Karen Harmon: Pianist, scientific editor. Proud to descend from bold women. Artwork

Daughter Dialogues

Listen to real-life stories from women with African American lineage who honor their ancestors' fight to achieve independence for the United States of America and are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The host, Reisha Raney, a black leader in the DAR and a direct descendant of President Thomas Jefferson's grandfather, is conducting independent research as a Harvard University non-resident fellow, under the direction of Henry Louis Gates, Jr, host of the PBS Special "Finding Your Roots", exploring the lives of DAR members of color and their ancestry which includes men and women of American Indian, black or African descent, and white or European descent who contributed to the founding of the USA. Who are these descendants? What challenges did they overcome researching their genealogy? Visit DaughterDialogues.com to subscribe to the newsletter and meet more members of color. Follow us @DaughterDialogs on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. This is not an official podcast of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). This podcast is independent and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the NSDAR. The President General is the official spokesperson of NSDAR.

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Daughter Dialogues

Karen Harmon: Pianist, scientific editor. Proud to descend from bold women.

March 25, 2021 • Reisha Raney and Karen Harmon • Season 2 • Episode 28

0:00 | 1:14:48

Karen talks about great aunt Bernice Gaines Hughes, the first black female Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Armed Forces, serving in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in England and France WWII, aviation cadet; maternal 2nd great grandmother arriving in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1862 as a fugitive slave, a nurse in the Battle of Glorieta Pass, casting her first vote in 1929, fluent in Spanish and honored on a plaque; visiting relatives passing for white in Oakley, Kansas with her maternal great grandmother Allena Barker Cary who stressed "the children may not know and it is not your place for you to say anything", being introduced as her friend and having to be quiet to not destroy the life of a young man living there while studying his features, wanting to say “I am your cousin!”; Allena writing down family oral histories, being interviewed by the Amistad Research Center and newspapers in Topeka, Kansas and Canada; her 5th great grandmother Lamoneha, lured upon a ship in Africa then enslaved in Kentucky and daughter Almeda and granddaughter Linny going to Canada on the Underground Railroad; Linny marrying John Langston Buckner, the great grandson of European descent Revolutionary War patriot William Buckner; William's son, John having two sons with enslaved Mary "Polly"; John freeing their two sons in his will and wanting them to be educated to become farmers and cordwainers; sons moving to Malden, Amherstburg Canada, holding land; their son Thomas, fighting in the Rebellion Patriot’s War on the Canadian border from 1837-1839 and being a spokesperson for free people of color, starting schools, settling in Kansas; William’s civil service as a magistrate in Caroline County VA, the first county to cut ties with the Royal Government, calling court together with fellow patriot Edmund Pendleton after a messenger on horseback carried the news from Philadelphia; William being married to a relative of President James Madison but her application to James Madison society denied because John was not married to "Poly"; Almeda interviewed at 106 as oldest person in Topeka; ancestors listed as white on marriage records but black in later census in Colorado where small population of blacks weren't perceived as an economic threat, Ku Klux Klan instead against Asians in laundry industry; adjusting to Washington D.C., in stark contrast to the haven of Wiesbaden, Germany where she attended high school, to attend Howard University, having never seen the campus, and matriculate at her parents’ beloved alma mater, driven by their fervent and spectacular memories; being a passionate pianist, but her father, retired Air Force Colonel and pathologist, insisting she pursue a more practical career; studying nursing for a year then switching to Broadcast Journalism; losing her eight year old daughter Lauren in a tragic car accident, separated from her husband at the time; organizing a family band each Christmas with others playing flute, violin, clarinet, drums; working as managing editor for journal Investigative Radiology, for over twenty years and on Smithsonian’s early phase of the National Museum of African American History and Culture; being uncomfortable when a white DAR member talked about being in Confederacy lineage society and how Union soldiers destroyed their family's records and plantations; serving on chapter lineage committee; surprised at a DAR meeting when great aunt Bernice appeared in chapter's program; about Marian Anderson, "almost all organizations and institutions have this history ", her mother feeling more positive after seeing other women of color in DAR, "sometimes people get stuck on one incident although the person it directly affected did move forward".

