In 1986, James Dent WALKER, Edgar LOVE and Lonnie BUNCH,realizing the need for African-American genealogists in Los Angeles to network with one another, began organizing a society which would provide a vehicle for Black genealogists to trace their roots. These men were encouraged by the acting director of the California African-American Museum to form a society associated with the museum. “ California African-American Genealogical Society” (CAAGS) was associated with the museum for five and a half years.
The first organizational meeting took place on 23 March 1986 at the California African-American Museum, located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California. The CAAGS was the first society on the West Coast formed specifically to research the genealogies of slave descendants.
The charter members of the society L. R. BUNKLEY, Frankye CHARLES, Marianna CUSHINE, Alva H. GRIFFITH, Zelda A. GRUBBS, Jamesetta C. HAMMONS, Loveen D. HARRIS, Brenda HEAVENS, Ronald W. HIGGINS, George B. JENKINS, Herbert W. LAFFOON, Edgar F. LOVE, Zakiyah MUNIR-AHMAD, Dorie RUSSELl, William RUSSELL, Mrs. Wendell H. SCOTT, Nettie SIMONS, Oscar L. SIMS, Betty Jean SMITH, Ozieal F. SMITH, Carol L. THOMAS, Doris L. WILLIAMS and Gerald L. WILSON. With James Dent WALKER and Edgar LOVEtogether as the driving force, members learned the skills of research and documentation from expert genealogists.
The mission statement of the California African-American Genealogical Society is:
· To Encourage and support the utilization of genealogy as a tool for African- Americans to become aware of their history, heritage, and self-worth
· To encourage the collection, preservation, and maintenance of African-American genealogical materials by supplementing various museums and library collections and such other repositories as the Society deems appropriate.
· To stimulate the membership and the general public to study, research and record their family histories.
· To promote and maintain ethical standards in genealogical research and publications.
Past Presidents of CAAGS (in the order of their presidency) are: Edgar LOVE, Jamesetta C. HAMMONS, Robert TAYLOR, Vernon ROBINSON, Mark GREENFIELD, Ronald W. HIGGINS, Kwame WELSH, Ronald BAPTISTE and Majorie SHOLES.
CAAGS has a diverse membership of over 140 members researching almost every state as well as Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe. CAAG has sponsored research tours to Salt Lake City and the National Archives (both regional and national) as well as seminars, workshops and educational outreaches.
Community involvement has included the Black Family Reunion and the Gene Autry Museum Conferences. CAAGS has been represented at many genealogical conferences such as: African-American West Coast Summit (AAHGS), Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), GenTech, Jamboree, National Genealogical Society (NGS), San Diego Family History Fair, West Coast Summits, and Discover Your Roots.
The "Show and Tell" meetings are legendary. CAAGS Writers' Group has
begun to produce manuscripts and stories documenting their family histories.
Many are already published authors.
CAAGS' publications include:
· Beginning Genealogy, Los Angeles Township 1850-1880 Los Angeles Township 1900
· Surname Directory 1995
· Book of Pedigree Charts
The California African-American Genealogy Society was featured on the PBS Ancestors Series episode on African-American Research.
CAAGS' sixth president, Ronald HIGGINS, was instrumental in encouraging and setting up new African-American genealogical societies in Corona, Oakland, Pasadena, San Diego, and Santa Ana, California, as well as Las Vegas, Nevada.
He is also Co-Founder of the Discover You Roots Conference with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is the Founder of the West Coast Summit on African- American Genealogy and the International Black Genealogy Summit (IBGS).
President Ronald HIGGINS, on behalf of the entire society, welcomes all to join us at our regular meetings every third Saturday (except June and August) from
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, at the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum, Located at 4130 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230. For more information contact Jamesetta (Jamie) HAMMONS at 323-636-8947 or visit our website http://www.caags.org
Revised June, 2011