The Invisible Staircase: Martin Luther King

Quote Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Invisible Staircase 
Let's honor Martin Luther King! Have you thought about the impact Martin Luther King has on family research?  In his writings he actually gives us a great view of the social impact of our ancestors living in America. 

Be A Pioneer
Let it be known that as an ex-executive in corporate America, my interest in Martin Luther King was not so much his “I Had A Dream” speech, but was engulfed in his use of the “Invisible Staircase.” It is here that I stress a basic mantra: the problem is people confuse what is hard with what is impossible. I can’t count the times I have had to bat down perceived obstacles. Just recently I wrote an eye-opening piece about about how I have chosen to share the impact of America's past.

Read this: So I Will Share

The Invisible Staircase MLK Quote?
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” It is from the resistance for change that The Invisible Staircase: Know Thyself” presentation was created as well as the So, I Will Share piece above. Maybe if we make it personal, and peek at our own ancestors' invisible staircase we will be able to conjure up the courage to make change.

What does this have to do with genealogy? Oh, so much! Our paths today share the same struggles, fears, and triumphs of our ancestors. It is through every first step struggle, not know the end result,  that we move the needle. This applies to our life, our businesses, or any new endeavors; not just genealogy research. It also applies to our ancestors' life - those first steps, as we saw even in the early 1960's were brutal. The first steps we saw pre 1860 were brutal. But our ancestors took the first step. 

I purposely weave The Invisible Staircase: Know Thyself with examples of Martin Luther King’s quotes and the courage of our ancestors: 

• Did your ancestors leave the cotton fields to explore the industrial northeast or Midwest?
• Did your ancestors choose to fight for a country in hopes for freedom? Or, naturalization? Or, to defend a country that questioned their ability of constitutional rights, or the legality of their right to citizenship?
• Did your ancestors follow a path to settle unexplored lands in the west of a vast country? 

And this is not just about one continent. Think about it. 

Did your ancestors willingly leave family and friends behind in a country across great waters?

The list is endless. My ancestors sold their land in North Carolina and Tennessee to settle in the middle of Kansas on unimproved lands. A new start, leaving family and friends behind in hopes of the American Dream. They traveled with a group of 52 members of their extended family. But,they had no assurance of what western Kansas would offer them in the 1880s? This had to be a leap of faith…just take the first step - MLK would say decades later. Most Kansans don’t know where Comanche and Harper counties lie now! 

Ancestors Who Worked Outside of the Box

 You Are A Pioneer, Kathleen Brandt

This is the working outside of the box theory in Corporate America. It is the spirit of the USA entrepreneur; the newly settled immigrant; the uncomfortable change of a political party every four or eight years; the acceptance of a new job, a new location, or the reevaluation of “old comforts.” Let's ask ourselves "Does the old way still serve your purpose?" Our ancestors asked that question. 

Based on America's settlements, migratory patterns, and social growth, we must think that the majority of our ancestors were willing to take that first step. 

Regardless of the circumstance, like our ancestors, we must walk boldly toward new endeavors, or through uninvited experiences. And, Martin Luther King gave us the first step in the quote itself: “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” 

Like our ancestors, we must forge along through the steps of a winding staircase before us.  For me it’s simple. Where faith begins, the staircase holds at least the following components:

The Invisible Staircase, a3Genealogy, Presentation, KBrandt

I wish to remember Martin Luther King my way: The Invisible Staircase

Be Historically Correct  

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Revised from original publication18 Jan 2021                                                                  

Stephens College, Columbia, MO. 2014

"Annoyed Child": Our Ancestors and Euphemisms

Our Ancestors and Euphemisms
If you read newspaper articles from 1915 to 1940, you will stumble upon words and phrases that suggest a crime but fail to define the crime. The phrase “He annoyed a child” was a common one during this timeframe. Our ancestors used this term to describe acts of child molestation, sexual abuse, or assault. Basically, early 20th century societal norms around decency and propriety caused for strong action. The seriousness of this assault on children was softened in its reporting by alluding to inappropriate or criminal behavior without directly addressing its nature.

