MARCH 4, 2023 MEMBERSHIP MEETING

TOPIC: Michigan Black Homesteaders Connected to the Homestead Act of 1862

PRESENTER: Dr. Shelley Murphy

Michigan Black Homesteaders refers to African American individuals and families who settled in Michigan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these homesteaders were attracted to the state due to its abundant land and opportunities for farming. They were also drawn by the Homestead Act of 1862, which provided free land to anyone who was willing to settle on and improve it. The talk on Michigan Black Homesteaders will cover the experiences of two families as they established homes and farms in Michigan.

FEBRUARY 4, 2023 MEETING

In honor of African American History Month, our February membership meeting was a book discussion on The Ledger and The Chain (How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America) by Joshua D. Rothman.  

Thanks to the State Clubs co-chairs, the facilitators, the reporters and all who participated in our book discussion.  

Here is a National Archives video discussion of the book with the author.

 

FHWGS IN THE NEWS

Member Oya Amakisi’s journey of discovery was featured on WXYZ.

At our January 7, 2023, membership meeting, Oya presented: Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History; Tracing Nontraditional Women in Your Lineage.

At our November 5, 2022, meeting we were treated to an excellent presentation:

USING AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS IN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH – SPECIAL Q&A SESSION WITH TIM PINNICK

NICKA SEWELL-SMITH WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER FOR OUR OCTOBER 1 , 2022 MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Our October meeting speaker was noted genealogist, Nicka Sewell-Smith.  Her presentation was African American Genealogy Case Studies: Combining Traditional Genealogy With DNA.  

“Researching the enslaved is beyond possible, but it’s not one size fits all. In this session, learn about a myriad of research strategies and documents outside of the slave schedules that confirm slaveholders and name their formerly enslaved.”

THE FRED HART WILLIAMS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY’S ANNUAL KARL HAMILTON FIELD TRIP, TOOK PLACE JUNE 11, 2022, 10:30 AM. THE EVENT WAS VIRTUAL AGAIN THIS YEAR.  DETROIT’S HISTORIAN JAMON JORDAN PRESENTED

BEYOND BLACK BOTTOM:

THE HISTORIC NORTHEND NEIGHBORHOOD

On 2/5/2022 We Held Our African American History Program:

Let Us Give Praise To The Foot Soldiers Who Came Before Us!

Presenter: Valma Burroughs, The Safe House Black History Museum

On 11/6/2021 We Held Our 2021 Margaret McCall Thomas Ward History Maker Awards

This year we honored two of our own with our History Maker Award.  Named for our founder, it is the Society’s highest honor. The honorees were Immediate Past President, Leslie C. Strong Williams and Board Member and former treasurer, Shirley J. Burke. 

                 Leslie C. Strong Williams

Longest serving president of FHWGS, Family Historian, Descendant of UGRR Conductor, Lecturer, Historical Society of Michigan Volunteer, Retired Museum Curator and Outreach Coordinator.

                              Shirley J. Burke

Longest serving FHWGS treasurer, Family Historian, Nat’l Museum of African American History & Culture Donor, Wright Museum Volunteer, Retired Educator.

The awards program was held Saturday, November 6, 2021. You may view it here:

Click here

The guest speaker for our October 2021, meeting was genealogist Robyn N. Smith.  Her presentation was – Fruit of the Earth: Using Deed Records to Uncover Your Family.

Land Records are one of the best records for researching family history, but their legal language can intimidate even seasoned researchers. In this talk, Robyn describes the various ways that land records can help our genealogical research on our ancestors and the communities where they lived.

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.

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.

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:

Remembering Dr. Walter Webb 

 
We are saddened to report the passing of Walter D. Webb, DDS.  Dr. Webb was a Life Member. He joined the Society in 1995.  He was a former FHWGS vice-president and long-time board member and presenter.  He was chair of the mailing committee and served for many years at the check-in table.  
 
This picture is from the 2017 Annual Karl Hamilton Field Trip to the University of Michigan’s Bentley Library in Ann Arbor.  During our visit, Archivist Brian Williams retrieved Dr. Webb’s original U of M application complete with a photo of the young perspective student.  It was truly a memorable moment.       
 
