Special for The Arizona Republic
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| Katherine Bass Ayers of Chandler, Arizona, admires a gold-tipped baton awarded to her grandfather, George S. Thompson, who was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. Photo by Mike Rynearson, The Arizona Republic. |
But a trip to the Black Family Genealogy History Society can provide answers to many questions and offer a lot of friendly support.
Members of the non-profit organization are dedicated to helping people research and preserve their own family histories no matter what culture, but they are focused on preserving the story of Arizona's African-American communities.
The society is working on plans for hosting the 2007 annual West Coast Summit on African-American Genealogy. The group is searching for speakers and sponsors for the two-day gathering.
Henrietta Beckford, 74, of Mesa, the group president, said there are so many sources containing family history information that sometimes it's difficult for beginners to know where to start. African-American research can be a bit more challenging because some records don't exist or may be under slave masters' names. She says networking with other researchers and technology can help to overcome some of these challenges.
"We tell beginners how to start, step by step, whether they start on their mother's side or their father's side. Then once you get the foundation, you can listen to others and learn from how they did their research."
The society holds monthly meetings where members can share information, listen to speakers, and learn about upcoming field trips. Speakers offer tips related to ancestral search and preservation. Photo preservation techniques and effective use of the Internet are two of the most popular topics.
A field trip to the Dees Brothers Brangus Ranch in Yuma recently offered members a chance to tour a cattle farm established in the 1920s by African-American farmers. The ranch is now run by the third generation of Dees. Alex Dees is a livestock breeder, consultant, and judge who was instrumental in developing the "Black Duke" bloodline of Brangus cattle, a hardy breed developed to be able to withstand extreme climates and challenging environments.
Another field trip to the Army's Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista allowed members a chance to view the Buffalo Soldier monument and tour several museums on the premises. The Buffalo Soldiers were all-Black military units formed after the Civil War to fight American Indians and provide law and order in the Southwest. Native Americans called them "Buffalo Soldiers" because they thought their bushy hair resembled the coat of the buffalo.
Beckford said military bases such as Fort Huachuca are great places to gather information if you have ancestors who served in the military. It's time-consuming, but gratifying, work.
"Some people have spent 30 to 40 years on family research," Beckford said. "Some spend only a few hours whenever they get the chance."
One of the group's members, Mary Gant, 84, of Chandler, traced her family to the 1400s. She said it helps to gather ideas and facts from other members.
"Sometimes you get stuck between a rock and a hard place," Gant said. "I just keep going. Talking with others helps me to put it all together."
Gant, a chemist who was part of the Manhattan Project team in the 1950s that developed early nuclear weapons for the United States, said she has done extensive research in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints family history centers and enjoys helping others with their research.
Beckford has traced her family to the 1800s. She said she never had time to do family history research while employed as a contract specialist with the U.S. government, but since retiring, she now enjoys the time spent discovering new things about her ancestry.
"I've met family members that I didn't know existed," she said. "We thought there was only one male on my mother's side to carry on her family name, but then we discovered hundreds of relatives in South Carolina. We now have a family reunion of about 130 people."
Beckford's husband, Herb, 81, a retired insurance claim adjuster, is the society's treasurer.
The Beckfords said changes in technology have broadened the scope for research since the society's beginning in 1994.
"The methods are the same, but what's come into play are all the sites on the Internet that let you extend the search for certain individuals," Henrietta said. "But it's still important to have a paper trail."
Society members encourage families to explore genealogy so upcoming generations have access to important health information, such as whether diabetes or heart disease runs in the family. Other ancestral traits often provide interesting clues for present-day relatives.
"At some point, questions come up," Henrietta said.
Note: Black Family Genealogy History Society meetings are from 12 noon to 2 p.m. the third Saturday of every month at the Roosevelt Community Technology Center, 6029 S. Seventh St., Phoenix. Before each monthly meeting, a free beginning genealogy class is offered from 11:15 a.m. to 12 noon. Membership fees are $20 for individuals and $30 for families.
Visit www.bgfhs.net for more information on the society.