Delve into Revolutionary Era Genealogy and History at the AAHGS Conference

Next week, the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) will be hosting its annual conference (held virtually this year) with a Revolutionary War era theme: “Bridging the American Colonial Divide: Resurrecting the Memory and Space of Black Patriots and History Makers.” DAR is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor for this year’s AAHGS Conference, and so pleased that several DAR members will be giving presentations.

The AAHGS Annual Conference is the largest international African American conference that promotes African-ancestored family history, genealogy, and cultural diversity by bringing together subject matter experts who promote scholarly research, provide resources for historical and genealogical studies, create a network of persons with similar interests, and assist members in documenting their histories.

Sessions that will be of particular interest to our DAR members include presentations on Colonial and Revolutionary War genealogical records, historical contributions of Black Patriots, and discovering unknown family relationships through DNA. Keep an eye out for presentations by some of our own DAR members including Shelley Murphy, Nicka Smith, Jonnie Brown, Karen Sutton and Yvonne Liser!

Whether or not you’re able to participate in the AAHGS Conference, you can also take advantage of DAR resources to learn more about African American Patriots of the American Revolution.

• Visit the E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative website:
  • To explore the online exhibit “Remembrance of Noble Actions: African Americans and Native Americans in the Revolutionary War,”
  • Read biographical essays of little-known Patriots of Color in the Patriot Profiles section
  • Use the Patriots of Color Database to help prospective members search for ancestors of color from more than 6,600 names of Revolutionary War Patriots of a wide variety of backgrounds (African American, African, Native American, mixed ancestry)
  • Consult the Resources page for links to other external historical archives and databases, articles and exhibits, and genealogy sources
     
• Utilize the DAR Library’s strong and growing collection of publications on African American genealogical research
   
• Explore genealogical tips and resources for researching African American Patriots on the DAR Website
   
• Take advantage of the members of the Specialty Research Committee who can assist prospective members in locating documentation relating to new and previously underrecognized Patriots' contributions as well as providing support and assistance on the DAR membership Application and Supplemental process