• Black Family Genealogy And History Society | Phoenix Arizona

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”.  One

Welcome to the members of our new Sun Lakes Chapter, which meets in the library of the Oakwood Clubhouse!

hundred fifty-two attendees came from many different states to participate in this event.

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, then the BFGHS secretary, accompanied the newspaper edition of the article.

On April 17, 2004, BFGHS members and guests took a bus trip to

Members of the BFGHS's Phoenix Chapter. Photograph courtesy of Rod Grimes of the Arizona Informant, 4/12/14.
Members of the BFGHS’s Phoenix Chapter. Photograph courtesy of Rod Grimes of the Arizona Informant, 4/12/14.

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.

 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.