Historically Speaking
Published by The Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc.
P.O. Box 63
Buffalo NY 14207
www.aahanf.org
Sharon Holley, Madeline Scott, and Sonia Walker, Editors
Volume 37
Number 2 October 2013
AAHANF Annual Dinner and Meeting
37th Annual Carter G. Woodson Essay Contest
A wonderful historical presentation about the Buffalo Colored
Musicians Club, which was formed in Buffalo in 1917, was
given by the club’s President, George Scott at the AfroAmerican Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier’s
36th Annual Family History Dinner and Annual Meeting on
May 9th. All By-Law changes passed during the annual
meeting and the Constitution and By-Laws is available to the
membership.
The theme for the 37th Annual Carter G. Woodson Essay
Contest is “A Tribute to African American Organizations in
Western New York.” The contest is open to all young people
in grades 4 – 12. Essays must be written (printed or typed) in
500 words or less on this topic. The history of the organization
or a local chapter must have been started in the Western New
York area. The history of the organization and / or
biographical information on the work of a leader or a member
must be included. You may also interview a current member
or former member. Be sure your essay contains the name of
the organization, history of the organization, and its
importance to the community. Some examples of organizations are the Lit-Mus Club, B.U.I.L.D., Grassroots, The
Phyllis Wheatley Club, Mary B. Talbert Club, Buffalo
Genealogical Society of the African Diaspora, Women for
Human Rights and Dignity (WHRD), Association for the
Study of Classical African Civilizations, and Buffalo Chapter
NAACP. More information will be available on a flyer by
December 1. The contest will conclude in February 2014 with
cash prizes and certificates for the winners.
Linda Duke and W. Charles Brandy, President AAHANF
Photo courtesy of Melvin Watkins
Congratulations Mrs. Lillion Batchelor
The William Wells Brown Award for support in the
preservation of African American History was presented to
Linda Duke and Bruce Cosby, Ph.D.
On September 13 and 14, 2013 an Underground Railroad
Commemorative Weekend was held at the newly renovated
Broderick Park Waterfront at the Foot of Ferry Street in
Buffalo.
The event, “Crossing to Freedom Together:
Honoring Our Ancestors” paid tribute to Mrs. Lillion
Batchelor, founder of Buffalo Quarters Historical Society for
her pioneering work in increasing National and International
awareness of the significant role of Buffalo in the
Underground Railroad movement. Before the enforcement of
strict homeland security, the Society presented annual
recreations of historical events through drama and music
culminating in the Niagara River Crossing into Fort Erie,
Ontario, Canada.
The “Crossing to Freedom Together” event was directed by
Mary E. Craig and included program participants: African
American Cultural Center Drummers, Underground Railroad
Memorial Choir directed by Mrs. Bessie Patterson, Daughters
of Creative Sound, Storytellers – Joy O’Banion and Sandra
Williams Bush, Bishop William Henderson, several faith
leaders and Mayor Byron Brown. Support for this event was
W. Charles Brandy and Bruce Cosby, PhD.
Photo courtesy of Melvin Watkins
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 PUBLICATIONS – Since 1977 the Association has
published Afro-Americans in New York Life and
History in January and July. This scholarly journal
features articles that pertain to the life and history of
African Americans in New York State. It also contains
book reviews. Historically Speaking, the Association’s
newsletter is published in April and October and features
articles and announcements of local African American
interest.
provided by the City of Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara
RiverKeeper, and the Michigan Street African American
Heritage Corridor Commission, Inc.
 EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE – The Annual Carter G.
Woodson Essay Contest in open to all youth in grades 4 –
12. Topics are chosen each year on a local African
American theme and cash prizes and certificates are
awarded in February. Winning essays are also printed in
the April issue of the newsletter. The Association is also
available to present workshops on Preserving Historical
Records to community, church, school or civic groups at
no cost.
The papers of the Buffalo Quarters Historical Society have
been preserved by the Afro-American Historical Association
and are on file at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch
Library, Buffalo State College – Butler Library and the Dr.