Why Annoyed?
The use of “annoyed” can also be traced to legal terminology of the time. This was the preferred way to address crimes against children. Verbs like “offend,” “disturb,” or “annoy” a child, are riddled in historical court records, newspaper articles and divorce records.

What About the Child?

Well, some took matters in their own hands. Murdering Dad seemed to be an option. Matter of fact, as you see above, murdering the man who touched your daughter was "justifiable homicide." 

This was not the norm however. Children were often silenced or disbelieved, and perpetrators were shielded by societal taboos and unpolite topics to discuss. Yet, we see above that parents, sometimes just the mother, allowed daughters to testify. In one case above, the older sister also testified on behalf of her little sister who killed Dad. But, we must know that minimizing language to “annoyed” reflected a cultural discomfort with addressing these issues head-on.

I'd like to say, as awareness of child abuse and sexual violence grew in the mid-20th century... but truth is EVERYONE knew it! There wasn't a lack of awareness, it was a lack of acknowledgment. Anyway, after WWII there was a shift in transparent language. Activists, survivors, and advocates worked to bring these issues out of the shadows and into the public eye using the law and media!

Women Empowered

The term rape has existed for centuries but rarely used in early newspaper reporting or courts. Its consistent and direct use in media reporting began in earnest during the mid-20th century, gaining momentum with feminist activism in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, it is recognized as an essential term for accurately and responsibly addressing the crime of sexual violence.

Kathleen Brandt

Tracing Sharecroppers & Tenant Farmers?

The Columbus Ledger Columbus, GA, Feb 3, 1964, pg.Page 7

Researching your farmer ancestors can be challenging, especially in the South, post-Civil War. NO,  President Jimmy Carter was not born yet, but he, too, had ancestors, artifacts, diaries, data, and books. Check out the holdings at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum. 

Why consider the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library? Because our Ancestors were Farmers! And well, Jimmy Carter, born in 1924, revealed a lot about our ancestors' rural lifestyle. President Carter implemented policies and supported initiatives during his presidency (1977–1981) that aimed to improve the lives of rural Americans, including the descendants of post-Civil War families

Where to Start?

With a family tree like that one we first must ask "Really?" Yes really. When researching family history, we often turn to archives, historical records, and libraries to uncover the stories of our ancestors.

           

           

FamousKin.com

Now remember Presidential Libraries are specialized and you aren't going to find vital records - birth marriage deaths, but you may find ancestors like "Why did the rural farmer lifestyle of our ancestors need so much attention? We can find who, what, when, and where in genealogical databases and many deeds and records; but what about WHY? 

Researchers will find a wider view of ancestors through any President's papers. These repositories of history, preserve records from the president’s administration, personal papers, and materials related to their era. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library is no exception. While it primarily focuses on Carter’s presidency (1977–1981), it also houses resources that can enrich your understanding of your family’s past, particularly if they lived in Georgia or the South during the late 20th century.

Researching Tenant Farmers and Share Cropper Ancestors?
If your ancestors were farmers in the late 19th or early 20th century begin with gathering the following:

• Land Records: Check historical deeds or tax records to determine if they rented land (tenant farmers) or worked as sharecroppers.
• Census Data: U.S. Census records from the late 1800s and early 1900s often note whether a person was a “farm laborer” or a “farmer” and whether they owned or rented land.
• Local Histories: Explore local archives or oral histories for information on land ownership and agricultural practices in your ancestor’s community.

In the aftermath of the Civil War, new paths were made for landowners to maintain labor on their farms without the enslaved workforce. Mostly those who struggled tried, without success, to get out of poverty being a Sharecropper or Tenant Farmer.

Sharecroppers were farmers who worked someone else’s land in exchange for a share of the crops they produced, typically half or more. A tenant farmer might rent 20 acres, plant corn, and pay the landowner 20% of the crop as rent, keeping the rest for their family or sale.

