Research At The National Archives And Beyond!

Bernice Bennett is interviewed by Nichole Berlie who anchors First News at KETV in Omaha, Nebraska every weekday morning from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Bernice Bennett's  BlogTalkRadio show offers a variety of experts who share a multicultural perspective on genealogical research.  She launched her show last year, and now boost 43 episodes wth almost 20,000 archived listeners!  Tune in to hear how Bernice plans her shows and her vision for 2013!

Bernice Bennett welcomes archivist Claire Kluskens -  a specialist in immigration, census, and other records of high genealogical value at the National Archives in Washington, DC for a discussion of the Microfilm Publication M1895, Slave Manifests of Coastwise Vessels filed at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1807-1860 (thirty rolls).  These records are part of Record group 36, Records of the U.S. Customs Services. Claire Kluskens has spearheaded the completion of more than 300 National Archives microfilm publications.  She lectures frequently and has published extensively in national, state, and local genealogical publications.  Claire has been a National Archives staff member since 1992 and has done genealogical research since 1976.   Theme music - Sweet Mello Spice by composer / producer Alvin K. Alexander. 

  "Your Culture is Your Life Support System"! What do you know about your family history?  Have the elders share stories with you?  Have you considered writing your personal memoir that includes the oral history of your family and community? Bernice Bennett welcomes special guest George Geder for an exploration of the value of gathering oral histories, documenting and sharing personal memoirs. New York native and New Mexico photo restoration artist George Geder calls himself an "Evangelist for African Ancestored Genealogy" because he believes that our people need to research our family histories so the truth of what really happened in this country can be revealed.  In 2007, he was featured in a segment on the PBS television show "History Detectives" about his 2nd great grandfather who was a soldier and veteran of the Civil War.  George Geder, along with his wife Cynthia, received the prestigious 2012 award for community development from the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs.  His charge is "G

9pm Eastern, 8pm Central, 7pm Mountain and 6pm Pacific. What can your DNA tell you about your ancestry and health? Do you have DNA results and don't know how to intrepret them? Has your DNA results revealed any surprises? Join host Bernice Bennett and special guest Joanna L. Mountain, PhD for an informative discussion on "Finding Your Ancestry  and Health Status Through DNA". Joanna L. Mountain, PhD is the Senior Director of Research for 23andMe. She  joined 23andme in 2007 as a senior member of the Research Team. Dr. Mountain earned a PhD in Genetics and a BS in Mathematical Sciences, both from Stanford, and conducted postdoctoral research on human evolutionary genetics at the University of California, Berkeley.      

9pm Est, 8pm Central, 7pm Mountain, 6pm Pacific Do you know what it takes to become a professional genealogist? Join host Bernice Bennett and  Lisa B. Lee for a discussion of the process of what you need to know and do to become a professional genealogist. Professional genealogist Lisa B. Lee, is owner of GotGenealogy.com, a Web site designed to help genealogists make the most of their online searches. A graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies (University of Toronto), she obtained her PLCGS with certificates in U.S., Canadian and Irish genealogy and methodology. Since the inception of ExpertConnect, by Ancestry.com in 2009, Ms. Lee was one of the original Experts, and conducted professional research for clients in the U.S. and Europe, until the demise of ExpertConnect in Early 2011. In addition to the Got Genealogy Gazette, dozens of her articles have been published in numerous genealogical journals and newsletters in North America.  

  FEATURED ON THE BLOGTALKRADIO HOMEPAGE Join host Bernice Bennett and special guest Char McCargo Bah for a discussion on researching roomers and others  documented in the household.   When you are using the U.S. Census, you will see several large families.  In some cases, you might see extended families and roomers.  Hence, if you research everyone in the house, you might find answers to a lot of your questions.  Knowing "Whose In The House.," could even reveal pre civil war ancestors.    Char McCargo Bah has been a genealogist since 1981; she has appeared in numerous television interviews and documentaries and has researched genealogies of well-known individuals.  She currently works as a part-time genealogist on African American families in the City of Alexandria, Virginia.  Char is a 2010 recipient of Virginia Genealogical Society Volunteer Award and a 2009 recipient of the Alexandria History Award from the Alexandria Historical Society.  Char has her own genealogy column “Char’s Corner” in the Afro-Amer

9pm Est, 8pm Central, 7pm Mountain, 6pm Pacific Is genealogy just documenting your blood line or is it telling a larger story about the time and place your family lived? Dr. Pearl-Alice Marsh will answer this question and others as she explores why understanding history is significant to your genealogy research. Dr. Pearl-Alice Marsh began her genealogical research 20 years ago and she currently serves as the Global Health Policy Director for ONE and is responsible for developing and coordinating the global health strategy. She was also instrumental in getting legislation passed and signed by President William Clinton to preserve the Freedmen's Bureau Records. The records are microfilmed, and available for genealogical researchers. The bill, The Freedmen's Bureau Preservation Act of 2000 (HR 5157) was signed into law during the 106th Congress. Dr. Marsh holds a Ph.D. in political Science and Master of Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley, and B.A. in Social Welfare from Sac

