Headstart in Rockaway recovery report. After eight months of displacement caused by Hurricane Sandy, Rockaway Head Start kids are back in school. “We are happy to be back home. We still have many needs but we are moving forward,” said Cynthia Cummings, Executive Director at Rockaway’s Community and Family Head Start. First Day Back: On their first day back, the children attended a trip to the zoo and returned to their newly refurbished classrooms the following day. Their eyes were full of excitement as they reunited with their teachers and explored their new surroundings made possible by Robin Hood and New Yorkers for Children grants. The rooftop playground has been refurbished with new equipment.
Check my full article “Rockaway Head Start Children” posted on examiner.com: www.examiner.com/ny-in-new-york/sylvia-lewis.
Photo highlights:
Rockaway Head Start children play on repaired roof playground after Hurricane Sandy.Rockaway Head Start pre-schooler plays on repaired playground.
Rockaway Head Start uses therapy teddy bears to help children recover from Hurricane Sandy.
Soul Jaazz and Ty Stephens gathered their musical tribe together recently in a rocking musical send-off as they geared for gigs in Monte Carlo for the summer of 2013.
“It was the last date before their annual send-off to Monte Carlo for the summer. Ty Stephens & SoulJaazz (www.tystephensmusic.com) electrified the Metropolitan Room, Monday, July 1, with a program aptly named: “A Taste of Broadway Re-Vamped the Elegantly Funky Way.” Beside his artistry, a key ingredient to Ty’s magic is his acclaimed SoulJaazz band. Their synergy and tight grooves could only happen after years of having played and traveled together throughout Europe, Japan, Russia and other places.”
“A special soul jaazz shout-out goes to Richard Cummings, (www.imaramusic.com), my homeboy and husband of my dear childhood friend Cynthia. Richard is musical director, arranger, pianist/keyboardist, wizard and poet. Big applause and encores to the entire band: Tony Lewis, drums; Robert “RT” Taylor, guitar; Ron “Rondew” Monroe, bass; Richard Cummings, piano; and Ty Stephens, vocalist.”
To see video and read more from my post published in examiner.com click here.
Like a family reunion, family and friends gathered on a hot New York City evening to party and groove all night long.
Background on Ty Stephens from his website: Born and raised in Philadelphia, TY STEPHENS, started his journey in the entertainment business majoring in Fine Art and performing in school productions at Overbrook High School (the same school as famed alum Will Smith, but years earlier), and, studying theatre and dance with the Philadelphia Youth Theatre at Society Hill Playhouse. He went on to Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, only to quit in his sophmore year to pursue dance full time, dancing with John Hines’ Dance Theatre of Philadelphia until his move to New York City to join the Rod Rodgers Dance Co., and study at the Alvin Ailey School, sharpening his skills as a dancer.
After 2 years on the concert dance scene, he began to audition for and perform in musical theatre, with touring shows like “SATIN SWEET” and “THE WIZ”, before landing his 2 Broadway shows: the original casts of “SOPHISTICATED LADIES” (with Gregory Hines, Phyllis Hyman and Judith Jamison) and “MARILYN, AN AMERICAN FABLE” (with Scott Bakula and Allison Reed). While on Broadway, Ty began performing in local piano bars and night clubs, finally focusing on his voice and, subsequently, his songwriting.
“It was a difficult transition for me to make in the theatre world . I had to eliminate or minimize my dance background in order to be taken seriously as a vocalist and songwriter. So, I spent a lot of time away from the Broadway scene as part of that“re-invention”. I continued to write and sing in clubs, and you could find my voice on so many demos, it wasn’t funny! I had no formal voice training, but my natural talents carried me far. I had really studied the recordings I listened to, and it showed when I went up to sing. I learned from Donny Hathaway; Stevie Wonder; Roberta Flack; Al Jarreau; Jeffrey Osborne; Chaka Khan; James Taylor; Joni Mitchell, and Nat “King” Cole, to name a few.”