Tenant Farmers rented land from a landowner and paid rent, usually in cash or a smaller percentage of their crops. A sharecropper might grow cotton on a landowner’s property. At harvest, they’d turn over 50% or more of the crop as payment, leaving little for their own needs.

Sharecroppers and Tenant Farmers were common in the South, particularly among African Americans and poor whites who lacked the resources to buy land. Over time, both systems contributed to the persistence of poverty and inequality in the region. But what did Jimmy Carter know about this. Well, we are talking the southern practices and here is a 1970 article on just that: 

Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, Georgia, Sep 17, 1970, pg 19

Finding records of sharecroppers or tenant farmers can be challenging but rewarding. These individuals often didn’t own property, so traditional land records may not apply, but there are alternative resources that can reveal valuable details about their lives.

What's at the Library?
While the library doesn’t house vital records like birth certificates or marriage licenses, it provides rich historical context that can complement genealogical data. For example, understanding the challenges of farming in the 1970s or the impact of federal housing policies can help you piece together your ancestors’ experiences.

What You Might Find

• Federal Records: Studies on Georgia’s economy, farming trends, or housing developments.

• Photographs and Media: Images of Georgia communities, Carter’s campaign stops, or significant events.

• Policy Papers: Documents detailing how federal programs influenced local communities.

• Exhibits and Oral Histories: Stories from Carter’s contemporaries, potentially including people from your family’s region..

9 Research Tips

1. Census Records.

• Post-Civil War through the early 20th century, especially 1870–1940.  The 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses often specify whether a person owned or rented their farm or home.
• Occupation listed as “farmer” or “farm laborer.”
• Indications such as “R” (rented), “O” (owned), or “F” (farm) in property columns.
• Agricultural schedules (available for some years like 1850–1880), which may list crops produced or acreage worked.

2. Local Land Records

• Tenant farmers and sharecroppers often entered into contracts with landowners.
• County Courthouses: Lease agreements or rental contracts might be in land records or probate files.
• Historical Societies: Some local organizations have preserved ledgers or documents related to farming arrangements.
• Tips: Search for records of the landowner. Tenant agreements may be filed under their name rather than the tenant’s.
• Look for deeds or tax records that describe land usage rather than outright ownership.

3. Freedmen’s Bureau Records
For African American ancestors after the Civil War: The Freedmen’s Bureau (1865–1872) helped formerly enslaved people transition to freedom, often brokering labor contracts between freedmen and landowners. Look for the following: 

• Labor contracts, particularly in Southern states.
• Complaints or disputes filed by sharecroppers or tenants.

4. Tax Records
Local tax records can reveal clues: Tenant farmers may appear in personal property tax rolls (for tools, livestock, or crops) even if they didn’t own land. Check the County tax assessor’s office or archives.

5. Agricultural Extension Records
In the early 20th century, state agricultural extensions and federal programs worked with sharecroppers and tenant farmers. 

6. Plantation and Landowner Records
If your ancestors worked for a specific landowner, plantation or large landowner records might include tenant or sharecropping agreements and/or lists of workers or correspondence.
Be sure to check out University libraries or special collections focusing on Southern history and local historical societies.

7. Oral Histories and Local Histories

Oral histories can provide personal accounts of tenant farming or sharecropping.
Sources:Library of Congress’s American Memory Project.
Local archives or historical societies.

8. Court Records
County or state court archives may hold these records.

• Disputes between landowners and tenants often ended up in court. Look for the following:
• Lawsuits over unpaid rent or disagreements about crop shares.
• Probate cases that mention tenant arrangements.

9. WPA Slave Narratives and Rural Life Accounts
These narratives may be found online through the Library of Congress or genealogical websites.

• The Works Progress Administration (WPA) collected interviews in the 1930s, including
• accounts of former enslaved people and their descendants, many of whom became sharecroppers or tenant farmers.
• Stories of rural life that may mention local systems of labor and farming. 

