Most of you don’t know that I am in the process of purchasing 150 glass-plate negatives from the historic Rensler’s Photography Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rensler’s opened its doors in the early 1900’s and closed-up shop in 1989. With the closing of the family-owned studio, thousands of historic images and/or glass-plate negatives were sold.

Many named images with associated records, from the years 1950-1989, went to Cincinnati Historical Society. These images live in storage, uncatalogued and totally unavailable to the community.

Thousands of unidentified images, pre-1950, were sold to Cincinnati locals and I am working with two of these gentlemen to identify and purchase 150 African-American Rensler images from the earliest years through 1950.

Why do I care? Aside from having a soft-spot for unnamed Ancestors, my Georgia and Alabama lines intersected in Cincinnati by way of my Maternal Grandparents, Fannie Louella JACKSON and William Charles BARWICK.

At the time, Rensler’s was one of the few studios willing to photograph African-American people, so over the years my family often turned to the studio to capture special moments. My cherished 1930 Catie WINGFIELD DORSEY Rensler image allowed me to see my 4th Grandmother for the first time.

This image of Catie was taken on a family trip from Atlanta to Cincinnati and was intended to give my 3rd Grandmother, Marrie WINGFIELD REYNOLDS, who was terminally ill, an opportunity to see her Daughters and Grandchildren for the last time.

The BARWICK siblings original Rensler images from the late 1930s are my prized possession!

Yes, I’m hoping my purchase of the unknown, will reveal more of my missing family to me. However, should I receive 150 Ancestors with no ancestral connection to me, I will be just as content.

I will believe whoever comes to me was intended to and I will honor them by sharing them with the genealogy community in the hope they can be identified and eventually returned to their loved one.

We shall see what happens… I am uber-excited to say the least!

I’ll also keep you updated on the larger effort underway by me and a few Genea-Friends, to preserve the several thousand remaining glass-plate negatives.

A descendants work is never done…

Luckie.

I am so stoked the day for our first Georgia/Alabama Root Diggers Genealogy {GARDG} Meetup is almost here!

Tomorrow at 2PM GARDG members will meet at the East Point Library for intros and some good genea-chatting!:-)

I look forward to the GARDG group expanding {we’re off to a GREAT start with 10 members!} and to rolling-up our sleeves with some good ole fashioned Georgia Root Diggin’!

So if you’re in Georgia and/or Alabama {c’mon, it’s just a short drive!:-} bring your SURNAMES, brick walls, research tips and questions and join us every month!

We have roots to dig and a host of Ancestors to find!:-)

Luckie.

I’ve been doing this Internet thingy for many a moon (both personally and professionally) and it’s seldom that anything online can catch me off-guard. However, yesterday was the exception.

While poking around my blog, I noticed that someone online had done a search for my Father, Don Ameche Daniels and my late paternal Grandmother, Lovella Cobb Daniels.

From the search criteria I could tell this person knew EXACTLY who he/she was looking for, that they’d searched 6 times on the same keywords and that the search landed he/she here, at Our Georgia Roots.

I know that visitor took time to read posts and viewed the budding Daniels/Cobb photo album I have online.

I also know that once that person landed here — if he/she didn’t know before — it was obvious they’d landed on a site belonging to Luckie Daniels, Don Ameche’s former namesake and daughter.

All of this left me very disturbed and a bit sad. Who could that have been?

I know that my Father and unknown siblings are out there. I so wish whoever was searching and found me, would go a step further and make contact.

How could I be a true genealogist/lineage-lover and not want to know all of who I am and who I am connected to?

In 1996, due to a series of life circumstances, I found myself briefly back home in Cincinnati and by way of letters — in touch with my Father.

Over a few months, we exchanged 7 letters and the exchange healed my heart.

Before them I was a wounded and abandoned girl, lacking understanding. After them, I was an accepting and forgiving woman, aware that though my Father, Don Ameche was just a simple human, trying to figure life out just like me.

Much of who I am today is due to the words my Father scribed on just a few pieces of paper. He didn’t know it, but he truly gave me the gift of a lifetime — a healed heart and spirit.

I wanted to write these words yesterday, on Treasure Chest Thursday and transcribe the last communication from him penned on September 16, 1996, but just couldn’t find the presence of mind. So forgive my tardiness.

Today the words flow with ease and I will allow the letters to remain between he and I ~ they are a treasure indeed  because in spite of my choice of name, I am and will always be my Father’s daughter.

