Author name: Michael Willis

Michael Willis is an East Bay Area native who began his genealogical journey at the age of 8 when he memorized seven generations of his maternal line as told to him by his grandmother. An accomplished lecturer and trainer, Michael has covered topics such as oral history, genetic genealogy, the Freedman’s Bureau and African Americans in Civil War military records.He primarily specializes in Louisiana research, particularly in West Feliciana, Orleans, East Baton Rouge and Terrebonne Parishes. Michael is a member of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC) where he currently serves on the Board of Directors. He is also a member Le Comité des Archives de la Louisiane, a non-profit genealogical support group for the Louisiana State Archives. A graduate of the University of California, Davis, Michael currently works as an IT Account Manager for the State of California.
Leave a Comment / Father's side /

The following link navigates to my cousin, Patricia Bayonne-Johnson’s, blog describing information in a book detailing the history of our ancestors (Pre-Civil War Era).  Our common ancestor was my 3rd Great-Grandmother, Martha (Morgan) Taylor.  What stuns me about this book is that a few months prior to my knowledge of its existence, I created a rough […]
Leave a Comment / Misc /

On August 22, 2012, something amazing happened… This story actually begins with an email I received from a co-worker named Ruth, on July 18, 2012.  The email had an attached link to this NY Times Blog chronicling the photographic journalism of Gordon Parks during the Civil Rights Movement.  Gordon Parks’ photographs, famously printed in Life
Leave a Comment / Entire Family, Mother's Side /

I give thanks to my late mother and grandmother who started a work in me that has become a life long journey and passion.  My mother started the first family tree nearly 30 years ago and I’ve just expanded it.  My grandmother made me memorize all the matriarchs that span the the last 7 generations of

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