This episode is directed primarily toward European-American Latter-Day Saints, but no matter what, you will get something out of it. I discuss the Mormon Law of Consecration and how I apply it to family history work and working with others; the differences between African-American and European American genealogy; and the specific case of my research on a reparational tree for Recy Corbitt Taylor and anyone who may search out her family.
Welcome to Episode 2 of Ancestors Alive Genealogy, from Paper to People. I’m your host with the most, Carolynn ni Lochlainn. Still no intro music because I’m just not that cool yet, but I hope to make up for that with sheer geekiness and dedication.
Last week I said I’d discuss social security records in my second episode, but input and inspiration from David Richards (thank you, David) and the intervention of current events inspired me to lean in a different direction. So, this week I’m discussing:
Consecration, Recy Thomas and African-American Genealogy, or Reparational Work
- Today I’m speaking largely to white Mormons in this episode, because there are a lot of things that they don’t realize about the great differences between European-American and African-American genealogy
- I don’t speak for the Church, I speak for my synthesis of my experience in the Church and in life.
- Even if you’re not Mormon OR Euro-American, there’s good stuff here for you, so keep listening
- I believe that this is my life’s calling, and I’m still learning, but this is what I know so far.
- I believe all people have a duty of care to one another, and whatever we know, whatever our strengths, our duty of care as humans is to buoy each other up.
- If you’re white or Euro-American (interchangeable), don’t get defensive as you listen. Just listen, and try to identify. Look inside yourself, be honest, and see where this can apply to you.
What is consecration? LDS MAGAZINE in 2013 said: “To consecrate something is to sanctify, purify and set it apart for a sacred use, to make it holy, to dedicate it solemnly to a special service, or to give it religious sanction as with an oath or a vow. When we make the covenant of consecration, we agree to consecrate our lives, including everything that we have, will have, are or will be. We consecrate “our time, talents and means to care for those in need-whether spiritually or temporally-and in building the Lord’s kingdom.” “And how much is one able to give? Exactly as much as the Lord has given him or her – all that with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he will bless you.”
In Sunday School, or Gospel Doctrine class, the teacher frequently cites the Doctrine and Covenants, an LDS text.
The Doctrine and Covenants is a subject-matter diary of revelation to Joseph Smith, rules & regulations of being a Latter-Day Saint. Here are some applicable sections:
Doctrine and Covenants 82:17–19. (To help the Lord’s people improve their talents for the good of all, seek the interest of their neighbor, and do all things with an eye single to God’s glory.)
Doctrine and Covenants 51:9. (To help the Lord’s people be one.)
Doctrine and Covenants 78:3–7. (To make the Lord’s people equal in earthly things and help them receive a place in the celestial kingdom.)
Doctrine and Covenants 78:14. (To help the Church “stand independent above all other creatures.”)
What does that mean? If you know how to do this work, it’s your job to share your knowledge, to research for others, and to teach others self-sufficiency in genealogical research. As Euro-Americans, we benefit from a government and society designed by and for Euro-Americans. We have better records, so it behooves us to share our research and know-how as professionals and hobbyists to benefit those trying to construct their ancestry by swimming upstream in a dry flow of records. This is true not just for African-Americans, but also fostered and adopted persons. My experience is primarily with black researchers.
How is African American genealogy different?
- Folklore-dependent (old-school for Ancestry, MyHeritage and even FamilySearch users because databases of documents have replaced boxes of certificates, letters and other documents)
- In-person procurement of vital records frequently necessary because some locations are lazy about digitizing poc records
- Family record stashes in shoe boxes in the attic or under the bed, or even family bibles, are necessary because not all families reported deaths or births to government offices and not all offices bothered to record or preserve records.
- Why? Because Jim Crow. I urge you to Google & read if this sounds unlikely or alien.
- Brick wall: 1870 Census, slave schedules.
- Societally-imposed broken families and fluidity of marriage and common-law marriage, who raised whose genetic children. For more on this, Google “books about the structure of African American families” and find you’ll find something interesting.
Current Events: Golden Globes
I had a sharp reaction and response to Oprah’s reminder in her Golden Globes speech about Recy Corbitt Thomas. She was brutally raped in 1944, the NAACP investigation headed by Rosa Parks and the urge to prosecute didn’t win, but it was a forerunner of #MeToo movement. She had extraordinary strength. Mrs. Thomas died on December 28, at age 97. As I read the NYT article about her, I realized it gave her birth and married names, named her father, gave her birth and death dates and places. That was enough to start a tree. Since use of FamilySearch is free and most users are white, I decided to take advantage of my privilege as a Magical Mormon to research her family in Ancestry and transfer the tree to FS. Sure enough, her tree was not researched and posted publicly. I worked for some hours, and I have a way to go. I had a hard time with her dad’s side, but extraordinarily I have traced back to her 3rd great-grandparents Ned & Rhoda Lynn, estimated births in Virginia in 1790 and 1795, respectively. That’s just from Census and vital records, which is NUTS.
I can teach you how to do this, how to be of service. If you’re in metro NY, I can teach you in person, but in future podcasts I’ll teach you tips and tricks about methodology, relative weight of data from a variety of records and resources, and how to maximize Ancestry’s resources to your advantage.
Find me online at ancestors-alive.com and on Facebook at Ancestors Alive! Genealogy
Follow me on Twitter @AncestorsAlive
I’m even on IG @AncestorsAliveGenealogy
Have a great week, do your research, and Expect Surprises.
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