Projects 

Current projects

Another Look at Anthony D. Allen 

This is a project I began in Winter 2023 when it was brought to my attention by a former colleague and friend. Anthony D. Allen was a Black man born into slavery in New York in 1775. His path to freedom lead him to the Kingdom of Hawai'i where he lived from around 1811-12 until his death in 1835. He was mentioned in published missionary journals at the time, piquing the interest of readers back in New York who may have known him. One person was the son of a former enslaver, who wrote Allen a letter asking about his life since leaving Schenectady, NY. Allen dictated a reply back to the enslaver's son, with American missionary Hiram Bingham transcribing the letter. In his reply, Allen left incredible details of the people and places he encountered. 

While others have written extensively about Anthony Allen, the focus has generally been about his life in Hawai'i, which understandably, would generate interest in readers -- an escaped former slave who ended up living a pretty good life in Hawai'i in the early 19th century? Of course!

Anthony D. Allen deserves to have a fuller story told about his life because it was quite amazing. Since the first publications about Anthony D. Allen's life, many more archival and historical resources have become available to add a richer and deeper understanding of what life may have been like for him. If you're interested, check out my Substack, Another Look at Anthony D. Allen, where I analyze his letter line-by-line in ongoing monthly posts, and follow his footsteps to reveal an amazing life that everyone should learn about! 

WWII Black Soldiers Project: West Loch.  (More to come)

Patterson - Carter Family History and Anthology: A long-term project covering over 200 years of the Patterson-Carter family of Kentucky and Illinois.