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For many African Americans, the 20th century began a long painful journey to becoming whole again. From Birth of a Nation and Jim Crow laws to the Civil Rights Movement and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it took some time before many African Americans could turn their attention from the collective need to advocate for freedom and equality to the more emotionally difficult task of tracing familial separation. While some African Americans had been involved in annual family reunion traditions dating back decades, many other families had become separated over the years and lost track of their relatives and family members.

 

In October 1976, author Alex Haley’s release of his fictional account of his ancestor’s journey based on genealogy research debuted at #5 on NY Times Bestseller’s list – before rising to # 1 by January of 1977 – in less than 5 months. The novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family would later win Haley a Pulitzer Prize and the adoration of the African American community and other communities of peoples of African heritage. With the critical success of the adaptation of the book to a nationally televised mini-series, “Roots” initiated an avalanche of researchers curious and excited to trace their ancestors’ migratory footsteps from the South. 

 

In Philadelphia, the newly organized African American Historical and Cultural Museum at 7th and Arch Streets had been flooded with requests for genealogical information from people seeking information on their ancestors. Dr. Rowena Stewart, Director of the museum at the time, partnered with Archivist, Stan Arnold, to attempt to handle the massive amounts of requests. Despite his best efforts, he was besieged with calls for assistance in conducting genealogical research far beyond the museum’s capacity to help.

What happens next becomes the reason why the African American Genealogy Group exists today.

A Timeline of AAGG Events

September 1988

An Auspicious Beginning

To meet the demands of the local community, Dr. Rowena Stewart asks Stan to organize a genealogy group under the auspices of the museum. John Logan joins Stan Arnold and Carolyn Williams as the third member of the organizing group. Together, with Dr. Stewart, they founded the African American Genealogy Group referred to as AAGG.
September 1988
Early January 1989

A Call to Action

An invitational letter and press release was sent to members of the museum’s master mailing list.
Early January 1989
January 24, 1989

The First Meeting

AAGG's very first meeting was attended by 40 individuals, where they voted to elect the following officers to serve for one year: Carolyn Williams, President; John Logan, Vice President; Evelyn Bundick, Secretary; and Stan Arnold, Treasurer.
January 24, 1989
November 14, 1989

A New Organization in Crisis

An emergency business meeting was held to inform the membership of a financial crisis at the museum and that the museum would no longer be able to offer financial assistance to AAGG.
November 14, 1989
December 9, 1989

A Concert is Held

To meet this financial challenge, membership dues were increased, and a jazz concert, featuring Carolyn Williams as a vocalist, was performed at the museum to benefit AAGG. An annual auction was established and members have been faithful in donating and purchasing items throughout the years. Other financial improvement efforts included workshops, seminars, honorariums, and corporate donations.
December 9, 1989
Fall 1990

Gene News is Released

A newsletter was established with William Wormley as editor. Volume 1, No. 1 was issued in the fall of 1990 under the title “African American Genealogy Group of the African American Historical and Cultural Museum. Andria Wimberly designed a brochure for publicity and information and Gwendolyn Johnson Winfrey edited the winter 1993 newsletter with a brief name change to “Prints and Pedigrees”. Later our newsletter adopted the name “Gene News”. Brian Lancaster, a member of the museum graphics staff, created our logo, a tree within a thumbprint.
Fall 1990
May 1994

The Beginning of a Partnership

Negotiations with the Germantown Historical Society for archival storage space begin and by June, a letter of agreement was signed with the director, Barbara Silberman, allowing us to store our records in their facility in exchange for volunteer services.
May 1994
June 1996

The End + New Beginnings

We held our last meeting at the African American Historical and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia.
June 1996