 
WWebbUofM4

First FHWGS Virtual Meeting Held 9/12/2020

 
 
 
The Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society held their first virtual meeting on September 12, 2020.  Members were notified in the Society’s August newsletter of two practice sessions for those unfamiliar with Zoom.  The September meeting was the Society’s Annual Meeting which was postponed from May due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Over 50 members attended our first virtual meeting.  Our speaker was the Honorable State Senator Adam Hollier, District 2, Michigan.  Members who missed the meeting can view it in the Members section of this website. 
 
 

Membership Meetings to Resume Online

The Detroit Public Library closed in mid-March at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  As a result, our April and May membership meetings were canceled.  The library has a reopening plan, however the date that group meetings will resume at the library is yet to be determined.  So, until we are able to resume in person meetings, the Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society will conduct our meetings online.  Instructions for joining the online meeting will be sent to FHWGS members.
 

Passing of FHWGS member Ola Mae Spinks

 
Beloved member Ola Mae Spinks passed away June 16, 2020 at the age of 106.  She was a retired librarian who among her many accomplishments was helping to organize the Slave Narratives at the U. S. Library of Congress.  Our prayers to her family in the loss of one of our truly phenomenal elders who helped preserve our history for all generations to come.
 

FHWGS Board Members featured

 FHWGS Vice President Omer Jean Winborn and Board Member Cheryl Garnett were recently interviewed on Michigan Radio about African American Genealogy.  Cheryl  and Omer Jean are co-founders of the Washtenaw County African American Genealogy Society.  Here is a link to the interview:
 
They were also featured in Blac Detroit Magazine 

February 2020 Membership Meeting

2/1/2020
State Clubs meeting.  Genealogy 101 Part 2, Case Study: Evan Chaney

January 2020 Membership Meeting

 
 
January 4, 2020 – Show & Share presentations and exhibits.  Previews from our upcoming 40th Anniversary book, Telling Our Stories: A Collection of Family History Narratives.
 
 
 
 
 
 




11/2/2019 Special Event with Kenyatta Berry

Photos courtesy of Carl and Jacqui Hollier 

 

 

FHWGS 40TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT

 

“A Conversation with Kenyatta Berry: Uncovering Your Ancestry” in Detroit
Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.
at the Detroit Public Library, Main Branch
5201 Woodward Avenue
Old Fine Arts Room, 3rd Floor
 
Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society, the first genealogical society in the State of Michigan dedicated to the research and preservation of African-American history, presents a special program, in collaboration with Source Booksellers,  in honor of the Society’s 40th Anniversary featuring nationally recognized genealogist, author, television host and Detroit native Kenyatta Berry.  
 
Berry is author of the new book The Family Tree Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncovering Your Ancestry and Researching Genealogy.
 
Join us for this exciting opportunity to enjoy a “Conversation with Kenyatta D. Berry,” co-host of the PBS series Genealogy Roadshow.  Kenyatta will be in Detroit to talk about genealogy, family history, and her new book, The Family Tree Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncovering Your Ancestry and Researching Genealogy. Copies of the book will be on sale at the event, beginning at 10:00 a.m., for $19.99 each plus tax. Cash or credit cards will be accepted. No checks, please!
 
The Family Tree Toolkit is designed to help genealogists navigate the sometimes overwhelming, sometimes treacherous, sometimes exhilarating pathways to finding ancestors. From how and where to begin, to what records are available online and in repositories, from what to do once you find the information, to how to share your story, and (of course DNA) discoveries.
 
Kenyatta D. Berry is a professional genealogist, entrepreneur and attorney with more than 20 years of experience in genealogical research and writing. She began her genealogical journey with research at the State Library of Michigan in Lansing while in law school. A native of Detroit, Berry graduated from Bates Academy, Cass Technical High School, Michigan State University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She has deep roots in Detroit, the city in which her ancestors have lived since the 1920s.
 
It all takes place on Saturday, November 2, at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library in Detroit’s Cultural Center. Doors open at 10:00 a.m.
 
