Research At The National Archives And Beyond!

The Descendants of the Slave Narratives—are uniquely positioned, if not obligated, to carry forward the largely forgotten work of our ancestors. At this moment in time, in the 400th year of the first ship landing of Africans in British Colonial America, there is no better time to trumpet awareness about this watershed in our history and to encourage the entire nation to, reflect, reclaim and honor, the history of a people who have contributed greatly to the American story. Regina E. Mason, founder of IBC, is a descendant of William Grimes of Virginia who, in 1825, wrote the first fugitive slave narrative in the U.S. The Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave predates antislavery propaganda and is a work of literary independence.  Susi Ryan, fiber artist, and quilter is a descendant of Venture Smith aka Broteer, the son of a Prince. In 1798, he chronicled his capture from Africa and life in New England in A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa. Vera Williams is a descendant