From: "David & Elizabeth Drembus"
To: "Adrienne Washington", FTerrell56@msn.com, "glenn eugster" , "Dave Cavanaugh"
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 12:49:42 PM
Subject: Lost and Found Stories
Hello all,
I recently attended a conference sponsored by the African and African American Studies department at George Mason University. The conference was entitled "Lost and Found Stories: African Americans in Northern Virginia." Speakers included community leaders and local history researchers from both Loudoun and Fairfax Counties. The speakers from Fairfax shared stories from the African American communities in Gum Springs, Falls Church, and Merrifield. It was a nice venue for people to just share stories and talk about their research and what has been lost and what has been preserved.
Dr. Wendi Manuel-Scott, director of African and African American Studies, mentioned that they have a relationship or grant project (I am not clear which) with the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation. They are looking for partners in Northern Virginia who are willing to share their stories, their research, and their history. I talked to her briefly about the Fort Ward History Group and The Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society. She is interested in having the group share stories and contribute to the Lost and Found Stories Project, if that is something of interest to you. I told her I would pass along the information.
Here is the project description from of the Lost and Found Stories Project from their website http://aaas.gmu.edu/lostandfound:
Lost and Found Stories Project: Blacks in Virginia Archival Project
Lost and Found Stories Project: Blacks in Virginia Archival and Research Project: This initiative enables students, faculty, and staff to engage in research in their "community" by learning more about the history and culture of African Americans in Northern Virginia. It provides opportunities to participate in the collection of oral history, papers, memorabilia, and artifacts related to African Americans in Northern Virginia.
A series of workshops on preserving and conserving African American history and culture, with hands-on instruction, shall be held in the Paul Robeson Room throughout the academic year. This project requires collaborative work with George Mason library staff, community leaders and churches in developing a collection of rare documents and memorabilia for the Mason archives. These items will be used by faculty and students throughout the Washington Research Library Consortium.
A long-term goal is to develop a CD-ROM, website, and a booklet on the archives and other holdings of African American material in Northern Virginia. Additionally, the center will house other archival records, resources, and artifacts. These resources extend beyond the Northern Virginia area and can also be accessed through the Mason archives. Faculty, staff, and students interested in working on this project should contact the AAAS director.
In addition, I am always keeping an ear open for Fort Ward/Seminary family names and two names came up from speakers from Loudoun County. One mentioned a Luther Stewart who was stockholder in the Loudoun County Emancipation Association and the other told of a John Wanzer who is buried in a cemetery in Leesburg. Do we know of a direct connection between Fort Ward/Seminary families and Loudoun County? I remember Fauquier County connections, but can't seem to recall a Loudoun County connection.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!
Elizabeth
To: "Adrienne Washington"
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 12:49:42 PM
Subject: Lost and Found Stories
Hello all,
I recently attended a conference sponsored by the African and African American Studies department at George Mason University. The conference was entitled "Lost and Found Stories: African Americans in Northern Virginia." Speakers included community leaders and local history researchers from both Loudoun and Fairfax Counties. The speakers from Fairfax shared stories from the African American communities in Gum Springs, Falls Church, and Merrifield. It was a nice venue for people to just share stories and talk about their research and what has been lost and what has been preserved.
Dr. Wendi Manuel-Scott, director of African and African American Studies, mentioned that they have a relationship or grant project (I am not clear which) with the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation. They are looking for partners in Northern Virginia who are willing to share their stories, their research, and their history. I talked to her briefly about the Fort Ward History Group and The Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society. She is interested in having the group share stories and contribute to the Lost and Found Stories Project, if that is something of interest to you. I told her I would pass along the information.
Here is the project description from of the Lost and Found Stories Project from their website http://aaas.gmu.edu/lostandfound:
Lost and Found Stories Project: Blacks in Virginia Archival Project
Lost and Found Stories Project: Blacks in Virginia Archival and Research Project: This initiative enables students, faculty, and staff to engage in research in their "community" by learning more about the history and culture of African Americans in Northern Virginia. It provides opportunities to participate in the collection of oral history, papers, memorabilia, and artifacts related to African Americans in Northern Virginia.
A series of workshops on preserving and conserving African American history and culture, with hands-on instruction, shall be held in the Paul Robeson Room throughout the academic year. This project requires collaborative work with George Mason library staff, community leaders and churches in developing a collection of rare documents and memorabilia for the Mason archives. These items will be used by faculty and students throughout the Washington Research Library Consortium.
A long-term goal is to develop a CD-ROM, website, and a booklet on the archives and other holdings of African American material in Northern Virginia. Additionally, the center will house other archival records, resources, and artifacts. These resources extend beyond the Northern Virginia area and can also be accessed through the Mason archives. Faculty, staff, and students interested in working on this project should contact the AAAS director.
In addition, I am always keeping an ear open for Fort Ward/Seminary family names and two names came up from speakers from Loudoun County. One mentioned a Luther Stewart who was stockholder in the Loudoun County Emancipation Association and the other told of a John Wanzer who is buried in a cemetery in Leesburg. Do we know of a direct connection between Fort Ward/Seminary families and Loudoun County? I remember Fauquier County connections, but can't seem to recall a Loudoun County connection.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!
Elizabeth
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