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RECONSTRUCTION ERA

In 2015, we celebrated the 150th year anniversary of the end of the Civil War. Now, we are in the 150th year anniversary dates of the “Reconstruction Era”. The Reconstruction Era refers to the period in the United States history that immediately was instituted after the Civil War. This Era was a rebuilding of the Nation and a period of time that the federal government set conditions to include the rebellious Southern states back into the Union. But this also was a period of time for all African Americans to participate in their own destiny and to claim their rightful place among other citizens.

For the first time, all African Americans are recorded in Federal, State, and County records with first and last names. Since individual States and their people heard that the Civil War had ended at different times, one must note that certain Reconstruction records might not have started in those States until after 1865. Many scholars agree that the “Reconstruction Era” was from 1865 – 1877.

In celebrating the “Reconstruction Era” on this blog site, I will be posting many blogs that will have genealogy value. The blogs include research on African Americans in Alexandria during the Reconstruction Era.

Please visit my business web site at http://www.findingthingsforu.com for my upcoming lectures and workshops that will include “Reconstruction Era” type lectures. Thanks!

Winner of the 2013 “Ben Brenman Archaeology Award”

I am glad to share with you that I have been selected as one of the recipients of the 2013 Alexandria, Virginia “Ben Brenman Archaeology Awards”. This award is for my work on the Alexandria Freedmen Cemetery. I will be receiving this award on October 22, 2013, by the Mayor of Alexandria and the Alexandria City Council.

The award is not just about my work in finding descendants of the Alexandria Freedmen Cemetery, but it is about the descendants who allow me to research their families; and document their ancestors’ role in American History. For all of the descendants, I thank you for allowing me into your lives. I hope all of you will join me when I receive this award for all of us:

Date: October 22, 2013
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: City Council Chambers at City Hall
301 King Street, 2nd Floor
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703-746-4399

This event is open to the public. I am inviting anyone who wants to attend. Thank you.

Searching for Descendants of the Alexandria Freedmen Cemetery

Over 1700 African Americans are buried at the “Alexandria Freedmen Cemetery” located at Church and Washington Street in Alexandria, VA. These African Americans were contraband of the Civil War. They fought, walked, and ran from their slave owners to areas that provided them safety. Freed African Americans were also at risk during the Civil War and many of them found the same safety net as the slaves. For more information on the Alexandria Freedmen Cemetery, go to the “The Friends of Freedmen’s Cemetery” site at http://www.freedmenscemetery.org/.

In April 2008, the City of Alexandria, Virginia asked me to assist them in locating descendants of the Alexandria Freedmen Cemetery.

The City wants to recognize the descendants of the Freedmen Cemetery. Please go to the Alexandria Archaeology Museum’s web site that discusses the Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial at http://alexandriava.gov/FreedmenMemorial.

As of 2008, I have identified the descendants of over one hundred people who are buried at the Freedmen Cemetery. I am still looking for descendants. If you have more than four generations of your family from Alexandria, Virginia and your surname is on this list http://www.freedmenscemetery.org/burials/burials.pdf, please contact me through my blog e-mail address http://www.theotheralexandria.com. The City of Alexandria is building the Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial. It is going to be a great Ceremony honoring the former Contrabands and their Descendants.

The Ceremony will be in the Spring of 2014. If you want to be counted as a Descendant, please notify me. Thanks!

Our First Book Signing

The authors of “African Americans of Alexandria, Virginia:  Beacons of Light in the Twentieth Century” are having their first book signing on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at Community Open House event at the Alexandria Black History Museum located 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm.  Books will be available for purchase.  You can contact the Alexandria Black History Museum at 703-746-4356.  Thanks!

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