African American History Tours for Kids in Their Hometown

Tour of Peter Hammond Cemetery
Unknown Slave Boy Grave

There is a part of history that African American people must face and that is the history of slavery. My ancestors on both sides of my family were slaves in the Florida Parishes. While teaching my grandkids about their family, history we had to discuss slavery. They raised many questions about slavery, especially for children their ages. Of course! They can relate to kids because they are kids. They wanted to know what did they eat? Did the kids go to school? Did they have toys? Were they made to work?

They have been touring lots museums and saw many artifacts of that time and period. While visiting the cotton fields in the Mississippi Delta my granddaughter asked, "Did little girls have to pick cotton too?" The look on her face expressed many thoughts that were going on in her little mind. There's one person old enough to remember the cotton fields: her great-grandmother.

Recently I took them to the grave site of a grave marked (Unknown Slave Boy) in the cemetery of Peter Hammond.  Hammond, Louisiana founded circa 1819 by Peter Hammond. As they read the historical marker in the cemetery and learned that the little boy didn't have a name. "They wanted to know why?" Why he didn't have a name? Who were his parents? Where was he from? How old was he?

We will continue to visit museums and libraries this summer. Our schedule is planned for summer 2017. After each lesson and tour, I give them a pop quiz to see what they learned and open the floor for discussions and critical thinking. It's a great way to make history come alive for your child.

Educational Family Field Trips for Kids

Infinity Science Musem, Mississippi

My grandkids had one week off from school for the Mardi Gras holiday. They just came off a two- week long break for the Christmas holidays. They'll soon be approaching a spring break. I didn't want them to be home for one week without anything to do at all. Although my schedule was busy with doctors appointments and everything else I could think of. I cleared my schedule to give them my undivided attention. 

We talked our plan over and made plans to visit NASA science museums in Mississippi. They were so excited to visit the museum and go to the beach in Waveland as a treat. We packed our lunch after breakfast and headed out the door for our field trip.

They also toured the Sweet Home Baptist Church Museum Black History display in the Kentwood Community center. Our last field trip for the week was soon approaching. I wanted them to visit the gravesite of a little boy known only as "slave boy" in Hammond, La. He belonged to a man named Peter Hammond. 

Peter founded Hammond, Louisiana about 1818. Hammond was from Sweden. Three of my grandkids live in Hammond and I wanted them to tour the historic landmarks in their own hometown.   During the Christmas break, I took them to tour the African American Heritage Museum. 

I took them to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN and the Slavehaven Underground museum to learn about the civil rights and the underground railroad. They learn so much about history by visiting museums. They have so many questions to asked and I welcome the questions because I know they are paying attention and learning. 

Cajun Swamp Tour, Laplace, Louisiana

Family field trips do not have to be expensive at all. All you have to do is make the time and make it a family project. "Get them involved by looking at what's available in their area, visit the website to learn more about the museum or site you plan to tour." The kids can be very helpful and learn while planning. 

Last summer they wanted to take a swamp tour so they decided to sell fresh blueberries to pay for their own tickets. Every morning they would get up early before it got too hot outside and pick the fresh blueberries. They sold enough to purchase their tickets for the Cajun Pride Swamp Tour. The field trip taught them how to earn money and save money to accomplish their goal. They were so proud of themselves and I was proud of them also. The kids had enough money left over to go see a movie. Family field trips can help them in my academic subjects. 

Whitney Plantation, Wallace, Louisiana

From Whitney Plantation in Wallace, La., to museums and parks in New Orleans, the kids enjoyed themselves. We are planning our summer fun time at grandmother's house. I created the Facebook page to document and blog about our journey together. It's a great way to share photographs and videos with their parents who work and can't join us for the fun. While driving to our destinations they learn about the direction they traveling. "Whether it east, west, north or south!" Meeting new people, exploring new places and tasting new foods is educational within itself. Matter of fact is it the best education one can ask for.  I'm enjoying the family field just as much as they are. It's our quality time spent together as a family. It's important to remember that the quality time spent together is more valuable than money. I make the classroom come alive for them. Well! Our Mardi Gras break is coming to an end and they are ready to get back to school. They've already asked me to come to school and have lunch with them. "How can I tell them no!" I can't and I won't. I hope this blog article inspire you to take family field trips with your grandkids, kids or any child in your family. 

Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA

Harrell Inspired Other Genealogist to Donate Their Research Materials

Harrell donating her 2017 collection

My family roots run deep in the Florida Parishes. When I first started researching my family history in the local libraries and university, I couldn't find any records, photographs, and any other genealogy resources outside of the parish courthouse and ancestry.  I know my family has been in the parishes since the founding of the parishes and contributed to the society they lived in. 

They owned their land, they built their one-room schools. African American people in the Florida parishes worked hard to own and maintain their own farms and some owned their own business. They served in the military and not one monument with their names listed can be found throughout the Florida Parishes.  "Why wasn't their contributions documented?" As I moved forward to pursue my own genealogy research as planned. I started collecting photographs, documents, artifacts and genealogical records from other African American families in the Florida Parishes, I had to find a repository to deposit the items collected. 

Bennett donating her family files

In 2012, I called the office of Samuel Hyde, Jr. Ph.D., Professor of History and Director, Center for Southeast La. Studies/Archives to set up an appointment with him to talk with him about the rich collections. After talking with Dr. Hyde, he informed me that he would be happy to archive the collections, and how   important it is to the history of the Florida Parishes. The collection  help fill in the missing pieces of history in the Florida Parishes as it relates to African American people. 

I asked my colleague Bernice Alexander Bennett a Maryland resident, who is the host of "Research at the National Archives and Beyond," author, genealogist, family historian to consider donating her family papers and research to the Center for Southeast La. Studies/Archives. She agreed to donate her collection to the center.  Bennett spends countless of hours researching civil war records for Louisiana color troops at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Martin & Royal looking at Harrell's
collection

Another genealogy researcher named Stephanie Quiette-Addison Martin, spent twenty-five years  researching and documenting the history of African Americans in the Florida Parishes, Martin has submitted work to Afrigeneas and to Christine's Genealogy website. She is also published in the "Louisiana Genealogical Register." Martin offered to donate her extensive collection to the Center for Southeast La Studies/Archives. She has collected over 10,000 names. Martin is the Manager of the African American Archives for  Louisiana.

Karran Harper Royal, co-host of "Nurturing Our Roots Television Talk Show," and Executive Director of the Georgetown University 272. Royal is a native of New Orleans and talks about the impact of Georgetown. 272 slaves were sold to benefit Georgetown University.

Words can't explain how delighted and happy I am to hear that these noted and reowned genealogists  and family historians will follow the lead and donate their collections to the center.  

Antoinette Harrell Collection at the Center For Southeast Louisiana Studies

Nurturing Our Roots" Teach the Kids About Inheritance!"

Black Farmers and Their Land

Nurturing Our Roots & Extending New Branches

Nurturing Our Roots Genealogy Workshop

Mob Law in Tangipahoa

Last Tuesday morning, John Johnson the negro boy who so unmercifully slaughtered the Cotton family at Tickfaw, Louisiana, and brought up from the city to Amite to be put upon his trial, but the court was relieved of this pleasure as a mob of some 250 men gathered there after dark and took Johnson and Arch Joiner, who was charged as an accomplice, and another negro name Williams who was charged with killing his wife, out of the jail, while Johnson and Joiner were carried back to the scene of their unlawful crime to be burned at the stake. They promised the mob if they would not burn them they would make an honest confession, which was agreed to. They both then confessed to the awful crime and said two other negroes were with them and they did it thinking there was a large sum of money in the house. They were then hanged and riddled with bullets.

