Descendants to Register Enslaved Ancestors On New Web Site
The International Society of Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry (ISDSA) will launch its Slave Archival Database on the Internet in the month of June at http://www.rootsweb.com/ ilissdsa.
Funded by a grant from the state of Illinois the slave database was generated from a campaign to collect information from living descendants across the country. The database will help to dispel the myth that African Americans cannot trace an ancestor back to slavery. It will also preserve slave research and genealogy for future generations. Pat Bearden co-founder and project director said, AIt is fitting that our new web site will be launched during the month long celebration of Juneteenth when over 135 years ago millions of former slaves roamed the country side searching for relatives separated during the time they were in bondage. Some were fortunate to have found their love ones but unfortunately many more ex slaves were not successful.@
Today we live in the information and technology age. Through the Internet we are able to gather resources unheard of twenty years ago. Through cross-referencing now we can search the web site for enslaved ancestors and possibly correspond with people researching the same surname. Jo Ann Page, ISDSA, co-founder states, The Slave archival Database web site has another unique feature, not only can you access the given surname of slaves along with viewing photographs, short stories and other pertinent information on our database, this web site is interactive. Descendants can contribute to the web site online by submitting their enslaved ancestor=s name, date and place of birth and any other information.@
Descendants who do not have access to a personal computer, can go to the public library to access the Internet or mail the information on their ancestor(s) to ISDSA, P.O. Box 436937, Chicago IL 60643-6937.
AIt is vital that we retrieve as much data as possible about this historic time in history before it is lost forever,@ Pat Bearden said.
For more information about the web site contact Pat Bearden at 773-238-2686 or email ISDSA at ISDA@aol.com.