Pondering our Losses in 2013

We need to acknowledge that AAGGKY has lost two of our Charter Members this year. We all should pause for a few minutes and think of our own losses and what a void they will leave. Dr. Ann Butler (1948-2013) was a walking, talking wealth of knowledge who was always seeking and unearthing something  interesting and new. She encouraged us to seek and find the proof. She opened our eyes to historical accounts that had been long over looked or taken for granted. She was always working on a new project.

The second member was Willie Mitchell (1940-2013), our President's husband, was a wonderful supporter of our causes. He helped launch this organization. I know he was a good listener. I am sure our President ran a lot of the pros and cons by him daily. He was a great source for knowing who was who around our “neck  of the woods". He helped us make various local connections. He knew just about everyone!

Again, as we think of these two losses, we must be grateful for the time we had with them and the knowledge they shared with us.

Looking to the future, AAGGKY needs to decide where we go from here and how we going to grow in the next few years.  

What is our agenda going to be?

What is AAGGKY going to sponsor or mentor or share with the future ancestors?

How are we going to keep telling the stories? 

We must correct and prove our histories and pass them on to the next generation. So much has already been lost. We still have other Anne Butlers and other Willie Mitchells to listen to and to learn from.  We must keep sharing our stories.

One family’s little steps could knock down a brickwall of another family’s search.

                                                                                                                  -Pam Collins Reaves

The African-Native American Genealogy Blog: 1880: From Choctaw Nation to the US Government: A Bill to Adopt the Freedmen

The African-Native American Genealogy Blog: 1880: From Choctaw Nation to the US Government: A Bill to Adopt the Freedmen

Oral History Workshop...Saving our history




Saving our history

 

An Oral History Workshop will be hosted by the African-American Genealogy Group of KY (AAGGKY) on Saturday, August 18 from 1:00-4:00 at the Mercer County Public Library 109 West Lexington Street, Harrodsburg.  The workshop will be conducted by Sarah Milligan of the Kentucky Oral History Commission.  She will focus on techniques and equipment used to capture the memories of our aging generations.

Sarah Milligan is the administrator for the Kentucky Oral History Commission.  She has a master's degree in folk studies from Western Kentucky University's Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology and worked as a folklore specialist for the Kentucky Folklore Program. As administrator for KOHC, Milligan assists with a statewide oral history preservation effort encouraging new and exciting oral history documentation in Kentucky.  Currently she advises the James Harrod Trust initiative, documenting African American life in Harrodsburg/Mercer County.

Sharyn Mitchell, co-founder of the AAGGKY recently stated,   “Our stories are often hidden in un-indexed volumes, stored forgotten on dusty shelves and omitted from the traditional history books of our country. With every passing minute we are losing our histories to death, memory loss, and record destruction.  The  African-American Genealogy Group is attempting to minimize this loss…to save our history and pass it on.”

The AAGGKY is a non-profit organization, member orientated group,  seeking  to promote African American genealogical research and the values of family, fellowship, and education.  These are principles which bind us together. Of one blood, God made all nations of men.

For more information contact:  aaggky@yahoo.com or (502) 422-4457 or visit us on our website at aaggky.org

AAGGKY Meets at Camp Nelson

The Third Saturday meeting of the African-American Genealogy Group of Kentucky (AAGGKY) will be on July 21, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park, 6614 Danville Road, Nicholasville, KY 40356.  Click here for directions.

Camp Nelson was the largest recruiting, mustering, and training center for African American troops (called U.S. Colored Troops) in Kentucky and one of the largest in the United States. 

It is also served as a contraband or refugee camp for family members of the U.S.C.T. recruits. This camp, which was administered by the Rev. John G. Fee of the American Missionary Association and Captain Theron Hall of the U.S. Army, contained cottages, dormitories, a hospital, a school, a dining room, and a laundry and held over 3,000 people at one time. The illness and death which resulted from removal of the African American refugees from Camp Nelson in November 1864 led directly to the passage of a Congressional Act which freed the family members of the U.S. Colored Troops and the implementation of a more structured program by the Army to care for and educate these people. The Camp has a very rich and interesting history!

Staff of the park will present a program, movie and a tour of the grounds!  Last year, we met at the park in June and had a great time!  We need to let the staff know how to plan for the day, so if you plan to attend, please R.S.V.P. by Monday, July 16th.  Hope to see you there.

African-American Genealogy Group of Kentucky (AAGGKY)

Website: www.aaggky.org

Email: aaggky@yahoo.com or aaggky@yahoogroups.com
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(502) 422-4457