I pray the next visit, from a loved but unknown visitor, will yield a connection.

May it be so…

Luckie.

P.S. Bet you’re saying there goes that number “7″ again huh? Oh well, I’m just lucky/Luckie I guess!:-)

The Slave Barracoons on River Street ~ very much our African Ancestors American Door of No Return. The view from the inside looking out.

Lest we forget…

Luckie.

While I respect the place The Hanging Tree holds in our collective history, no way am I allowing it to have the final word on our Savannah Escape!

Our final morning at the Savannah B&B was the sweetest {and the most bittersweet} for me!

Felicia made an early departure to catch her 8AM train, so we had to do our final hugs the night before! Many of you don’t know that Felicia started off as my client via Genealogy Freelancers many, many months ago. After several long chats with her I realized 2 things — 1.) she did not need research support, she was a genea-sleuth in the making and 2.) we had the makings for a GREAT friendship! She is like a Sister and no doubt, will always be.

When I arrived in the Dining room the lovely Mavis was already there to greet me with her always present smile {see, for yourself!:-}. Mavis is in a word — “bubbly” — and aside from her lead-foot on the gas peddle {geez, don’t even try following behind her in a car!), a true class act and Sister-friend for life!:-)

Also to greet me in the parlor were blueberry pancakes and the sweetest harmony I’ve heard in a long time coming from the petite, quiet Sarah Jane! Such a beautiful voice could easily lull you to sleep!:-)

There was just no way to leave Savannah without paying our respect to the River where many of our Ancestors first touched American soil, so after breakfast and check-out, we were off to the Savannah River.

One of the most challenging places for me in Savannah has always been River Street, with its cobblestone walk and the Barracoons {slave portals where our Ancestors were stored before market}. While you cannot find it printed in ANY of the Savannah marketing materials, River Street was laid by Slave Men, Women and Children.

There is much suffering baked into the beauty of that stretch of cobblestone.

Although the Barracoons still brought me sadness — standing there looking in and out — I also felt a peace there I haven’t before. Maybe it’s age and the fact that I no longer run from my responsibility to my Ancestors, that allowed me to take in the moment. They now know how deeply I love and respect their sacrifice for me.

So deep is my love that I allowed Ms. Sandra to encourage me to go ALONE and “borrow” a few pieces of the historic property where cars are now permitted to park! Yes ~ I brought a cobblestone from River Street home with me and each of the Savannah Travelers also has a piece of the flooring from the Barracoons where our Ancestors slept, cried, mourned, sang and died.

Mavis may not want the story to be told, but she almost entered into a polygamous marriage with the gifted Artist, Jean-Claude Martin.  On my next trip to Savannah, I must return with one of his paintings!

As a close, the four of us {Sandra, Mavis, Bernard and me} sat on the River, enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather and our last few minutes of the trip.

Finally, we hugged Mavis and headed for home.

I spent the next 4 hours sleeping, chatting, laughing and eating with my Georgia Fam – San and Bernard. Quiet as it’s kept, Sandra T is my SHEro — hard on herself, but giving and SUPER-tolerant of everyone else {well, almost everyone — sorry, Bernard!:-}.

This weekend I spent my “me” time with my 3 new Sisters and 1 brother. Although my Family at home is ever-changing {pray for Mom}, it is also growing everyday and that’s just the way God intended it to be…

He knew that I would need you.

Until the next trip…

Luckie.

[Note: to see all the Savannah images -- Luckie's View -- click here!:-]

Dear God, it was a tomb for many unfortunate and undeserving Ancestors.

The Hanging Tree ~ Savannah, Georgia

Lest we forget.

Luckie.

In chatting about this trip, it was SUPER important for me to not overly plan or coordinate activities. Being a single Mom of 2 + a Project Manager, I live by timelines and logistics 7 days a week — I wanted/needed a break from the norm with our Savannah trip!

Happily, that’s EXACTLY what I got! Mavis, Felicia, Sandra and I were just happy to be together, so it was easy relax and enjoy the trip!:-)

On Saturday morning we woke early to a breakfast of biscuits n’ gravy, eggs, juice and coffee served in the B&B’s sitting parlor. We were already running late for the conference {yep, we missed the free DNA test, dang it!} so we gobbled our food up and hurried out!

Although a conference for beginning genealogists, I was excited about attending the conference {my first official Genealogy event!:-} and really surprised to find the SEFH Expo was filled with mostly brown faces of folks with intriguing ancestor stories and a budding interest in tracing their roots!