  Join host Bernice Bennett and special guest Frazine K. Taylor for an interesting genealogical journey through records in Alabama.  Film maker Thomas Allen Harris will join us for a quick update on his production Through A Lens Darkly. Frazine K. Taylor is the author of Researching African American Genealogy in Alabama: A Resource Guide (2008) and researched Tom Joyner’s and Linda Johnson Rice’s family roots and ties to Alabama for the PBS series, African American Lives 2. She obtained her Master in Information Studies from Atlanta University and has over twenty years experience as a librarian, archivist, lecturer and writer. She is also the former Head of Reference for the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) and was an expert on Alabama records at ADAH. Ms. Taylor is currently the Coordinator for the African American Research course for the Samford University - Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research in Birmingham, Alabama. Also joining the show for a quick update on Through A Lens

9pm Eastern, 8pm Central, 7pm Mountain, 6 pm Pacific If you had the opportunity to collaborate with a descendant of a slave owner or the enslaved, would you?  Do you have information in your family records or research that would open the door for collaboration? Join family historian Gwendolyn Olson for a fascinating discussion of her genealogical journey to find her Harris ancestors enslaved in North Carolina and beyond.   She traces her Harris family roots back to her 4x great grandmother Lydia 'Roberts' who was  born around 1770. She is successful in locating her by  collaborating with the great great great grand daughter of the descendant of the slave owner.  This family journey also uncovers wonderful surprises!   Researchers and family historians will learn how following clues, asking questions and staying the course will result in a miraculous discovery for both the descendants of  the enslaved and the enslaver.                   Theme music - Sweet Mello Spice by composer / producer Alvin K

9pm Central, 8pm Eastern, 7pm Mountain, 6pm Pacific Is genealogy only about who begat whom or would you consider thinking out of the box by creating a new way of researching and  sharing your genealogical  stories?   Special guest Drusilla Pair aka “Professor Dru” is a Genealogist, Technologist, Educator, and Lecturer who has been tracing her family history in Virginia and North Carolina since 1994. She is a native of Newport News, VA and is the author of several blogs including Professor Dru’s Blog, www.professordru.com, Find Your Folks, www.findyourfolks.blogspot.com, and Let Freedom Ring, www.freedom150.blogspot.com.  Her most recent genealogy accomplishments are several programs entitled “Sunday Crowns” which focus on the legacy of church hats in her family and in African American churches and the development and teaching of the Back in the Day, a Faith-Based Institution Historical Research Program for youth in her community.  Her current community history projects include research of United States Color

  Join host Bernice Bennett and Genealogist/Film Producer Leonard Smith III for a discussion on how to preserve and honor the legends in your life through mini-documentaries. Mr. Smith has over thirty–seven years of experience in graphics, photography,video and multimedia technology. His website http://www.searchingfamilyhistory.com/ offers innovative strategies to the beginner family researcher. Some of his projects include, a promotional DVD for the Black and Indian Mission Office in Washington, DC, video montages for Xavier University of Louisiana, “The 100th Anniversary of St. Joan of Arc Church,” which was the winner of two Bronze Telly Awards and “A Legend in the Classroom - The Life Story of Ms. Yvonne Busch,” http://vimeo.com/3206947 winner of the AVA Platinum Award, Hermes Gold Award, and Bronze Telly Award.      

  Join host Bernice Bennett and her special guest on blogging! Angela Walton-Raji  is a nationally known genealogy researcher and advocate for other genealogists to join the blogging community. She has had an online presence for over 15 years.   In the past three years she has become known in the genealogy blogging community as well.  She maintains three blogs—one on African-Native American genealogy, one on her personal genealogy work, and one pertaining to her strong interest in African Americans in the Civil War.  In addition, she also hosts a weekly podcast website that is also a blog.  Ms. Walton-Raji uses the social networks for genealogy and has often “live-blogged” to other genealogists via Facebook, Twitter, Genealogy and other social media.  Andrea Kelleher longing to want to know more about her roots stemmed from seeing a portrait of her great grandmother that hung in her maternal grandmother’s bedroom when she was a child. She began doing research on her family tree in July 2009.  She chronicles

Join guest host Natonne Elaine Kemp for an engaging interview and discussion with Mrs. Gloria Ramsey Lucas concerning the Slave Records of Edgefield County, South Carolina.   Gloria Ramsey Lucas followed her dreams and had a 30 year career teaching in N.Y.C.  Relocation to Georgia opened up a new pastime in the search of her roots. The trail led to Edgefield, South Carolina where a wealth of slave records were uncovered. Gloria transcribed all the records pertaining to slaves in an 87 year period. The book- Slave Records of Edgefield County, SC was published by the Edgefield Historical Society.  Gloria is a member of The Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society and The Augusta Genealogical Society where she served as President  (2008-2010),  Friends of the National Archives (Eastern Branch) and Friends of the Ga. State Archives.   Theme music - Sweet Mello Spice by composer / producer Alvin K. Alexander. 

