SA52 Commemorating the Legacy of the Enslaved at Cedar Grove Plantation

Saturday, 24 May 2025, 4:00 p.m., Carroll Ford room

This session will explore my journey to uncover the names of all 143 enslaved individuals at Cedar Grove Plantation in Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, NC.

Mr. Kearns will introduce the movement across U.S. institutions to address the legacy of slavery, with examples including the Georgetown 272 project, Harvard Legacy of Slavery Project, University of Virginia Memorial to the Enslaved, and Monticello’s incorporation of the Hemings history. He will then describe his own genealogical journey, presenting a four-step approach to genealogy: 1) creating a family tree, 2) engaging in conversations with family members, 3) conducting records research, and 4) discovering with DNA testing. He’ll conclude by introducing the HEARTS Reunion project and its partnership with the 10 Million Names project.

Andre Kearns is an accomplished genealogist, writer, and public speaker. He serves on the NGS board and chairs its DEI committee. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Morehouse College.

Registrants who check in at the Louisville registration desk can access this and all the lectures they don’t catch in person on the Whova app until 15 July 2025.

Registration is now open!