Center for Family History at the International African American Museum

10/17/2026

What if someone helped shape the civil rights movement, worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., broke racial barriers in business, and played a role in one of the most consequential diplomatic agreements between the United States and Panama...yet most of us never learned his name?

Meet Cirilo McSween.

Born in Panama, McSween built an extraordinary life in the United States as an Afro-Latino entrepreneur, civil rights leader, political strategist, and international figure. He navigated the brutal realities of Jim Crow, became a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and later contributed to efforts surrounding the historic Torrijos-Carter Treaties that reshaped the future of the Panama Canal.

So how does a life of that magnitude become largely unknown?

In this episode of Untold African American Stories, we sit down with documentary producer Justin O. Cooper to go behind the making of CIRILO: A Legacy Untold and follow the research that brought McSween's remarkable story back into view.

We'll explore the man behind the history, the records and memories that preserved his story, and the detective work required to reconstruct a life spanning countries, communities, and some of the defining events of the twentieth century.

And we'll ask a larger question at the heart of family history:

How many people who helped shape history are still waiting to be found?

10/07/2026

Live streaming link: https://lnkd.in/g3RijRK4

What if someone helped shape the civil rights movement, worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., broke racial barriers in business, and played a role in one of the most consequential diplomatic agreements between the United States and Panama...yet most of us never learned his name?

Meet Cirilo McSween.

Born in Panama, McSween built an extraordinary life in the United States as an Afro-Latino entrepreneur, civil rights leader, political strategist, and international figure. He navigated the brutal realities of Jim Crow, became a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and later contributed to efforts surrounding the historic Torrijos-Carter Treaties that reshaped the future of the Panama Canal.

So how does a life of that magnitude become largely unknown?

In this episode of Untold African American Stories, we sit down with documentary producer Justin O. Cooper to go behind the making of CIRILO: A Legacy Untold and follow the research that brought McSween's remarkable story back into view.

We'll explore the man behind the history, the records and memories that preserved his story, and the detective work required to reconstruct a life spanning countries, communities, and some of the defining events of the twentieth century.

And we'll ask a larger question at the heart of family history:
How many people who helped shape history are still waiting to be found?

10/05/2026

Welcome to Oct:

As we celebrate Family History Month in October, NGS is excited to support you and the genealogy and family history community with a few ways to explore, preserve, and share unique stories and memories from our families.

09/26/2026

It's taken 3 months and nearly 90 records to re-construct John Middleton, Esq.'s Charleston County, SC estate division. It's been worth it though!

I hope this helps Middleton family researchers who connect to John.

I've written up a research log which you can download below.

09/22/2026

Do you know who Cirilo McSween was? Tune in Oct 17, 1 EST
Join us for an inspiring conversation with documentary producer Justin O. Cooper as we explore CIRILO: A Legacy Untold, the remarkable story of Cirilo McSween — a Panamanian-born Afro-Latino entrepreneur, civil rights leader, and global strategist whose influence stretched from the American civil rights movement to international diplomacy.

Though little known by many today, McSween helped break barriers during Jim Crow America, became a trusted confidant to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and contributed to advancing the historic Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

In this engaging discussion, we’ll uncover how his story was researched, preserved, and brought to life through documentary film, while exploring why hidden histories matter to genealogists, historians, and communities today. Discover the legacy, the history, and the man whose story deserves to be told.

Center for Family History at the International African American Museum

09/18/2026

Tomorrow at 1p EST, join us...

You found the record. But did you really read it? 👀Every historic...

09/14/2026

good tips to share by Lisa Alzo, do yo have one to help keep you focused?

Genealogy research is fraught with distractions. Follow these six tips to stay focused and maximize your research time.

09/02/2026

You found the record. But did you really read it? 👀

Live URL: https://tinyurl.com/CFHArchiveRecords

Every historical document tells three stories:

📄 What it says
🏛️ Why it was created
🧠 What you bring to it

On September 19, Shelley Viola Murphy and Brian Sheffey explore why separating evidence from interpretation can transform your genealogy research. Untold Stories will introduce a research journey that goes beyond finding records and into how genealogists think.

We’ll also explore confirmation bias, the genealogical imaginary, and how understanding why state, federal, and legal records were created helps us recognize both what they document and what they were never designed to capture. And we’ll examine why African American genealogy so often requires us to look beyond the document in front of us.

And we’ll tackle one question every genealogist should be willing to ask:

What evidence would cause you to change your mind?

🎙️ What Does the Record Really Say?
📅 September 19 | 1 p.m. EST
📍 https://tinyurl.com/CFHArchiveRecords

Maybe you don’t need another record. Maybe you need to read the ones you already have differently.

You found the record. But did you really read it? 👀Every historic...

08/26/2026

NMAAHC's Freedmen's Bureau Project invites you to help commemorate a decade of expanding access to the records of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Transcribe records that document the lives of formerly enslaved men, women, and children and support scholars, genealogists, and communities researching the Reconstruction era. Join us in person or virtually.

Saturday, September 19, 2026
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
4340 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or new to transcription, join us as we celebrate 10 years of the project and contribute to making these important records more accessible for future generations.

Come celebrate, learn, and transcribe with us!

Register to attend in-person: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019fb9dc0a247e518da598255e41f3d4

Register to attend virtually: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/vST6TtdKSbynHZT98CK_SA #/registration

Join us to commemorate a decade of expanding access to the records of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Help transcribe records that document the lives of formerly enslaved men, women, and children and support scholars, genealogists, and communities researching the Reconstruction era. (This registration form...