Ancestry Academy: Check New State Classes and Short Courses

They Still Live a journey into the discovery of yourself. What does it mean to White, European, Black, Native American, and others? How am I different from Denver artists? Alisa Anthony and Thomas Detour Evans ask all these questions that have shed light on a dialogue about heritage through a picture sequence pairing African art relics, from the Paul Hamilton collection with African Americans from the Denver community.

Each sketch is designed to make a new conversation on ancestral heritage and origins and tells the story of the Ancestry DNA results. Ancestry took the interview of Paul Hamilton, an African Studies academic and previously was Colorado State Representative and famous collector of African masks. African Art asks him why this display is so difficult to the conversation of ancestral origins and identity.

While gathering African art, one of the discoveries was that the origin of Modern art was African art. Paul says Picasso and other’s artwork were influenced. Amidst Paul’s prized work is a Dan collection that boosts nearly 100 masks that are costly in the art world. Another workpiece is Buddha Dogo that originates from Mali. The Dogons have rich and deep scientific and astrological knowledge from more than 500 years ago.

Paul admits, I learned to despise Africa, as it was thought to be uncivilized. It was not unless he began studying history, finally becoming a history professor at college, he started a life-changing journey to discover the truth on Africa and its deep and rich history. Based on the research, Paul went to write African People’s contribution to World Civilizations.

After taking the Ancestry DNA test, Paul confirmed his ancestors or forefathers were from West Africa, and coincidentally, a large part of his art collection belongs from this region, including pieces from Liberia, Nigeria, Mali, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and the Republic of Congo. Before the Ancestry DNA journey, Paul heard from family legends who suggested his great-grandmother was half Native American, but the DNA result does not provide any sign.

Paul was not surprised by the effect of European Ancestry that seems in many results and can use his DNA results to provide support to his previous research. Paul says this is unique that provides an opportunity for all people to examine how their ancestors affect us, whether we know it or not. By presenting traditional African art in a modern setting, Paul hopes it will motivate positive conversations for others who are interested in discovering their ethnic heritage. Despite the political climate, Paul hopes that They Still Live show will be a small step towards progress and moving our nation forward.

Paul had dedicated his life to the arts and conservation of some of the finest works from Africa. Outside the statues and masks, The Hamilton Library Collection includes nearly newspapers, magazines, audiotapes, 2,000 books, videotapes, and educational materials focused on African, African-American cultural, and historical issues and concerns. The collection includes 1960’s magazines (Muhammad Speaks, Negro Digest, Black Panther newspapers, and Black Scholar) and newspapers and the journal from 1916-1970. There will be an opening reception for the They Still Live exhibition and Ancestry DNA results for each model will be announced on reception.

Ancestry DNA results uncover 46 years of questions

Leslie H. was adopted in 1970 after her adopted parents were not able to have a child. It was a dinner party one night, and members discussed the possibility of adoption when another guest said he knew a woman wanting to give up a baby. After a few months, Leslie was picked up from the hospital by the family attorney and taken to her parents three days old. Leslie said she knew that she was an adopted child, and my parents never hide it from me. She added I was brought up in a loving home with loving parents and two sisters.

My mother got pregnant after adopting me, and they had a healthy pregnancy. My mother delivered a baby after 13 months after I was born. I was the only adopted child in the home. Due to adoption, she thought that finding out the identity of my parents would be impossible. After Leslie’s daughter was born in the 1990’s, she started to find out the truth about her biological family.

After successfully requesting the court, they released the records. She got the name of her biological family with the help of a third party. After discovering her mother had remarried, Leslie tried to trace her married surname, so Leslie put her research on hold. She started her research by signing up to Ancestry and took the Ancestry DNA test. Her results offered her ethnicity estimate and connected her with cousins.

Having only her mother’s married surname and maiden name, she messaged a few matches, and one of those matches confirmed that she knew her biological parents as a child and provided their names. She finally got to know her biological father’s name. She matched the information provided by her cousin, and from the Ancestry DNA test, she talked with large online adoption databases only to find out that she had half-siblings from her parental side looking for her.

Within hours, Leslie received a call from her half-sister, Jessica. Their stories merge, and Jessica said they were also looking for Leslie for years. Leslie came to know that her biological father had passed away, but she had two younger half-brothers. They are in touch, and Leslie now knows more of her cousins and several aunts. After discovering her parental family, Leslie went to social media to see if she could not find her birth mother.

Leslie messaged a woman whose profile matched her surname. The woman replied and confirmed that she was her biological mother and provided loads of family history. This past January, Leslie met her half-brother, and a few weeks later, she met her biological mother in EI Paso, and they spent some hours together. It has been a fantastic journey, and it was not possible without the help of Ancestry DNA and Ancestry DNA testing. Leslie says I will be grateful forever.

Ancestry releases State Classes and Short Courses

Ancestry Academy had released new classes and short courses. We will be giving you quick tips on one topic in 4-5 minutes or less and start with some basics of the US. Federal Census.

• Pre 1850- Census
• 1850 Census- An Intro
• 1890 Census- Where is it?
• 1880 Census- An overview
• Introduction to the 1940 Census

You can watch these short courses and classes free, and you need to create a login if you are watching Ancestry Academy Classes for the first time. If you have ancestors from Vermont, Michigan, Illinois, and Massachusetts. See the premium classes below:

• The Green Mountain State: Vermont Research with Catherine Desmarais, CGsm
• Illinois- Research in the Prairie state with David McDonald
• Michigan: Family history in the Wolverine state with Kris W Rzepczynski, MLS, MA
• Massachusetts: Research in the Bay State with Marian Pierre-Louis

Hi Guys! My name is Marc and I’m an Archaeologist. I live in Texas USA. Things about history have always fascinated me. That’s why I chose to activate my Ancestry DNA kit. It helped me learn key details about the birthplace and journey of my ancestors. I’ll recommend it to all the people who are curious about their family history.  Visit To know More: Ancestrydna.com/activate

Source: Ancestry Academy: Check New State Classes and Short Courses