The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) is a

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

based organization which pursues scholarly and educational work on the genealogy and history of

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

citizens. It was founded in May 1977, with

James Dent Walker James Dent Walker (9 June 1928 - 6 October 1993) of Washington, DC was a genealogist, researcher, lecturer, teacher, and archivist known for his research in African American genealogy. He has written and lectured extensively on black genealogy an ...

serving as its first president. Other founding officers included Marcia Jesiek Eisenberg, Marsha M. Greenlee, Paul Edward Sluby, Sr.,

Debra Newman Ham Debra Newman Ham (born August 27, 1948) is an American archivist and retired professor in the field of history. Education Ham grew up in York, Pennsylvania and graduated from York High School. She received a BA in history from Howard University i ...

, and Jean Sampson Scott. It currently serves 34 state chapters and a chapter for the

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, and it is a member society of the

Federation of Genealogical Societies The Federation of Genealogical Societies was a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in January 1976 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. FGS links hundreds of U.S.-based genealogy societies and their members. FGS merged with the National Genealo ...

. The AAHGS publishes a scholastic journal on its members' work in the field of

African American genealogy African American genealogy is a field of genealogy pertaining specifically to the African American population of the United States. African American genealogists who document the families, family histories, and lineages of African Americans are f ...

Notable people

* Sherri Camp, is the current president and a native of

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ; Kansa language, Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the Capital (political), capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the County seat, seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the ...

. *

Catherine Stokes Catherine Stokes is a pioneering African-American member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). She is also a retired deputy director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and a community volunteer. Stokes was born ...

, is a retired deputy director of the

Illinois Department of Public Health The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is the code department of the Illinois state government that prevents and controls disease and injury, regulates medical practitioners, and promotes sanitation. IDPH offices The Illinois Department ...

and a community volunteer. She is a pioneering African-American member of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

References

External links

* http://www.aahgs.org/ Genealogical societies in the United States Organizations established in 1977 Black studies organizations African-American genealogy {{US-org-stub