Here are a few photo highlights from NYC’s Metropolitan Room, an internationally acclaimed jazz cabaret.
Soul Jaazz Tony Lewis, drummer w Ty Stephens’ SoulJaazz at MetropolitanRoom.
Ty Stephens, Richard Cummings on piano & SoulJaazz @ Metropolitan Room.Abanda & Jamie deRoy w/Ty Stephens @Metropolitan Room.
My mother, uncle, cousin, grandmother, aunt in Trinidad
Researching Caribbean family history can be a challenge. Most of our early history chapters are steeped in slavery and indentured servitude. Searching by surname is not always the best way to learn our history. We must look at surnames for clues about the enslaving family and possible locations where our ancestors lived. Then, look for their property records, wills and church records etc. Caribbean genealogy takes a lot of patience.
Many of my ancestors are a mixture of many different people: African, Chinese, Indian, Latino. According the UK National Archives: “More than 1.6 million people were transported between African and the Caribbean between 1640-1807. Although the British slave trade from Africa was abolished in 1807, emancipation of the people did not occur until August 1834.”
Some of my ancestors were Chinese and arrived in the Caribbean via South America after African slavery ended. They were sometimes called Coolies (a derogatory word similar to the N-word!) and brought in as indentured servants, like many of workers from India, Europe and other places. Although these workers had contracts, they were treated like slaves, according to oral histories and other source material. But, it is possible to review worker contracts to learn their original names, and other information. The key is to ask a lot of questions and listen to the stories told by the oldest people from your island.
I found my grandmother’s papers at the National Archives Chinese Exclusionary Index on Ancestry.com. Here is an excerpt:
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. New York Chinese Exclusion Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1998. Original data: United States, National Archives and Records Administration. Index to ‘Chinese Exclusion’ Case Files of the New York District Office of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, ca. 1882-1960. New York, USA. National Archives and Records Administration–Northeast Region (New York), [April 1998].
Description:
Index of New York INS Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files 1882-1960.
But, many records about our families are still in files in the islands and the UK National Archives. Some Caribbean islands have very good records, some not in such good shape. Here is an excerpt from a list of resources, developed by Guy Grannum, a noted Barbados ancestry expert:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – the website has online indexes to Barbadian baptisms and marriages, locations of their family history centers, and their catalogue of their microfilms of archive and library material. Its Hyde Park Family History Center, 64/68 Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, tel: 0207 589 8561, has many Caribbean resources on-site, including registers of births, marriages and deaths for Barbados and Jamaica.
Caribbean archives, libraries and registry offices:
Most archives, libraries and registry offices do not have websites and it has been difficult obtaining these addresses. Where I have found websites I have obtained contact details from these, or used other official and government sites. It is possible that some of these contact details may have changed. My experience is that some services are excellent and others tardy but on the whole it can take some time to get a reply – be patient.