Source: Baton Rouge, The St. Helena, Echo- (Greensburg, LA)
              Jan. 22, 1897, p. l. Col.3.


http://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/cdm/ref/collection/LWP/id/6966

Black Field Laborer Near Amite City

Black field laborer near Amite City, ca. 1900. Cotton production remain central in the regional economy in the late nineteenth century. This photo can be found in Pistols and Politics " The Dilemma of Democracy in Louisiana's Florida Parishes 1810-1899. Written by Samuel C. Hyde, Jr.

Photo Courtesy: Buddy Bel

Amite High School 1970 Delores Harrell Washington

Delores Harrell Washington was a graduate of the 1970 class of Amite High School in Amite, Louisiana. She is the youngest child born to Jasper Harrell, Sr. and Josephine Richardson Harrell. She was the first in their family to attend and graduate with a College Degree. Some of her other siblings obtained vocational trades.

She served as an educator in Baton Rouge Louisiana until she retired. 

Amite High School Class of 1970

Sitting: Left to Right- Rudy Boyd, Mary Mabry, Cheryl Williams, Diane Belvins, Jo Ann Williams, Searlette Brayeil, Connie Brooks, Standing: Left to Right- Alfred Battiste, Jerry Bulter, Clyde Smith, James Holden, J. W. Watkins, Johnny Duncan, Sponsors: Mr. Jones and Mr. Wall

Source: 1970 Amite High School Yearbook

Celebration of Life for Ella Victoria Fortenberry of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Ella Victoria Morris was born the youngest of three siblings to Annie Mae Pope-Morris and Rafort Morris on October 6, 1923 in Columbia, Mississippi, on Monday 22, 2012. Victoria grew up in Columbus, Mississippi. She worshipped at Butler's AME Zion church for over 50 years. 

Victoria 2 years early as Valedictorian or her high school class from Marion County Training School in Columbia, MS. She then went on to attend Alcorn A&M College where she earned her bachelors degree in English and Social Studies. She attended Southern University, Atlanta Unversity, and Southeastern Louisiana where she received her certification in Library Science.

During her year at Alcorn University she met and married Howard Fortenberry and to this union daughter, Delores was born. She later moved to Amite, LA where she married Lathan Lucien, Sr.

Victoria devoted her life to educating and mentoring others. She began her career in Picayune, MS and later moved to Louisiana where she taught at O.W.Dillon, West Side High School, Ponchatoula High, and Amite High. After her retirement in 1980, she taught an additional 12 years as an Adults Education Teacher at Amite High School. There were the years that were held dear to her heart. 

Mt. Cannan Missionary Baptist Church Deacon Board

Deacon Board of Mt. Cannan Missionary Baptist church. If anyone can name all the men in the pictures please do so.

Third man for the right; Dr. Percy L. Walker.

Second man from the left- Lindsey Vernon.

Also in this photograph is Shedrick Brooks, Robert Vernon and Leon Vernon, Sr.

Source: Luther Tolliver Facebook Page

My Son Isn't For Sale

James Morris

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting a beautiful woman named Lorena Morris at the home of her friend Ruby Dunn Gilmore. She flew down to spend some time in her home town of Kentwood, Louisiana. I went over the see both ladies and decided to sit and talk with them about Tangipahoa Parish Training School for the Colored. They both were students at the school and both ladies were taking me down me back in time. Her siblings are; Charlie, Frank J, Lara Jane, Georgia M, and Joe Lee Morris. Her father James was born around 1914 according to  the 1940 U.S. Census. At the time when the census was taken the family was living in St. Helena Parish.

She proudly displayed his WWII photographs. But one story that stayed in my mind is the story about a white man in Gillsburg, Mississippi  who offered to buy her father in the 30s. She stated her father James told her he was a young man when a white man asked his father to sell him. James father quickly told the white man that his son wasn't for sale. Gillsburg, Mississippi is located in Amite County, Mississippi. This wasn't the first time that I heard people in Amite County talk about their relatives been sold or held systems of involuntary servitude.

She said her mother Dora was a house servant working in the white folk kitchen. Later she got a job working in the school cafeteria in Kentwood.

What Are You Doing to Preserve Your Family Papers and Photographs?

