AAHGS-Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc.

AAHGS-Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. (AAHGS) strives to preserve African-ancestored family history, genealogy, and cultural diversity.
(1)

We honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Barbara Dodson Walker, who passed on March 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C. A dedicate...
04/01/2026

We honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Barbara Dodson Walker, who passed on March 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C. A dedicated educator, scholar, and preservationist, Mrs. Walker was a charter and life member of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and its longest-serving National President, serving from 1993 to 2002.

She carried forward a profound legacy alongside her husband, James Dent Walker, co-founder of the Society, whose shared commitment helped shape and strengthen the field of African American genealogy. Over a distinguished thirty-two year career in education with the D.C. Public Schools, Mrs. Walker also made lasting contributions as a researcher, writer, and curriculum developer, ensuring that African American history and family stories were preserved, documented, and taught to future generations.

Her work extended across institutions and organizations dedicated to history and preservation, and her influence continues to be felt throughout the genealogical community and beyond. Her lifelong dedication to documenting and preserving African American history has left an enduring impact that will continue to guide and inspire.

Click below to read her full biography and learn more about her remarkable life.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zbtxek5Q2swnIr6TvZ7jOpSuSo74AuXfKrJtSrVcelk/edit?usp=sharing

The Modern Architect of Global HealthWe conclude our celebration of Women Over the Past 100 Years: Evolved and Succeeded...
03/31/2026

The Modern Architect of Global Health

We conclude our celebration of Women Over the Past 100 Years: Evolved and Succeeded by looking at the present and the future. Today, we honor Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire (1986–Present), a world-leading viral immunologist and Assistant Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Her success is a direct evolution of the women we have studied all month. Just as our ancestors built schools and organizations, Dr. Corbett-Helaire built the science of the future. As a lead scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), she was at the absolute forefront of developing the mRNA-1273 vaccine technology. Her work didn't just change medicine; it saved millions of lives globally.

From her roots in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, to the global stage, she defines the modern era of "Evolved and Succeeded." Beyond the lab, she has become a champion for health equity, working tirelessly to build trust in science within the Black community. Her journey reminds us that the "Paper Trail" we leave today will be the history our descendants celebrate tomorrow.

AAHGS Genealogy Challenge: The Living History
The STEM Trailblazer: Identify the women in your family who broke barriers in science, technology, engineering, or math. Who was the first to become a nurse, an engineer, or a computer programmer?

Future-Proof Your Archive: What modern "artifacts" are you saving? Ensure you have digital backups of recent graduations, news clippings of promotions, or specialized certifications.

The Full Circle: Look back at your Week One research. How did the "Foundations" of your 1930s ancestors—the teachers and the laborers—lead to the "Innovation" of your 2026 family members?

Share a story of a modern-day trailblazer in your family in the comments! Let’s celebrate how far we have truly evolved.

Women’s History Month: The Founders’ LegacyHonoring Marcia J. Eisenberg & Jean Sampson ScottAs we wrap up our series, we...
03/30/2026

Women’s History Month: The Founders’ Legacy
Honoring Marcia J. Eisenberg & Jean Sampson Scott

As we wrap up our series, we honor two women who built the very foundation of AAHGS in 1977. Marcia J. Eisenberg and Jean Sampson Scott were the architects who turned family stories into a protected, scholarly record.

Marcia J. Eisenberg was the scholar who set our professional standard. As an expert in New York and Jewish genealogy, she became the first editor of the AAHGS Journal. She proved that rigorous research is the key to preserving the truth of our past.

Jean Sampson Scott was a true pioneer who traced her own lineage back to the 1600s. A former National President and author of the landmark guide Beginning an Afro-American Genealogical Pursuit, her leadership was so impactful that our Greater New York Chapter is named in her honor.

Together, they created the roadmap we still use today to ensure our histories are never lost again.

Click below to read the new joint biography of these two foundational leaders!
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kb18y4ldcloxkqnqg29r0/Eisenberg-Scott-Biographies.pdf?rlkey=elib2c2fqd2psem4s4lh6tgq1&e=2&st=b0w6l2ya&dl=0

The Catalyst: Unbought and UnbossedThis week, we honor the "Fighting Shirley Chisholm" (1924–2005), a woman who redefine...
03/30/2026

The Catalyst: Unbought and Unbossed

This week, we honor the "Fighting Shirley Chisholm" (1924–2005), a woman who redefined the "seat at the table" for every generation that followed.