Anguilla
Anguilla Library Service, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI, tel: (264) 497-2441
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Judicial Department, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI, tel: (264) 497-2377
Antigua
The National Archives, Rappaport Centre, Victoria Park, St John’s Antigua, West Indies, tel: (268) 462-3946, email: archives@candw.ag
The Registrar General’s Office, High Court, High Street, St John’s Antigua, West Indies, tel: (268) 462-3929
Antigua and Barbuda Public Library, Market St, St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, www.thepubliclibrary.edu.ag/, tel: (268) 462-4959, email: publib@antigua.gov.ag
Bahamas
Department of Archives, PO Box SS-6341, Nassau, Bahamas www.bahamasnationalarchives.bs, tel: (242) 393-2175, email: archives@batelnet.bs
Registrar General, Supreme Court, Belize City, Belize, tel: (501) 227 7377
National Library Service, Bliss Institute, PO Box 287, Belize City, Belize, www.nlsbze.bz/, tel: (501) 223 – 4248, email: nls@btl.net
Bermuda
Bermuda National Archives, Government Administration Building, 30 Parliament St, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda, tel: (441) 295-5151
Registry General, Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs, Government Administration Building, 30 Parliament St, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda, tel: (441) 297-7739
Bermuda National Library, 13 Queen St, Par-la-Ville, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda, tel: (441) 295-3104
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Government of the British Virgin Islands, Central Administration Complex, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, tel: (284) 494-3492, email: registrar@bvigovernment.org
Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands National Archive, Government Administration Building, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. tel: (345) 949 9809, email: cina@gov.ky
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, General Registry Department, Tower Building, Grand Cayman. tel: (345) 244 3404, email: bdm@gov.ky
Public Library, Edward St, George Town, Grand Cayman, tel: (345) 949-5159
Dominica
National Documentation Centre and Public Library of Dominica, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, tel: (767) 448-2401, email: library@curdom.dm
General Registrar, Bay Front, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, tel: (767) 448-2401
Grenada
Public Library/National Archives, 2 Carenage, St George’s, Grenada, tel: (473) 440-2506
Registrar General, Church St, St George’s, Grenada, tel: (473) 440-2030
Guyana
National Archives of Guyana, 28 Main Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana, tel: (592) 227 7687, email: narchivesguyana@yahoo.com
National Library, 76/77 Church & Main Streets, Georgetown, Guyana, www.natlib.gov.gy, tel: (592) 227-4053, email: natlib@sdnp.org.gy
Jamaica
Jamaica Archives and Records Department, 59 Church St, Kingston, Jamaica, www.jard.gov.jm, tel: 876 922-8830, email: archivist@jard.gov.jm
The Registrar General, Vital Records Information, Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, Jamaica, www.rgd.gov.jm, tel: (876) 984-3041, e-mail: information@rgd.gov.jm
National Library of Jamaica, 12 East St, Kingston, Jamaica, www.nlj.org.jm, teL; (876) 967-1526, email: nljresearch@cwjamaica.com
Montserrat
Montserrat Public Library, Government Headquarters, BBC Building, Brades, Montserrat, tel: (664) 491-4706, email: publiclibrary@candw.ag
Registrar General, Department of Administration, Government Headquarters, Brades, Montserrat, tel: (664) (664) 491-2129
St Kitts and Nevis
National Archives, Government Headquarters, Church St, Box 186, Basseterre, St Kitts, West Indies, www.nationalarchives.gov.kn, tel: (869) 465-2521, email: nationalarchives@gov.kn
Nevis Archives and Library, Nevis Historical and Conservation Society, Nelson Museum, Bellevue, Charlestown, Nevis, West Indies, www.nevis-nhcs.org/library&archive.html, tel: (869) 469-0408, email: gdore@nevis-nhcs.org
Registrar General, PO Box 236, Basseterre, St Kitts, West Indies, tel: (869) 465-5251
St Lucia
St Lucia National Archives, PO Box 3060, Clarke St, Vigie, Castries, St Lucia, tel: (758) 452-1654, email: stlunatarch_mt@candw.lc
Registrar of Civil Status, Peynier Street, Castries, St Lucia, tel: (758) 452-1257 Central Library of St Lucia, Bourbon St, Castries, St Lucia, www.education.gov.lc/lib/lib.htm
St Vincent and the Grenadines
National Archives, Cotton Ginnery Compound Frenches, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, tel: (784) 456-1689, e-mail: archives@caribsurf.com
Registrar General, Government Buildings, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, tel: (784) 457-1424
Department of Libraries Archives and Documentation Services, Lower Middle Street, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, tel: (784) 457-1111, email: publiclibrary@caribsurf.com
Trinidad and Tobago
National Archives, PO Box 763, 105 St Vincent St, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, tel: (868) 625-2689, email: natt@tstt.net.tt
National Library and Information System Authority, 105 Abercromby St, Port of Spain, Trinidad, www.nalis.gov.tt
Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos National Museum, Guinep House, Front Street, PO Box 188, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, British West Indies, www.tcmuseum.org/ tel: (649) 946-2160, e-mail: use webform
The Registrar’s General Office, Front Street, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies, tel: (649) 946-2800
Source: Guy Grannum has been researching his own Barbadian ancestry for many years, and in doing so has gained first-hand knowledge of how to research West Indian ancestry. He works at the UK National Archives and is the author of a number of genealogical guides and article.