Thank You, President Carter

Kathleen Brandt

1890 Census Lost? 8 Resources to Recover the Data

1890 Federal Census Records weren't lost, they were Substituted 
Genealogists are forever lamenting the destruction of the full 1890 Federal Census. But, why? There are so many great substitutes.

In case you didn't know, most of the 1890 US Federal Census records were destroyed by water due to a 1891 fire at the Customs Building in 1921. Only 1233 pages or fragments survived. This means of the 62,979,766 people enumerated only 6,160 pieces of data survived

We talk about the uniqueness of the 1890 census here:

Where to Start to Locate Substitutes to These Lost Records?

1.  Fragments. Ancestry and FamilyTree.org also digitized copies of the 1890 United States Federal Census Fragment. 

2.  State or local repositories may have reconstructed the data or have originals of the original 1890 census. Idaho, one of six new states joining the 1890 census for the first along with North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington, has reconstructed mc of their 1890 census.

Idaho 1890 Reconstructed Census

3. One Place Studies:  Off The Wall: Making Sense of the U.S.Census (begins at 16:16minute)

One Place Studies are finally catching on in the USA.  They are effective and can be used to recreate the place and people in a location (county, township, state_ for your timeframe (i.e. 1890 in Comanche County). As of today, 21 states have at least one village, town, or county involved. Listen about One Place Studies and get your community of interests involved. Be sure to complete the free register so others know you exist. 

4.  Surviving 1890 Census Records 
First, know that the following 1890 census records survived:
->Alabama - Perry County
->Alaska - Logbook of Frank Lowell
->District of Columbia - Q, S, 13th, 14th, RQ, Corcoran, 15th, SE, and Roggs streets, and Johnson Avenue
->Georgia - Muscogee County (Columbus)
->Illinois - McDonough County: Mound Township
->Minnesota - Wright County: Rockford
->New Jersey - Hudson County: Jersey City
->New York - Westchester County: Eastchester; Suffolk County: Brookhaven Township
->North Carolina - Gaston County: South Point Township, Ricer Bend Township; Cleveland  County: Township No. 2
->Ohio - Hamilton County (Cincinnati); Clinton County: Wayne Township
->South Dakota - Union County: Jefferson Township
->Texas - Ellis County: S.P. no. 6, Mountain Peak, Ovila Precinct; Hood County: Precinct no. 5; Rusk County: Precinct no. 6 and J.P. no. 7; Trinity County: Trinity Town and Precinct no. 2; --Kaufman County: Kaufman.

5.  Census On the Five: (i.e. 1885; 1895)

Many states, like Kansas, Nebraska, Florida, Colorado, or in the territories of New Mexico and Dakota enumerated their citizens on state five-year schedules.

But widen your search.  Eighty-six counties of Kansas aren't listed on this ancestry.com listing, but they are digitized on familysearch.org.

This is where I traced my own NC - TN - KS -OK ancestors.  Here is my 3rd Great-Grandmother Louisa in the home of her daughter Sarah and son-in-law Willis. Ages are slightly off. Louisa was actually born in 1817 according to the original Tennessee family Bible, but again, we don't know who gave the information.  

6.  1890 Veterans Schedule

The 1890 special Census for Civil War Union veterans and widows of veterans are intact. This head of household census was originally an enumeration for Union veterans; but in some enumerations, you may also uncover your Confederate veteran.

It is here that by 1890 Willis had left Kansas and was removed to Hennessey, OK. It is also through these records that I learned the alias used by Willis Cox. It was Willis Mills. His USCT Civil War military records explained the surname change.  

 

7.  1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census

• Logan County
• Oklahoma County
• Cleveland County
• Canadian County
• Kingfisher County
• Payne County
• Beaver County

8. Others.  Don't forget City Directories, Land Records, Court records, marriages, etc that are held at the County Level. 

Happy Holiday Season. 