  The African American Odyssey of John Kizell (A South Carolina Slave Returns to Fight the Slave Trade in His African Homeland) Join host Bernice Bennett and co-host Natonne Elaine Kemp for an engaging conversation with author and historian Kevin G. Lowther about the the life of a Sierra Leonean who survived slavery in Charleston, South Carolina, and served with British forces during the American Revolution. He eventually returned to his homeland, where he campaigned among his people to end slave trading. Lowther majored in history at Dartmouth College before joining the Peace Corps and teaching, in 1963-65, at the Sierra Leone Grammar School in Freetown. In 1971 he helped to found the non-governmental organization, Africare, and later managed its humanitarian programs in Southern Africa for 29 years. Theme music - Sweet Mello Spice by composer / producer Alvin K. Alexander. 

Ten minute training show for Natonne Kemp.

RECLAIMING GRIMES: THE FIRST FUGITIVE SLAVE NARRATIVE WITH REGINA E. MASON! Join Regina E. Mason the great great great granddaugther of William Grimes for a moving discussion of her research and discovery of the first fugitive slave narrative. Oakland, California native, REGINA E. MASON, has spent fifteen years authenticating the pioneering narrative of her direct ancestor William Grimes—author of the first fugitive slave narrative in American history. Not only is she the gate-keeper of her family’s history, she is also coeditor of the new edition of her forefather’s book Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave.  In recognition of her work, the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society presented her the 2009 Herndon Lecturer award. She is currently working on the documentary Gina’s Journey: The Search for William Grimes.

Join host Bernice Bennett on her road trip to Memphis, Tennesee with Tina Sansone on the genealogical resources available in Tennessee. Tina Sansone is the 2012-2014 Vice President of the Tennessee Genealogical Society and theBellaOnline.com's  Genealogy Editor/Ebook Manager. Tina was excited to work with WDYTYA as a background researcher for the Vanessa Williams’ episode She is the SE Director of the International Society of Family History Writers & Editors and recently was accepted in the Mentoring Program for the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy program. Tina Sansone received the Birdie Monk Holsclaw Scholarship for The Samford Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR).  

10am central and 11 am est.   Join host Bernice Bennett on her road trip to Louisiana. Special guest Clark Forrest, Jr., EdD, will discuss the  History of Livingston Parish and the Edward Livingston Historical Association. (Please note that Ms. Iris Stilley is incorrectly mentioned as the Head of the Livingston Parish Library).   Livingston Parish is located in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana.  Clark Forrest was elected as the first President of the Edward Livingston Historical Association and after a number of years was recently re-elected President. The ELHA is responsible for publishing the first comprehensive Parish history, all censuses from 1840 to 1920, cemetery inscriptions, etc. The Association is working now to transcribe the 1930 Census, the first land claimants in the Parish and updating the Cemetery Listings.

Do you have a genealogy story that is a true miracle? Listeners and contrIbutors are encouraged to call in to share one family story. Two books will be awarded to callers who can share a 1 minute "true miracle story". Join host Bernice Bennett and co-host Natonne Elaine Kemp for a lively discussion with Author Anne Bradshaw regarding  "True Miracle"  stories.    Anne Bradshaw was born in Wales, grew up in England, and now lives in the USA. True Miracles with Genealogy, Volume Two, is her seventh published book. Sandra Taliaferro will share her story " My Father Gave Me Back My Name"  included in "True Miracles with Genealogy" Volume One. Carol Kostakos Petranek wrote "This Table at This Moment:  A Providential Encounter"  and David W. DeFord, the author of the short story called "Fruitful Distraction" in Volume Two.  Natonne Kemp will also share the story she contributed to the www.truemiracleswith genealogy.com.        Theme music - Sweet Mello Spice by composer / producer Alvin K. Alexander. 

  Special guest Thomas MacEntee provided a lively discussion on resources to find the living.  Michael Williams  also shared his journey to find his biological family.  Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogy research and as a way to connect with others in the family history community. Michael Williams author of Black Essence Grammy Award Winning Memoir Native Womb: Going Back To The Beginning (A foster childs journey to connect with his family).  He began his life journey as a foster child in New York City's Child Welfare System and was placed in Angel Guardian Fostercare agency.  Inspite of insurmountable odds, Michael went on to become a Pennsylvanian Board of Governor's Scholarship recipient alumnus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and holds a Bachelor’s of ScienceDegree in Communications Media with minor academic concentrations in Pan- African and Musical Theater Studies.        Theme music - Sweet Mello Spice