Took Place Virtually This Year

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, the Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society resumed our traditional annual summer field trip.  Due to COVID-19 we cancelled our 2020 trip to the Amherstburg Freedom Center.  This year we visited the center virtually.  https://youtu.be/G4KABGKH2vc

2021 Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society Annual Meeting

At our annual meeting, Saturday, May 8, 2021, we conducted our election of officers.  Our program  followed the election. 

Guest Speaker: Dr. Deborah Abbott

Dr. Abbott took us through using FamilySearch.org.  There are many documents that are available on this free website that you may not be aware of if you do not know how to access them.  Dr. Abbott showed us how to get the most out of FamilySearch.org.

At our April 10, 2021, meeting, Melvin J. Collier presented- Breaking Down That Infamous 1870 Brick Wall

Melvin J. Collier is a noted genealogist who has appeared on NBC’s Who Do You Think You Are.  He is the author of; Mississippi to Africa: A Journey of Discovery, 150 Years Later: Broken Ties Mended, and Ealy Family Heritage: Documenting Our Legacy.  Using case studies, this presentation addresses research techniques and methodologies to trace African American ancestors during enslavement in the South.

FHWGS Sponsors HSM Local History Conference for the 38th Year

The Historical Society of Michigan’s Michigan in Perspective: Local History Conference, took place Friday, March 19 through Saturday, March 20, 2021. The Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society sponsored the session, Washtenaw County’s African-Canadian & African-American Family Migration Stories. The session was presented by FHWGS Vice President, Omer Jean Winborn and Board Member, Cheryl Garnett. This was the 38th year that FHWGS has been a sponsor of the event.

Congratulations to FHWGS Immediate Past President, Leslie Williams who received the History Hero Award from the Historical Society of Michigan.

2015 LHC Presenter Karen Hudson Samuels

 Submitted by Leslie C. Williams

On Tuesday, February 10, 2021, Karen Hudson Samuels passed away suddenly. She was a wonderful broadcast journalist, historian, and community activist. Karen worked for many years as the news director and was the driving force behind WGPR-TV receiving official designation on the National Park Service National Register of Historic Places. She also spearheaded successful efforts to transform the station into a museum preserving the station’s legacy as the first Black owned TV station in the country. A Michigan Historical Marker is on the station’s façade located at 3146 East Jefferson in Detroit.

Most recently, Karen assumed the role of Chairperson of the Detroit Historical Museum’s Black Historic Sites Committee. During her short tenure, she accomplished great things putting into motion applications for multiple African American sites to receive national historical recognition. The Birwood Wall, also known as the Detroit – Eight Mile Wall, recently received national designation, and others are pending. She also successfully completed the installation process for a Michigan Historical Marker in October 2020 at the original location for Detroit’s first African American newspaper “The Plaindealer” founded in 1883. It had been in storage for years and long forgotten until she learned about its existence.

Some of you may remember Karen as a presenter at the 2014 and 2015 Historical Society of Michigan’s Local History Conferences. She appeared in a segment for Black History Month on WDIV local news the day before her untimely passing..

I am proud to have been her friend and was honored when she invited me, in 2020, to serve on the Black Historic Sites Committee. Karen will be deeply missed but not forgotten.  Condolences and prayers are extended to her family.

Attached are pics taken by Dr. Dennis Woods at the Society sponsored LHC session in 2015. Karen Hudson Samuels, in the navy- blue suit, was the lead panel member. WGPR panel members: Joe Spencer is seated in the center and Amyre Makupson is on the right.

Just wanted to share her significant contributions and preserve her connections to FHWGS.

fhwgs lhc 2015 5

 

MGC Honors Leslie C. Strong Williams

The Michigan Genealogical Council has selected FHWGS immediate past president Leslie C. Strong Williams as the 2020 Lucy Mary Kellogg Awardee.  The announcement was made at the January FHWGS meeting and at the January Michigan Genealogical Council delegate meeting. The criteria for the award include the following:
  • Furthered the aims and the accomplishments of Michigan Genealogical Council.
  • Served in a position of leadership in a Michigan genealogical or historical organization.
  • Been involved in a major research project.
  • Authored or contributed to a notable publication.
  • Made a significant contribution to the genealogical or historical benefit of his/her community.
  • Made a significant contribution to the Michigan community.
  • Furthered the knowledge of genealogy through educational practices.
Leslie’s accomplishments include: She is the longest serving president of FHWGS from May 2006 – August 2017.  During her tenure we partnered with the Detroit Public Library to provide a free annual Family History Festival at the library from 2006 -2014.  She is a member of the planning committee for annual Michigan in Perspective: Local History Conference, served as a Trustee with the Historical Society of Michigan, member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of E. Azalia Hackley, Detroit Public Library, member Board of the Directors for the Friends of African American Art, Detroit Institute of Arts where she held the office of First Vice President; and Commissioner on the Detroit Recreation Department Advisory Board.  In partnership with New Detroit, Leslie spearheaded the genealogy element of their Genealogy Storytelling and Racial Healing Project which ran from 2016 – 2019.
 
Leslie is the first African American woman to receive this award. She is the second African American and second Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society member to be so honored.  The first was DeWitt Dykes, the first president of FHWGS.  He received the award in 1996.  List of award recipients.
 

FHWGS Meetings Continue Despite COVID-19

The Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society has been meeting online since September 2020.  Faced with the closure of the Detroit Public Library in March our meetings were canceled.  Over the summer the FHWGS board of directors met virtually to formulate contingency plans to safely continue our mission in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We decided to use a video conferencing service for our membership meetings.  We will continue to meet virtually for the foreseeable future.  At our November meeting Dr. Deborah Abbott presented; A Case Study Proving Oral History.  We took a photo with our masks on to commemorate the event.

Naomi Long Madgett, Poet Laureate

Detroit poet laureate, long time FHWGS member and 2014 Margaret McCall Thomas Ward History Maker awardee, Naomi Long Madgett has passed away at the age of 97.  The entire Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society family express our condolences to her family.
Naomi Long Madgett Photo 1

Detroit Public Library Reopening Limited Service

The Detroit Public Library has reopened with limited services.  The library has published their services available and instructions for accessing the available services on their website.  
 
Group meetings have not resumed at the library so the meetings of the Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society will continue online until further notice.  
 
The Burton Historical Collection is now taking appointments online.  Appointments must be made online at least 7 days in advance.  Onsite research is limited to only 1 hour.  Only one other person may accompany you on your appointment.  Use this form to request an appointment with the Burton Historical Collection: 
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