Kathleen Brandt

Honoring Veterans: Eternal Valor Network

Highlighting Salus Populi of Missouri
All across America, in large cities, suburbs, and rural towns, the watchful eye can spot war memorials honoring our veteran ancestors. Some are dedicated to a specific war or troop, and others provide a running list of town veterans or those who lost their lives serving our country. These not-so-known memorials most often display veteran’s names, but some are structures of “salute” inviting the community to learn more about local troops. Check out these few highlighted Kansas City memorials on Can You List Your Area Memorials?  Another wonderful celebration of veterans is The Final Salute held in Des Moines, IA. We most recently shared the exciting work of Salus Populi in Missouri. 

The Eternal Valor Network - A Consortium 

Tracing Ancestors, a 501c3 organization, has recently learned that, with great, intent and purpose, each of the organizations are working in isolation. So, Tracing Ancestors has established The Eternal Valor Network (EVN) -  a collaborative initiative dedicated to preserving the memory and honoring the military service of unclaimed Veterans and local fallen Veterans. 

EVN, a Tracing Ancestors Project, brings together coroners, medical examiners, funeral homes, Veteran organizations, and local cemeteries to ensure no Veteran is forgotten. We believe, not only should military history be preserved, but veterans must be honored.

This coordinated consortium streamlines the process of identifying unclaimed veterans' remains, providing dignified burials, memorials, and celebrations to commemorate their service. Through partnerships with local communities, state agencies, and Veteran advocacy groups, the Eternal Valor Network embraces our communities' shared responsibility to honor those who served. 

Preparing for Inaugural Event
Tracing Ancestors will host the inaugural Eternal Valor Network event Spring 2025. This gathering will equip EVN partners with resources and feature an inspiring lineup of keynote speakers, including:

• Lanae Strovers, The Final Salute
• Michelle Cook and Riley Sutherland, Missouri United States Colored Troops (USCT) Salus Populi Project
• Lori Berdak Miller, genealogist and military researcher from the National Archives in St. Louis, representing Redbird Research
• Lyle Gibson: (tentative) Veteran Air Force, Genealogist / Filmmaker

Donations

Thanks to your donations, Tracing Ancestors is on track to funding our 2025 Eternal Valor Network Inaugural Event. Help us meet our goal!

If you wish to donate, here's the link: Eternal Valor Network.  Be sure to check out Tracing Ancestors 2024 Successes.

Kathleen Brandt
President of TracingAncestors.org

5 Research Tips for your Black Cowboy Ancestor

 

 Wichita Beacon, 25 Apr  1975 

The Western Expansion

Sometimes I wonder if I was raised in an alternate USA. The Black Cowboy's importance to westward expansion has ALWAYS been a part of my ancestral history. I went to a "black rodeo" before the age of fifteen.

My maternal ancestors are seven (7) generations Western Kansans, my father's line was five.

Here's a photo of my Great-Grandma's second husband, Arthur White at the Hutchinson Diamond Pow Wow. (For G-GP Arthur, this event was not tied to Native Americans.)

Photo: 1946, Hutchinson Diamond Pow Wow. William Arthur White (Arthur), mulatto, born 23 September 1890 in Trenton, Missouri, died 15 May 1973 in Hutchinson, KS. Hopefully, this was just a git-up, especially the gun, since Arthur was blind in his right eye.

The seventy-fifth anniversary of Hutchinson, KS celebrated its founding with the “Diamond Pow Wow.” This four-day celebration was held May 15 - 18,1946, and featured street entertainment, parades, and a historical pageant. Three pages of pictures were taken and featured in the June 17 issue of Life.

Research Tips

Yes, you can find your cowboy ancestors too.
Library of Congress Learn more about Black Cowboys at “Home on the Range” by Neely Tucker at the Library of Congress.https://lnkd.in/gm7gghJU

1 )Learn more about Black Cowboys at “Home on the Range” by Neely Tucker at the Library of Congress.