The daughter of immigrants from Guyana and Barbados, Shirley Chisholm transitioned from a career in early childhood education to become the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968. In 1972, she broke the ultimate glass ceiling as the first Black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States.

Her success was not just in her titles, but in her refusal to be intimidated. She famously said, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." She proved that the evolution of Black women’s leadership was not just about participation, but about power and policy.

AAHGS Genealogy Challenge:
The Immigrant Journey: Shirley’s parents came from the Caribbean. Search the New York Passenger Lists (1820-1957) or Border Crossings to see if your ancestors migrated to the U.S. from the West Indies during the same era.

Political Pioneers: Look for ancestors in the 1940 or 1950 Census who were active in their communities. Were they members of the NAACP, local political clubs, or "League of Women Voters"?

The Paper Trail of Advocacy: Search digitized Black newspapers like the New York Amsterdam News or The Afro-American for mentions of your female ancestors in community organizing or local elections.

Women Over the Past 100 Years: Evolved and Succeeded.We honor the legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955).Born to form...
03/29/2026

Women Over the Past 100 Years: Evolved and Succeeded.

We honor the legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955).

Born to formerly enslaved parents, Dr. Bethune became one of the most powerful institutional builders of the 20th century. She transitioned "success" from individual achievement to sustainable, national organizational building. A champion of higher education and historical documentation, she founded Bethune-Cookman University and served as the distinguished long-time President of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). In 1935, she established the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).

By 1936, she commanded a "seat at the table" as the highest-ranking African American woman in government, serving as an advisor to President FDR. Her success proved that Black women could influence the highest levels of policy.

Genealogy Challenge for AAHGS Members:
This week, as we honor Dr. Bethune, we challenge you to look deeper into your family line:

Search the 1930 and 1940 Census records. Did you have female ancestors listed as teachers or institutional founders?

Did your ancestors attend historically Black colleges like Bethune-Cookman?

Look for membership clues of NCNW, involvement with ASALH, or local "Bethune Circles" in the 1930s and 40s.

Share your findings or a photo of a female leader in your family in the comments below! Let’s honor the institutions they built.

Founder, Author, and Guardian of the NarrativeThis week we honor a foundational pillar of AAHGS: Co-Founder Marcia M. Gr...
03/25/2026

Founder, Author, and Guardian of the Narrative

This week we honor a foundational pillar of AAHGS: Co-Founder Marcia M. Greenlee. As a world-renowned oral historian and preservationist, she has spent her career ensuring our stories remain a permanent part of the American record.

Marcia captures the spirit of our people through the power of the spoken word. From serving in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia to recording the life experiences of icons like Rosa Parks, her work transformed personal memories into documented history. She challenges us to see our ancestors as overcomers rather than victims. Her deep research into historic neighborhoods like Georgetown and Shaw provides the very roadmap we use to trace our lineages today.

As a co-founder of our society, her legacy is the bridge between the spoken word and the written archive.

AAHGS Founder’s Challenge:

Record the Voice: Follow Marcia's lead and record a five-minute conversation with a family elder. Ask about their childhood or a favorite neighborhood memory to create a new primary source.

The Overcomer Story: Identify a woman in your tree who thrived against the odds. Share her name in the comments to keep her journey in the narrative.

Map the Neighborhood: Look for your ancestors in city directories for places like Shaw or Georgetown. Seeing exactly where they lived helps you understand the community they helped build.

Click the link to learn more Marcia Greenlee:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nwgwobtcra09z5o98896s/Debra-Lynn-Newman-Ham-Biography.pdf?rlkey=e1imfrfcaw6c3wgxo5tfdlluk&st=es5zoqtt&dl=0

Women's History Month Spotlight: Dr. Debra Lynn Newman HamThe Architect of the Archives & AAHGS Founding MemberThis week...
03/18/2026

Women's History Month Spotlight: Dr. Debra Lynn Newman Ham
The Architect of the Archives & AAHGS Founding Member

This week, we honor a foundational pillar of our society: Dr. Debra Lynn Newman Ham, a world-renowned archivist, historian, and former professor at Morgan State University.