Felicia and I hung out with presenter Darius Gray who spoke on Freedmen Bank Records and the importance of preserving your family history.

Now — you MAY hear from Felicia that I KINDA took over Darius’ class AND computer. Hmmm, my take? I was “helping” him to share information with the 45+ [genea-hungry] researchers in the room of how to get online with their questions and findings.

See… I’m innocent I tell ya!:-)

Along with the verbal spanking I gave Darius for not sharing his amazing personal family story online and not encouraging other researchers to do the same, I enjoyed chatting with an interesting mix of attendees!

There was Greg Grant from Geechee Kunda, the Geechee-Gullah descendant skilled in the art of Sweetgrass Basket weaving and JoAnn James, a new Savannah transplant returning to be closer to her Ancestral grounds! A lovely Sister who dug my Lapis crystal pendant and was ready to soar with her research and another Sister sharing the story of her Ancestor who continued to defy oppression by repeatedly running away from his owner! Yes, we  had a GOOD time!

By midday we were all ready for lunch and to catch-up with Johnnie Brown of the Freedom Trail Tours. He did not disappoint — Savannah’s history and Johnnie’s ability to retain [and share] it is AMAZING!

Although great all around, I have to say that seeing the Hanging Tree and visiting Laurel Grove Cemetery {which was once a plantation} were the most moving for me.

Hard to explain but there was a lot of energy moving about in that cemetery. Yes, death was there but also much suffering — we were able to see the whipping tree, where slaves received lashes. Sorry — I couldn’t capture a shot of this but Felicia did. You could see still see where the lashes sliced the bark. Can you imagine what the ancestor being punished endured?

Another favorite was the Beach Institute African American Cultural Center, which was Savannah’s first African-American school built post-Emancipation in 1867. Today it serves as an art gallery, showcasing the works of gifted late folk artist, Ulysses Davis.

Aside from being a Barber, Ulysses {1914-1990} was a self-taught MASTER carver who somehow summoned cultural influences from an African continent he’d never seen!

Hands-down, Johnnie Brown provided the Savannah cultural education, we’d traveled to experience!:-)

Is it time to eat yet? YES! We were just heading down Bay Street when I spotted The Pirates House Restaurant complete with wooden pirate statues  {that’s him Mavis is feeling up on!:-} and a VERY real, Johnnie Depp look-alike, Captain Jack!:-)

Of course while waiting for my food, I was getting my *tweet* on, so when Capt. Jack visited our table, picked-up my phone and started scrolling through tweets, I quickly [and loudly] responded “Captain Jack is playing with my Twitter!” Yes ~ it was only AFTER I said it and noted the laughter in the Restaurant, that I realized my slip of the tongue {no pun intended!}.

And of course, Ms. Felicia did not hesitate to quickly “share” my slip with the rest of Tweetville!:-)

After dinner we [briefly] kicked around the idea of checking out THE Lady Chablis {and she *tweets* – @TheLadyChablis!} but finally agreed that we were all way to full and tired to go the distance! Ahh, I’m not what I used to be — it wasn’t even 9PM!:-)

Nestled back at Savannah B&B we closed the evening with a viewing of Sankofa! Heavy – yes, but relevant. It is the Ancestors experience…

Tune in tomorrow for the dish on how Mavis almost married Haitian Artist Jean-Claude Martin and how Sandra put me up to “borrowing” pieces of Savannah’s River Street history!:-)

Luckie.

P.S. Don’t worry — I’ll be Mad next Monday!:-)

For the past few weeks, me and several of my dearest genea-pals {@Sjtaliaferro, @NCChemist and @MyNolaHeritage} had planned to meet in Savannah this weekend to attend the Southeast Family History Expos!

Aside from the tease of having a genealogy event so close by, we all really wanted to meet and enjoy real time with the folks we spend so much time sharing with online.

Well, in a word our weekend escape to Savannah was EFFORTLESS! It truly could not have been more perfect!

The weekend was filled with so many special moments that I’ve decided not to try to pack them all into one post… so bear with me friends, because I want to capture all of those moments, I’ll spread my posts out over the next few days.

Cool? Cool! Getting there…

So after a REALLY “eventful” Friday day, I was thrilled to exhale and have a backseat view of San poking fun at her amazing Baby Brother, Bernard, during our drive from Atlanta! Their story is a post all by itself but let me say they represent what siblings should be to each other — best friends.

