The Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society

The Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society

The Fort Ward and Seminary 

African American Descendants Society, Inc.

May 2011

As a result of 2010 discussions with the Fort Ward Park Advisory Group and History Work Group, and the Oakland Baptist Church, members of the Ft. Ward and Seminary African American descendant families decided to form a private corporation in Virginia to gather information to help the City of Alexandria and the Church with work in the park and the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery. The purpose of the Society is to:

We describe, interpret, protect and celebrate the living legacy of African Americans who contributed to the defenses of Washington, D.C. at Fort Ward in an effort to win their own freedom which has led to a more perfect Union.

The primary goal is to share the history of African Americans in order to describe the role they played and the contributions they made during the Civil War at Fort Ward and in helping to create the Seminary community. African Americans were crucial to the war effort; and that the war is best understood not just as a military phenomenon, but as a social and political one as well. 

The hope is to assist the public with researching and ultimately gaining pride in connecting with their ancestor's personal story and their fight to make America a better country through their service. 

The Society members and partner organizations expect to conduct, perform, and undertake any of the following activities:

* To conduct oral histories involving families living near the historic Oakland Baptist Church and historic Fort Ward in Alexandria, Virginia.

* To conduct local research on the people and events that shaped the community near the Virginia Theological Seminary during and after the Civil War.

* To locate and ensure protection of artifacts and memorabilia used in exhibits. 

* To produce and present, independently or in concert with the City of Alexandria, other organizations or individuals, pamphlets brochures and theatrical productions dramatizing the African American experience before, during and after the Civil War period.

* To assist the City of Alexandria in creating and implementing an interpretation plan for the Fort Ward Museum that recognizes the importance of African Americans before, during and after the Civil War. 

* To assist the City of Alexandria in producing theatrical presentations that dramatizes the African American experience in a thoughtful and meaningful way.

* To solicit gifts and donations from private individuals, businesses, foundations, and governmental entities in support of one or more of the purposes or activities of the Corporation. 

* To collect fees: from admission to performances, from lectures, and workshops; and to do these and all other legal things necessary to carry out and fulfill the stated purposes of the Corporation. 

* To apply for designation on the National Register of Historic Places for the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.

* To redesign and replace the gate and fence to the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.

* To secure funds for a bench or benches for the cemetery and other family grave sites in Fort Ward Park.

* To secure private funds for a high school art project.

For Further Information:  To learn more about the Ft. Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society contact the following members of the Steering Committee, Post Office Box or Face Book Page.

Adrienne Washington, President

"awashdiva" awashdiva@aol.com; 

Fran Terrell

"fterrell56" <fterrell56@msn.com>;

Joyce Sanchez

"raymondsanchez" <raymondsanchez@msn.com>; 

Gerald. A. Wanzer

"gerald wanzer" <grldwanzer@yahoo.com>; 

Lena Rainey

"Lena Rainey" <lenarainey@hotmail.com>;

J. Glenn Eugster

"glenn eugster" <glenn_eugster@comcast.net>

The Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc., P.O. Box 16014, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 

For more information:  See the Facebook Page about The Ft. Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society. 

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