Monroe Fordham Regional History Center.
 FAMILY HISTORY DINNER – The Annual Family
History Dinner and General Membership meeting is held
in May. At this event a Family History or Organization
Presentation is given and the William Wells Brown
Awards are presented to persons or groups who have
worked to preserve the history of African Americans in the
Western New York area.
The Afro-American Historical Association of the
Niagara Frontier:
Who We Are and What We Do
 AFRICAN AMERICAN ANCESTRAL HERITAGE
TOUR – Since 2000, the Association has presented the
African American Tour of Forest Lawn Cemetery in
cooperation with the Forest Lawn Group. This two-hour
tour highlights the lives of some of Buffalo’s notable
African Americans who are interred at Forest Lawn.
The Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara
Frontier, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is chartered by the
New York State Department of Education. The primary
mission of the Association is to preserve historical sources that
pertain to African Americans in Western New York and to
promote research and scholarship on the life and history of
African Americans in New York State.
 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING PROGRAM – In January,
the Association works with the Buffalo History Museum to
present a program commemorating the birth date of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. The program is free to the public
and features a speaker and refreshments. Organizations
that co-sponsor this event are: The Monroe Fordham
Regional History Center, Buffalo Branch NAACP, Alpha
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Rho Lambda Chapter of Buffalo, and
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Phi Omega Chapter.
The Association sponsors numerous programs in pursuit of its
mission:
 AFRO-AMERICAN LOCAL HISTORY MICROFILMING PROJECT – In partnership with Buffalo State
College microfilming and digitizing of historical records
and related sources of organizations and personal papers of
individuals from the Western New York area are preserved
and housed in the William A. Miles Center for African and
African American Studies at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr.
Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave, and at Buffalo State College,
1300 Elmwood Avenue in the Butler Library and the Dr.
Monroe Fordham Regional History Center. New additions
to the list include: Buffalo Quarters Historical Society,
Buffalo Kwanzaa Papers, BGSAD Funeral Programs and
Obituaries. There is no cost for this service and original
papers are returned to the owner.
Visit our website to see more of our programs and activities:
www.aahanf.org
How you can help? Become a member of the Afro-American
Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier. A Membership
form is on the back of this newsletter. If you are already a
member, let us know if you are interested in working with any
of our activities. We would love your input.
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AAHANF Officers and Board Members
Black Family Reunion, Corning, NY
W. Charles Brandy, President
Melvin Watkins, Treasurer
Dr. Sharon Amos Financial Secretary
Sonia Walker, Secretary
Dr. Felix Armfield
Sandra Williams Bush
Charles H. Campbell
Karen Carter Davis
Dr. Tara A. Jabbaar-Gyambrah
Sharon Y. Holley
Debra Johnson
Frank Mesiah
Judson Price, Jr.
Dr. Barbara Nevergold
Madeline O. Scott
Dr. Seneca Vaught
Dr. Lillian Williams
Dr. Jason Young
Former Corning, NY African American residents from all over
the country returned to Corning for the first Corning area
Black Family Reunion. During the weekend of July 5 & 6,
2013, those who came back home joined with the Greater
Corning residents in an evening reception and an all day
barbecue picnic at Denison Park. There was music and
dancing Saturday night at the Riverside Village Hall.
On Sunday, services were held at various Corning Churches.
For a number of years African Americans lived in the
neighborhood around Tuxill and Roberts Avenue in South
Corning. Diane Fisher Green, the only committee member
still living in Corning stated, “We were like family, brothers
and sisters growing up. Whatever you did you had to answer
to everybody.” Marco Ashley who moved away 25 years ago
and now living in Washington, D.C. was Chair of the reunion.
Did you know that volunteers around the country are
photographing cemeteries? Look for your ancestors at
www.findagrave.com or www.billiongraves.com
From the Archives:
January 4, 1855 Frederick
Douglass’ Paper
Item #63743
http://
multisearch.buffalolib.org:5554/
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Afro-American Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc.
P. O. Box 63
Buffalo, New York 14207
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African Americans in New York.
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