2)  use the occupation option and put in Cowboy

Tobler was in enumerated from the Leavenworth Penitentiary, 1900

Get this, he was imprisoned for swindling others with Confederate bills (money) in 1896!!! Yes, a local market and a butcher let him buy a dollar worth of goods and gave him change on his $20.00 of fraudulent money. I'll share how I traced him via a subsequent post. He was fun!

3) local newspaper searches

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-iola-register/159250910/

4) Cowboy Museums. Did you even know there was a Black American West Museum in Denver? Go on a limb, and ask your local museum to share this part of America's history: Black Cowboys: An American Story.

The Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas

5)  Compilation of Black Cowboy Resources: https://lnkd.in/gSqAMs-E

Help our Fund Grow: tracingancestors.org
Donate Here:
Zeffy for Hittin' The Bricks with Kathleen
TracingAncestors.org

Kathleen Brandt, a3Genealogy

They Returned to a Divided Country

Tracing Ancestors is in the digitizing and indexing stage of this reference guide. This will be a part of our NEW Eternal Valor Network Project. (More information is on its way.) We rely on your donations!

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is to remind the nation that my ancestor, too, fought and served for this country. My ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, WWI and WWII, the Korean Conflict (aka War).

America’s military history is still not properly told in America's History books. But, the truth is documented in USA and world newspapers, Congressional and court case documents, local histories and military records, etc. Here are 5 other resources to use when researching your veteran. 

Let's do what we can to preserve and share America’s real history. Do not go silent! Our ancestors, all of our ancestors, must be honored for their “honorable” veteran service to the USA. linktr.ee/hittinthebricks

5 Military Research Resources:

Spanish-American War/Philippine Insurrection

Military Service by African Americans: America's History Part 1

Resources for Military History Research: Tips for Everyone
America's History Part 2

My Veteran: National Guard or Army / Navy Reserve: How to Research?

Military Records Lost in Fire? Let's Reconstruct Them!

They Returned to a Divided County

In the Great-Grandmother Underwood old cedar chest there are ancestral pictures, quilts, and a family Bible. There are also letters and notes, and a semi-hard cover book from 1919 “

Victory – History of the 805th Pioneer Infantry American Expeditionary Forces” authored by Major Paul S. Bliss in 1919. In the right hand corner “July 5th 1918 July 8th 1919” is written.

It was no secret that Great-Uncle George Strader served in WWI, his service.  His military files were destroyed in the 1973 NARA - St. Louis Fire, but Victory gives a thorough overview of the duties, challenges and environment of the 805 Infantry during this one year span as they were transported from Kansas to Europe and mobilized throughout France. Photos of thes service men were featured.

The 805th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, AEF, known as the Bearcats, was a "colored" unit formed at Camp Funston, Kansas. This unit served with the 1st Army and Advance Section Command in France during WWI and was a labor force of ditch diggers, undertakers and railroad mechanics. The 805^th landed in France on July, 1918 and served in Europe until July 1919. They saw saw 39 days of action.

Great Uncle George,with Company D, traveled from Ft. Riley Camp Funston 25 August 1918 to Kansas City where they boarded the Wabash train to Detroit. They were able to stop in Moberly, Mo. for a proper military send off by the “colored citizens” of the town. From Detroit, they took passage by ferry to Canada, stopping in Niagara Falls for a short visit before reporting to Camp Upton, Long Island, 30 August 1918. On Sept. 1, they were shuffled off to Montreal Canada where they were shipped to Camp Romsey in England. Having yet to arrive in France, they crossed the English Channel for France on 28 September. (pgs 107-111)

He wrote home and the Lyons Republican, local paper for Lyons, Rice County, Kansas posted the lenthgy letter in the 14 Jan 1919 newspaper. He shared news of other black soldiers who were within a 30 mile radius: Sterling Kansas, Geneseo Kansas, and Great Bend, KS.

 

  

  

Great-Uncle George, noted as a local "Colored Hero" in Lyons, Kansas, was not so loved by the county he fought for.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com