Have you searched at any of the Caribbean island archives listed above? Please share your experience?
Aunt Bertha’s home in Garden District, New Orleans, still there! Front door was moved.
I was the first person in my immediate family to visit New Orleans since the 1920s when my paternal grandmother Madame Tempy Stuart-Smith and her children escaped the Deep South. Like so many African-American families, they joined the ranks of America’s greatest Migration to the North. I have addresses from old letters left by my ancestors that provide clues to many family mysteries.
Aunt Bertha’s home is still there in Garden District of New Orleans. Original letter from 1920s.
I stayed in the French Quarter, a very lively and walkable district.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans, French Quarter
We ate, and we walked. We ate and walked some more. Go on a diet before coming to New Orleans! The food there is soooo good!
Great art too. Art, art everywhere–especially architecture!
Oh, did I mention that we were there for our anniversary celebration too? I do believe that New Orleans is one of America’s most romantic cities.
Anniversary dessert at Bayona, Nola
Dooky Chase restaurant is famous for soul food and its art gallery.
A very spiritual place, New Orleans is a magical place where many religions mix to create interesting multicultural blends.
I will celebrate June this year by marking my wedding anniversaryin New Orleans and Ocean Springs, Mississippi, the birthplace place of my paternal African-American, Native, Creole and Scottish ancestors.
New Orleans Mardi Gras
My documentary From Shanghai to Harlem, traces my family’s migration and immigration to Harlem. But, researching the film has taken over my life. I became obsessed with my mother’s Chinese Caribbean family stories via Trinidad, Guyana, Venezuela, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
Genie bloggers (genealogy) had warned me about obsessions. Once you discover a valuable piece of information, you go crazy looking for more. I found my mother’s grandmother in Cedrus, Trinidad. She had arrived from Venezuela, Orinoco River region. That caused me to look for her 14 siblings throughout South America.
Regretfully, all of that maternal searching and detective work led me to neglect my Southern roots. So, in honor of Father’ Day, I look forward to learning more about my paternal ancestors beginning this June.
My father, Alfred Burton Smith, was a baker and a musician—piano and violin. I always wondered about our music, dance and entertainment genes. I was trained in piano, viola and dance too. Is there a music or a dance gene? Science says No! But how do you explain family traits? Is there something in the New Orleans water? The NOLA Mardi Gras Indians and Caribbean Carnival have similarities that make me happy. So, I am always digging for ancestral cultural celebrations.
My paternal grandmother Madame Tempy (Stuart) Smith was a piano teacher in Ocean Spring and New Orleans. My uncles and aunts were all classically trained in music and dance. Was there one ancestor who started it all?
Food ways fascinate me too. I am eager to explore food and culture connections. My father was a baker by trade. That explains why I’m so picky about pies. But, why did we eat red beans and rice on Mondays? Where did gumbo come from? What about the herbs and seasonings and cooking techniques unique to this region? Maybe I should go on a diet before my trip.
Then, there are other June themes that intrigue me: Juneteenth! How did the slave masters get away with that one? And of course, recent graduation ceremonies and hurricanes are part of my June experiences.
Finally, professionally, I am excited about attending the Blogging While Brown Conference at Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Black Culture, June 21-22. I look forward to meeting bloggers both new and experienced, and improving other social media skills including twitter, instagram, tumblr, pinterest and more.
How will you celebrate June?
Aunt Geraldine, publicity pic from Hollywood film.
