The Ft. Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society

06/07/2018

Notice:
Festivities cancelled for
Sunday, June 10

Check back later

06/07/2018

Ft. Ward Commeration Ceremony is temporally postponed. Will notify of new date

05/14/2018

Older posting but still relevant

01/05/2018

CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Starting 2018 off with a cover photo of the VTS Annual Report: Dedication of St. Cyprian's labrinth on Seminary grounds!

We made the cover of Virginia Theological Seminary’s 2017 Annual Report

01/05/2018

We made the cover of Virginia Theological Seminary’s 2017 Annual Report

10/11/2017

Photos from today's Virginia Theological Seminary's dedication of the St. Cyprian's Labyrinth honoring our Ft. Ward and Seminary African American ancestors who lived, worked and worshipped on or near its grounds.

09/30/2017

WE WANT ALL DESCENDANTS, Cravens, Randalls, Wanzers, Terrells, Caseys, Belks, Adams, Halls, Ashbys, Woods, Johnsons, Simms, Colberts, Brooks, Bradbys, Henrys, Lewis, et. al, to COME TO THE DEDICATION, on WEDNESDAY, October 11 at 12:30 p.m.

HERE IS THE INVITATION:

Dear Ms. Washington:

Greetings from VTS and the African American Episcopal Historical Collection! I believe I last ran into you at Episcopal High’s MLK commemoration. I do hope all has been well with you since then.

Earlier this year, the seminary’s graduating class of 2017, along with the class of 2009, donated funds to create a labyrinth on campus, and they decided to name it in honor of St. Cyprian’s Chapel. It will be formally dedicated during our Alumni Convocation on Wednesday, October 11 at 12:30 pm.

It is my privilege to invite you to this event. Given your dedication to the history of this city, we would be honored if you would join us. Please let me know if you can make it, and I can provide you with further information about the location of the labyrinth.

We would also love to have descendants of the St. Cyprian’s community present on this occasion. I wonder—do you have a sense of the best way to spread the word to them? Any ideas you have in this regard would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks for your time and attention, and I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,
Joe

Joseph Downing Thompson, Jr., Ph.D.,
Archivist for the African American Episcopal Historical Collection,
Visiting Professor of African American Studies, and Director of Multicultural Ministries

Virginia Theological Seminary Box 148
3737 Seminary Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22304

703-461-1732
[email protected]

06/14/2017

Come Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m, at Ft. Ward Park, to HONOR OUR PAST with ceremony, song, prayers and memories.

06/14/2017

REMINDER: Our rescheduled annual program commemorating our Ft. Ward and Seminary ancestors is THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 17, from 10 am to 11 am at Ft. Ward Park, West Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22304:

HONORING OUR PAST: A Birthday Celebration honoring Clara Adams and Fort Ward's Rich African American History.

Program includes, prayers, wreath laying, well wishes from city leaders, remembrances from descendants and a walking tour following the program.

SEE YOU THERE!

05/11/2017

SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 130 p.m at Ft. Ward Park; annual ancestors' commemoration at "Aunt Clara's" gravesite.

05/11/2017

HI FOLKS! It's that time again, and we are planning our annual tribute to our "Fort" ancestors with the gravesite tribute to "Aunt Clara" Adams on Sunday, June 4 (after church services somewhere between 1-130 pm.) We will lay flowers, have prayers, sing a few spirituals AND tell tales about the old days at "the Fort."
Let us know here with a comment, on if you're able to come. Love to see old familiar faces!

04/07/2017

FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 10 AM TO 4 PM; FT. WARD PARK, BRADDOCK ROAD, ALEXANDRIA, VA.

Hi Descendants, We are NEED VOLUNTEERS to staff The Ft. Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society information table at Ft. Ward's first event featuring USCT (US Colored Troops) reenactors and famous abolitionist characters like Frederick Douglass and Harriett Tubman. If you can't volunteer to pass out flyers and talk about our "Fort" community, come out and support the program that sheds light on the how African Americans fought for their freedom during the Civil War.
Call 703-628-1726 for more details.