Antoinette Harrell preserving original papers.
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

Any person who has experienced a natural disaster or other catastrophic situations where they lose their home suddenly will tell you how painful it is to lose family photographs, albums, documents and family papers. In most cases, those losses can never be replaced.  "What if there were one picture  of  your great grandparents and a flood took place at your relative's house and the one picture was lost?" 

Just recently hundreds of thousands of people were affected by the recent rising flood waters in nineteen parishes.  Lots of family photographs were floating in water that became molded. Mold can be very dangerous and a hazard to your health.  You may want to consult with a conservator to have your picture restored if possible. 

I found that simply sharing copies of the family rare photographs with other relatives is one way of making sure that there are additional copies if something should happen to the original.  I use blog and Facebook page is another great way I share my images.  Digitizing your family photographs and papers are another way to preserve the images. But keep in mind that there a risk should something happen with the device you're using to preserve the collection digitally. To learn more about how to preserve the priceless family keepsakes,  please click on the link below. 

Most people have an iCloud account where they can keep copies of their photographs, documents, family papers and video clipping. Most importantly, your files are accessible from your iPhone, IPads and other Android devices. I also use an external portable hard drive to store my files as well. In the event of a catastrophic event or natural disaster, I can just pick up my external portable hard drive and leave to say the least. Nevertheless packing the originals of my collection is vital as well. 

Ernest Lewis and Catherine Harrell Wedding.

The National Archives site on how to preserve family papers and photographs very helpful. Most of the time we become reactive rather than pro-active. If you live in a flood zone, please consider your family keepsake collection when you prepare to evacuate.

It never to early to start working to organize your family priceless photographs and papers before a natural disasters. When a natural disaster occur,  most people can't think about saving those items. 

Please click on the link below to learn more:

https://www.archives.gov/preservation/family-archives/

Free Bob's Great Granddaughter Cora Bell Cryer-Evans

Cora Bell Cryer-Evans

Cora Bell Cyer-Evans was born in Fluker, Louisiana July 29, 1920. She is the youngest daughter of Nancy and Joseph Cryer, granddaughter of Rev. Robert Vernon, Jr. known as "Pa" he is the son of "Free Bob/Deacon Vernon.

Cora Bell's early years was spent at "Pa's" house in Vernon Town, better know as "Up home." She attended Mt. Canaan Elementary Schoo and later furthered her education in Kentwood, Louisiana.

Cora Bell married the late Edmond H. Evans during World War II and they moved to Hammond, Louisiana. In 1947 their only child, Brenda Joyce Evans-Johnson was born.

Cora Bell and Edmond became business owners in Hammond. They had the only black owned and operated dry cleaners in the City of Hammond and Parish of Tangipahoa. Ace Dry Cleaners serviced the community for years.

After the cleaners closed, she worked as a Domestic is several homes. In 1966, Cora Bell moved to Oakland, California and worked as the Supervisor in a local Nursing Home for twenty-years. When she retired, she relocated to Los Angeles, California and lived with her daughter Brenda; Grandison McEllen Johnson, III, son-in-law; and their two sons; Grandson, IV and Estevan.

After Brenda's death in 2005 and the death of her oldest sister Jannie Cryer-Ennis known as " Lil Jannie' in 2006, she moved back to Hammond due to her failing health. She lived with her niece Charlene Shockley-Kelly. In 2008 Cora Bell became a resident of the Hammond Nursing Home, where she currently resides.

Source: Vernon Family History Booklet

Mt. Canaan Elementary School Was the First School for African American Students in Arcola, Louisiana

Robert"Free Bob" Vernon donated the land for the first school for African American children in Arcola, Louisiana.,  The school closed it doors in the mid 60s according to Tony Stone. Free Bob didn't know how to read or write but he made sure that the African American children in the community had a school to attend.  He was born a slave and he purchased his own freedom. He also purchased 2300 acres of land. Giving each one of his children who married one hundred acres to help them get started. There is a community called "Vernon Town" in Arcola, Louisiana.

