Mormons Roll Out 1880 Census Research—A Wealth of Black Geneology
by Cheryl Brown
Special to the NNPA from Black Voice News

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (NNPA)—The excitement was high. The audience, mostly genealogists and descendants from famous historic families, sat on pins and needles.
It was like a new discovery—a new view into American history. With the click of the mouse came an opportunity for African-Americans especially to find their ancestors. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints recently unveiled its latest attempt to help families re-connect. They have finished an 11-year project which took 12 million man-hours to put the 1880 U.S., Canadian and British census on line under the www.familysearch.org website...

Read the entire story at:

http://www.blackpressusa....ewsID=2656

I wanted to add, since I have done a lot of research myself...anyone interested in going back and documenting their family tree or history - interview everyone still alive who is older than you especially parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to get as many names, locations, and dates as you possibly can.

One thing I realized in doing my research is to start NOW. Whether or not your family history is there, or missing, it is in the making this very moment. Get some family tree software, or a book, and start - give copies out to others in the family to ensure it never gets destroyed - and pass it on to others.

*bump*

LaVisHh said:

aaw thnx LaVisHh

bammas on here would rather talk about other random isht I guess.
[This message was edited Thu Nov 21 9:14:09 PST 2002 by NuPwrSoul]

You know what? Family name don´t mean shit! Its all about the name you make for yourself.

Remember your heritage, fine. Its actually a must, but, do something individual and make your name mean something while you have it!

NuPwrSoul said:

Looks that way

I feel strongly about family history and maintaining records for future generations.

back

feltbluish said:

While it is true that we give our names our own meanings by the way we live our lives, I wouldn't go so far as to say "family name don't mean shit" unless you LITERALLY mean that it "does not mean shit" i.e., it means a lot, since the name is a helpful marker for people in tracing their heritage which you apparently believe is "fine" or a "must":

NuPwrSoul said:

Yeah, I guess don´t lose track of history, but don´t dwell on it and let it dictate the future. YOU dictate the future. Based on your talents, your ambitions, your opinions and your ethics, NOT what you feel SHOULD be.
[This message was edited Thu Nov 21 9:26:21 PST 2002 by feltbluish]

I was fortunate to have my grandmother live until she was 98.

I recorded hours of her stories with comentaries narriorated by her eldest son that died a couple of years before her.

Great stuff! I made a CD out of it and gave about 40 copies away to the family at her funeral. I still get requests from back home asking for more copies to give to their kids and grandkids.

She lived a very hard but enlightning life.

I'm working on another from my other grandmother, but she doesn't tell it with as much energy and passion as my other grandmother.

I found out I was named after a black man.

yamomma said:

Send me a copy?

yamomma said:

I was too, but it has nothing to do with my father.

?
[This message was edited Tue Jun 10 4:44:10 PDT 2003 by IstenSzek]

yamomma said:

THAT is totally cool. I've done stuff like that, but not with grandparents, cuz they passed away before I ever thought about recording family histories...keep up the good work!!!

KUDOS! I'm so proud!

For the record...it isn't the "family name" I am interested in, but as NuPwrSoul said, I am interested in recording the history - who better to do this than the family! It is (in my opinion) one of the greatest gifts to give your family, and those not even born yet.

feltbluish said:

I don't dispute anything you say here. No one is saying we should be confined by our history.

But we should KNOW it.

Where do you think your talents, ambitions, opinions, ethics come from? You think you were born with them? Or did you develop them by interacting with a world that pre-existed before you came onto the planet?

When you saw fire, how did you know to avoid it? Did you have to pass your hand over the flame or did you hear a warning from someone who had done the same before you?

It trips me how we like to arrogate to ourselves total responsibility and credit for everything we have. Please. We are hear standing on someone else's foundation. We act on lessons that we have learned in the past, and that others have learned in the past.

LaVisHh said:

Yeah Lav, I totally agree. Family names are just one marker to use to help people piece together their legacy... I titled the thread that and also for the obvious P reference.

Can anyone truly trace their 'Family name' back to it's origin? i don't think so.

Wouldn't you have to go back 100,000 years to when we hung out in caves? It's impossible.

Thecherryloon said:

Back to its origin? Of course not, silly, LOL...but you can go back as far as records show - if you are careful, and realize that nothing is 100%.

LaVisHh said:

in that case, what's the big deal in finding out probably a half truth?

yamomma said:

Wish i would have thought of that when my great-grandmother was telling me her stories. Great idea! I'm trying 2 get my mom 2 talk more about her experiences, but 2 no avail. However, there's no amount of media as entertaining or comprehensive as a direct account, so i keep trying.

Been thinking a lot about my ancestry lately. This may shed light on the American half at least. Thx, NPS.
ONE LOVE

Thecherryloon said:

It's about keeping records of what survived over the years, and more importantly - interviewing and starting right now - preferably with those still alive. Any history book or record is capable of not being 100% accurate, so do you stop reading or believing them?

If you look at it that way, then I suggest you not bothering. I look at it as what I can do for the future generations while I am alive. I have gone back 6 generations, and have placed 600+ in my tree.

Instead of complaining that we have no family history, I chose to start it. I went back as far as I could...until the shiplists - it ended there.

It's not for everyone, Thecherryloon - but it is important to me, and for others who feel the same.

NuPwrSoul said:

Hell yeah. I agree.

feltbluish said:

Sure.
I plan on putting an MP3 of it up on my studio site as part of our cataloge when it's ready.