The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited.  Advance registration is required.
 
 
 
Membership Meetings Postponed
FROM MARCH 2020
 
In compliance with the guidance issued by the State of Michigan, and due to the closure of the Detroit Public Library, our April 4th and May 2nd 2020, membership meetings have been postponed.  Our April program, Black Loyalists, has been rescheduled to our September meeting.  Our May 2, 2020, election has been rescheduled to our September meeting.  Our History Maker Awards and Anniversary Celebration have been rescheduled to our October meeting.
 
The FHWGS Board of Directors will continue to take action required to keep our members safe while we endeavor to keep our members engaged in our mission of researching and preserving African American Family History during this challenging time.
Presentation at Chesterfield Twp Library
On Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 1:00 PM, FHWGS Board members Cheryl Garnett and Omer Jean Winborn will be speaking at the Chesterfield Township Library.  The presentation is titled; Telling African American and African Canadian Stories.  The Library is located at 50560 Patricia, Chesterfield, MI 48051.
 
October 2019 Membership Meeting
 
October 5, 2019
Board member Cheryl Garnett discussed her research into her family history and how four diffent branches of her family tree escaped enslavement on the underground railroad and found freedom in Ontario Canada.
September 2019 Membership Meeting
 
September 7, 2019
 
Our September meeting topic was Genealogy 101 A Case Study: Evan Chaney.  Omer Jean Winborn and Evan Chaney took us though the step-by-step process of researching Evan’s family history including completing pedigree charts, research tools, websites and DNA results.  This was Part 1 of the presentation to be continued at the February 2020 meeting.
June 2019 Karl Hamilton Field Trip
 
 Lenawee County Historical Museum
 
Black Fire Winery
 
 
June 8, 2019
This year the annual Karl Hamilton Field Trip was to the Lenawee County Historical Museum and the Black Fire Winery.  At the museum, we viewed the exhibit, Anti-Slavery and the Underground Railroad in Lenawee County.  Historian Ray Lennard guided us through the exhibit and gave us a bus tour of sites in Lenawee County related to the Underground Railroad.  We ended the trip at the Black Fire Winery, the only African-American owned winery in Michigan.  Owner Michael Wells, talked about his background and the realization of his dream of owning a winery.
May 2019 Membership Meeting
 
May 4, 2019 
 
At our annual meeting the election of officers was held, the 40th anniversary book committee held one-on-one submission reviews and the state clubs committee provided online research tips.  Special thanks to Lillian R. Holland for serving on the FHWGS Board of Directors for seven terms (pictured at the sign-in table).
May 2, 2019
The Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society was honored by the Michigan Genealogical Council at their May 2, 2019 Delegate meeting in recognition of our upcoming 40th Anniversary
 
  Pictured l-r: Katherine Wilson, President of MGS, Omer Jean Winborn, MGC Delegate & FHWGS V.P., Shaun Thomas, FHWGS President, Barbara Curtindale, MGC Awards Chair.
Photo courtesy of Rodger Moffat, Michigan Genealogical Council 
Finding Your Roots Screening & Program
 
April 11, 2019  
Finding Your Roots Screening and Panel Discussion presented by Detroit Public TV at the Detroit Public Library.  Pictured: Dr. Deborah Abbott (panelist/professional genealogist), Leslie C. Williams (moderator/Immediate Past President FHWGS),  De Witt S. Dykes Jr.,(panelist/associate professor & first president of FHWGS). Also pictured sisters of actress, S. Epatha Merkerson who was featured in the episode.
April 2019 Membership Meeting
 
April 6, 2019
Navigating Online Research Sites.  Evan Chaney – fhwgs.org, Shaun Thomas – Ancestry.com, Leslie Williams – Family Search, Jackie Downs – Storycorps.org, Shirley Burke – Facebook.com (Pictured), Cheryl Garnett – www.ourontario.ca (Pictured), Carmen Leslie-Stevens various Pan Caribbean sites, Omer Jean Winborn – various sites including library.uncg.edu/slavery.