Andre Walker and Peter Wilson
Recorded
June 3, 2011
40:58 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
DDB000925
Description
Andre Walker (25) talks to Peter Wilson (68) about the genealogical research that has led him to learn a lot about his family history.Subject Log / Time Code
AW is a very family oriented person. He liked talking to his grandmother about family history when he was younger. When AW was 13, he met a friend who was doing genealogical research who found relatives dating back to the Mayflower. This inspired AW to do his own family research. AW’s grandmother had 10 kids, so there is a lot for AW to research.
AW’s family is from Louisiana and Mississippi. He has never been down there before, but in July is going to a family reunion in Newellton, LA. AW’s grand aunt had 27 children, so the family is huge. Most of the family are members of Stonewall Baptist Church in Newellton, AW likes to give back and build positive energy. He has lots of preachers and teachers in his family.
AW likes to learn from people from different cultures and backgrounds. He went to a summer camp that brought together kids from all different backgrounds. AW went to North High in Minneapolis. He went to Morgan St. University in Baltimore until his mom got sick and he returned to Minneapolis.
AW’s dad is a musician -- he plays guitar, drums and piano. AW has a half brother who was born 4 months after AW and has the exact same name as AW. AW met him when he was 10. He also didn’t meet his sister until later in life.
AW has an ancestry.com profile of the Walker family tree. There are more than 200 family members and AW’s family has been “blown away” by AW’s research.
AW’s cousin, Buster Triplet, did a lot of family research in the 1950s. It was a great head start for AW and traced the family back to 1852. AW found a marriage certificate from 1906.
AW has family in California. The family ended up in Minneapolis after someone witnessed a crime in Chicago and moved to Minneapolis to start over.
AW’s mother likes music. She is a very strong woman. She was diagnosed with lupus when AW was 10 and was still able to raise AW on her own. She always encouraged AW’s interest in volunteering and giving back to the community
AW wants his children and grandchildren to know that it is important to know where you came from. Your family history impacts your life -- it is a journey to figure out where you came from.
Participants
- Andre Walker
- Peter Wilson