Photo Credit
Luther Tolliver

Singer Topsy Chapman of Kentwood, Louisiana

Topsy Chapman

Topsy grew up not far from New Orleans in Kentwood. She was surrounded by music, her parents believed in the cultural of music. Her father Norwood was a music teacher and her mother Roxie believed that the combination of chores, study and music was necessary for proper child development.  She is an admired singer around the world. She is joined by her two daughters, Yolanda "Peb" Windsay and Jolynda "Kike" Phillips.

In 2002, Chapman was nominated for Best Female Jazz Vocalist in the prestigious Best of New Orleans Awards given by Gambit magazine. She is one of sixteen children born to Norwood and Roxie. Norwood was first married to Myrtis.

She had toured all of Europe, Asia, and Australia and travelled the Americas performing gospel, traditional and Dixieland Jazz. Topsy's film credits include: No Cross, No Crown (2009); Tradition Is a Temple: The Modern Masters of New Orleans (2013): and 12 Years a Slave (2013). Her father Norwood was born April 4, 1898 to Henry and Laura Chapman in Liberty, Mississippi. Henry and Laura were the parents of William, Mamie, Lewis and Norwood Chapman. Henry was born in 1871 in Amite, Mississippi.

Henry parents were Joseph and Laura Chapman. They were the parents of Harris, Amelia, Celia, William, Henry, Susan, Jacob, John, Maria, Frank and Baby Chapman. According to 1880 U.S. Census Laura Chapman was born around 1835 in Maryland. The family was listed as mulatto. In 1870 the family was living in Ward 8, East Feliciana, Louisiana.


http://www.topsychapman.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDolZL7QBPM

Chapman Brothers Gospel Singers of Kentwood, Louisiana

The Chapman Brother
Photo Courtesy of Lemmie Chapman III

This article is a reprint and was brought by Lucille Watson of Kentwood, Louisiana. It appeared in the November 26 issue of the Dixie, the Sunday magazine of the Times-Picayune. The Chapman Brothers are natives of Kentwood, Louisiana and were in Mrs. Watson's choir at Brown's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, of which Rev. H.W. Andrews is pastor. By Gil T. Webre

"We sing like the Chapman Brothers. We don't have nobody' else's style." That's the way Lemmie, a one time policeman in New Orleans, and now a truck driver describes the music he and his brothers create. And that's gospel. "Gospel music tied in the traditional style, but somewhat modernized," is the way Floyd puts it. He's was a social studies teacher in Jefferson Parish school system. The blending of a traditional gospel music modern showmanship can be seen in the variety  of booking which the Chapman brothers had. Church-related appearances head the list. Occasionally, they perform at services, but usually they present special programs, independent of any services. During the fall and winter, they'll be a church Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama almost every Sunday afternoon.

Their songs are religious, with some patriotic ones (such as their Gospel version of God Bless American) thrown in for good measure. The Chapman Brothers singing group consist of vocalists Lemmie, Floyd, James (who's very animated in his leads) and occasionally Willie who handles much of the business of the group. Music is furnished by guitarists Henry and LeRoy, and drummer Norwood. 

Photo by: Jerry Lodriguss

All brothers, there are 16 Chapman children total have regularly put food on the table. So often they have problems getting together for rehearsal and to work out their gospel routines. Then to complicate matters, some other brothers either work or go to school at night. They find time to rehearse mainly on Saturday's and some weeknights, while generally limiting their booking to Saturday evening and Sundays. Between jobs and music, the Chapman's have little time to be alone with their families, but the brother look at it philsophically. If others have time for fishing and golf, they have time for singing. The Chapman's have been around Gospel music and songs ever since they were knee-high to dairy calves at their parents farm in Kentwood.

Norwood Chapman Sr., 80 was a farmer, barber, music teacher and strict disciplinarian. He and his wife Roxie 74, a teacher who quit the classroom when her family start growing. She believed that a combination of chores, study, and music was necessary for proper child development. Whenever a church or civic event around Kentwood required song, the Chapman's were always available to furnish it.