Bless his heart! Bernard tolerated us and our genealogy-plantation-graveyard-lovin’ ways the entire weekend with few complaints. The man is a Saint!:-)

When we arrived in Savannah,  we were happy to find Mavis {@NCChemist} and Felicia {@MyNolaHeritage} waiting for us in the lobby of the SUPER charming n’ cozy Savannah Bed & Breakfast Inn to offer hugs and welcomes!

To my surprise, “Paula” from guest services had waited up for our arrival to get us squared away — who does that? When I entered my room “The Oriental” I was blown away that the room resonated with the colors of my home and blog AND Buddha was there to greet me right over the bed! For a girl who doesn’t sleep well away from home, immediately my spirit was at ease. It really felt like the room had been hand-picked just for me!:-)

We ended our evening with a round of girl-talk in Sandra and Bernard’s room, The Oglethorpe. It felt less like I was meeting strangers and more like I was just catching up with my really good friends. Like I said… effortless.

When I finally returned to my room — after taking pictures of most everything and grabbing warm cookies from the lobby — I hopped up on my Buddha-bed and slept like a baby!

Heck, I’m off to bed now — but this time in my own!

Tomorrow –> genealogy, graveyards and fun with Captain Jack!:-)

Thanks to all of you who followed our fun via Twitter all weekend and thanks to my Genea-Sisters – Mavis, San and Felicia + one very special Bro, Bernard, for making this a trip to remember!

Sweet dreams…

Luckie.

Good News! I am thrilled to see the Carnival of African-American Genealogy {CoAAG} come into fruition and honored to serve as its first Host!:-)

On March 19th Restore My Name – Slave Records and Genealogy Research, will kick-off the first of an ongoing series of African-American themed carnivals, intended to be a gathering place for the community to share and learn about African-American genealogy.

Our first CoAAG discussion theme will deal with how records of slave ownership are handled by the genealogy researcher. Contributors will be asked to write a blog post (at their own blogs) on one or more of the following aspects:

• What responsibilities are involved on the part of the researcher when locating names of slaves in a record?
• Does it matter if the record(s) are related to your ancestral lines or not?
• As a descendant of slave owners, have you ever been pressured by family not to discuss or post about records containing slave names?
• As a descendant of slaves, have you been able to work with or even meet other researchers who are descendants of slave owners?
• Have you ever performed a Random Act of Genealogical Kindness involving slave ownership records? Or were you on the receiving end of such kindness?

Submissions will be accepted starting today through March 12th 11:59 PM EST. Once you’ve created your blog post, use the blog carnival submission form to make sure it is included in the CoAAG post on 19 February 2010.

We’re also in search of hosts for future CoAAG Carnivals so if you have interest, please give me {@OurGeorgiaRoots} and/or GeneaBloggers {@GeneaBloggers} a *tweet*!:-)

If you’re new to carnivals and needing a quick “how to” so that you can join the fun, no worries — checkout these two resources:

• Blog Carnival FAQs
• How to Submit a Post to a Carnival

We’ve all witnessed the benefit yielded from coming together as a community to openly share our varying perspectives around slavery and its impacts to both past and present culture.

Let’s commit to keeping this very relevant {and healing} dialogue going and use it as a catalyst to continue to grow and learn.

We must be the change we wish to see in the world ~ Mohandas Gandhi

Luckie.

10+ years ago, I worked with an UBER-cool design agency that created a beautiful, historic website for Greene County Heritage. I loved it then — I love it still!

So how surprised was I on a recent visit to the site, to discover in the Portrait Gallery of the Media Archives, several images of HILLMANS taken at the famous Rensler’s Photography Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio? The very same studio where several of my Ancestors posed for pictures in the early to late 1930s!

Now I am familiar with HILLMANS being in Warren County. Matter of fact, many former CODY and DAWSON slaves lived/worked on Hillman’s Farm after Emancipation. But I’d never known of HILLMANS being in neighboring Greene Co. until I saw these images!

How have I missed them for all these years?!

Just makes me wonder how Ike, Anne May and the other HILLMANS ended up in Cincinnati’s Rensler’s Studio and if I could be looking in the face of more of my unknown East Georgia kin.

Hmmm… we shall see how this mystery unfolds!:-)

Luckie.

[Image Source: www.GreeneCountyHeritage.org | Ike & Anne May - relatives of Mamie Hillman]