Dr. Ham has spent her career disrupting the myth that Black history is untaught due to a lack of records. As a specialist at the National Archives and the Library of Congress, she produced the landmark guide, The African-American Mosaic, revealing an "unbelievable ocean" of primary sources—from films and recordings to government manuscripts—that document our ancestors' lives.

Her passion lies in shifting the narrative: treating African Americans not as victims, but as overcomers who are central to the American story.

🔍 AAHGS Founder’s Challenge:

Explore the "Mosaic": Follow Dr. Newman Ham’s roadmap. Search the Library of Congress digital collections for your family’s last name or hometown to see the records she fought to highlight.

Preserve the Narrative: In the spirit of her work at Morgan State, take a younger family member to a local archive or museum this week to show them that our history is documented and preserved.

Honor the Overcomers: Identify a woman in your tree who thrived against the odds. Record her name in the comments to keep her in the narrative!

Read the full bio of our Co-Founder here]https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nwgwobtcra09z5o98896s/Debra-Lynn-Newman-Ham-Biography.pdf?rlkey=e1imfrfcaw6c3wgxo5tfdlluk&e=1&st=l2b9cpkd&dl=0

Women's History Month Spotlight: Dr. Elizabeth Clark-LewisFounder, Scholar, and Guardian of the JourneyThis week, we hon...
03/09/2026

Women's History Month Spotlight: Dr. Elizabeth Clark-Lewis
Founder, Scholar, and Guardian of the Journey

This week, we honor a true titan of our society: Dr. Elizabeth Clark-Lewis, a co-founder of AAHGS and the Director of the Public History Program at Howard University.

Dr. Clark-Lewis didn’t just study history; she rescued the "unseen" voices of our ancestors. Through her groundbreaking book Living In, Living Out and her award-winning documentary Freedom Bags, she documented the powerful transition of Black women from domestic labor to community leaders. She proved that their "Freedom Bags" contained the strategic backbone of the Black middle class.

As a founder of AAHGS, her work is the ultimate bridge between academic scholarship and the family stories we protect today.

🔍 AAHGS Founder’s Challenge:

Document the "Freedom Bag": What tangible artifact—a Bible, vintage work gloves, or a travel trunk—represents your family’s Great Migration journey?

The Master Interview: Dr. Clark-Lewis is a master of oral history. Record a 5-minute conversation with a family elder about their first job or their move to a new city.

Founder’s Paper Trail: Search the 1940 or 1950 Census for ancestors listed as "Day Workers" or "Domestics". Like Dr. Clark-Lewis taught us, that labor is the foundation of your success today.

Click the link to learn more:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/djf7xjgzgguj2my073ibm/Elizabeth-Clark-Lewis-Biography.pdf?rlkey=0nqtvqtlz8wz6eomcd1ykqi01&st=xxi0i72c&dl=0

We are kicking off our celebration of Women Over the Past 100 Years: Evolved and Succeeded by honoring a true pioneer in...
03/03/2026

We are kicking off our celebration of Women Over the Past 100 Years: Evolved and Succeeded by honoring a true pioneer in education.

For Week One, we spotlight Virginia Estelle Randolph (1870–1958).

Long before the modern educational landscape, Ms. Randolph transformed rural Black schools in Henrico County, Virginia. Her innovative "Henrico Plan"—which prioritized vocational, moral, and academic training—was so successful that it was adopted internationally. She became the first "Jeanes Teacher," leading a movement of educators dedicated to improving rural schools across the South.

Her story is one of profound success built on liberation through education.

Genealogy Challenge for AAHGS Members:
This week, as we honor Ms. Randolph, we challenge you to look into your own family tree:

Census Search: Look at the 1930 and 1940 Census records for your family. Pay close attention to the "Occupation" column for the women in your lineage.

Education History: Did you have female ancestors who were teachers between 1926 and 1950?

Jeanes Teachers: Did any of your ancestors attend a "Jeanes School" or work as a Jeanes Teacher?

Share your findings or a photo of a pioneering educator in your family in the comments below! Let’s honor the foundations they built.

11/27/2025

Wishing you a day filled with love, gratitude, and connection. AAHGS celebrates the rich legacy of our ancestors and the stories that bring our families together. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Address

P. O. Box 73067
Washington D.C., DC
20056

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when AAHGS-Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to AAHGS-Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc.:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category