Where
did your ancestors come
from?
Before each
monthly meeting, a Beginning Genealogy
class is held from 11:15 to 12 noon. Guests are always welcome!
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History
of the BFGHS
Originally named
the Black Family History Society, the organization was formed
in early 1994 with Annie Sue Briggs as president and
Mary Gant as secretary. The
initial meeting was held at the Mesa Family History Center.
Annie Sue Briggs
was succeeded as president by Gail Stevenson and Henrietta
Beckford (1999 to present). On February 17, 2001, the group's name was formally changed to the Black
Family Genealogy & History Society.
The BFGHS has
been classified by Department of Treasury Internal Revenue
as a non-profit organization.
The Society meets
at noon on the third Saturday of each month at the Roosevelt
District Tech Center, located at 6029 South Seventh Street in Phoenix. At 11:15 AM (forty-five minutes before
the regular meeting), an instructor is on hand to conduct an introductory
genealogy class for beginners. Guests are always welcome.
In keeping with
its mission of researching and preserving the story of Arizona's
African American communities, members of the BFGHS and invited
guests traveled by bus on June 21, 2003, to Sierra Vista, Arizona,
to visit Fort
Huachuca. Once home to the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th
and 25th Infantry (Colored) regiments, the historic Army post boasts
the nation's first monument to the Buffalo Soldier in addition
to memorabilia housed in several museums on the premises.
On April 17, 2004,
BFGHS members and guests took a bus trip to Yuma. Arizona, where they visited
the Dees Brothers' Brangus Ranch.
Third generation agriculturalists Alex, Melvin and Elmo Dees gave
a lecture and tour (which included a hay ride) of the ranch, prefaced by
a repast at a local eatery.
During the month
of September, 2005, the Black Family Genealogy & History Society
was profiled in an Arizona Republic article entitled "African-Americans'
Roots: Group researches lives in Arizona". Reporter
Sally Mesarosh included quotes from Mary Gant and BFGHS president
Henrietta Beckford. A photograph of Katherine Ayers, BFGHS
secretary, accompanied the newspaper edition of the article.
On September 14-15, 2007, the Black Family Genealogy &
History Society hosted the Seventh Annual West Coast Summit on
African-American Genealogy. The title of the Summit was “Celebrating
Generations--Past, Present and Future”. 152 attendees came from
many different states to participate in this event.
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