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Born in Washington DC; father attending Howard University Medical School and Air Force pathologist; growing up in CA, CO, TX, Japan, and Germany; parents staying in Germany while attending Howard; mother working for school district

Adjusting to Washington D.C., in stark contrast to the haven of Wiesbaden, Germany, to attend Howard University; high school drill team, track, playing piano; passionate pianist, but father wanting her to pursue practical career; studying nursing

Living in North Bethesda, MD; studying nursing at Howard University for one year but wanting to study music instead; growing up reading nursing books, being a candy striper and working in labs in high school; switching to Journalism, with minor in English

Taking a while to adjust to Howard University, having never seen the campus but excited about being around African Americans from parents' fervent stories and spectacular memories of their time spent at their beloved alma mater

Working at Washington Post, Austin American-Statesmen, University of Texas, close to parents and siblings in San Antonio; living in Denver and NY; settling in Washington D.C. since kept in touch with college friends; Smithsonian African American Museum

On bed rest during pregnancy, unable to continue working; working part time as managing editor for Journal Investigative Radiology while raising two daughters, divorcing, working full time for Africare; working for National Cancer Institute

Working for National Cancer Institute, being hired from contractor to federal employee

Having two daughters but daughter Lauren dying at 8 years old in 2003 from tragic car accident, being separated at the time; daughter Shannon expecting, will be first granddaughter

Discovering Revolutionary War ancestor, maternal great grandmother and paternal grandmother drawing family trees and talking about them all of the time; deciding to document tree to see if all stories true, enjoying history, father history buff

Revolutionary War patriot William Buckner, civil service magistrate in Caroline County VA, first county to cut ties with Royal Govt, calling court with fellow patriot Edmund Pendleton after messenger on horseback carried news from Philadelphia

Being excited about patriot; finding two 2nd great grandparents who served in Civil War 16th Colored Infantry, great uncle in WWI, great aunt in WWII; excited to find family who served because grew up around military

William's son, John having two sons Thomas and George with enslaved Mary "Polly"; freeing sons in will, wanting them to be farmers and cordwainers; sons moving to Canada, holding land; Thomas, in Rebellion Patriot’s War, free people of color spokesperson

Great grandmother Allena Barker Cary writing stories about Thomas and Elizabeth marrying in Canada, being farmers, and starting schools, Allena interviewed by Amistad Research Center and newspapers in Topeka and Canada

Lamoneha, lured upon ship in Africa then enslaved in KY, daughter Almeda and granddaughter Linny going to Canada on Underground Railroad; Linny marrying John Langston Buckner, great grandson of patriot William; Almeda interviewed at 106, oldest in Topeka

Allena proud family leaders in community, took risks, landowners; visiting relatives passing for white in Oakley, KS with Allena stressing "children may not know, not your place to say anything", introduced as friend, wanting to say “I’m your cousin!”

2nd great grandmother fugitive slave in Santa Fe, NM, nurse in Battle of Glorieta Pass, casting first vote in 1929, fluent in Spanish; great aunt Bernice Gaines Hughes first black woman Lt. Colonel in Armed Forces, WWII Postal Battalion England, France

2nd great grandfather being a prospector in Denver

Ancestors listed as white on marriage records but black in a later census in Colorado where small population of blacks weren't perceived as an economic threat, Ku Klux Klan instead marching against competition of Asians in laundry industry

Family's excitement about her finding a patriot on maternal side

Joining DAR after learning patriot married relative of President James Madison then application to James Madison society denied because John was not married to enslaved "Poly", marriage not required for DAR membership, applying so others can use research

"Almost all organizations, institutions, universities, businesses" have history of discrimination, always has to be a first person to break through; Marian Anderson returning to DAR Constitution Hall to sing four times later

Showing mother photos of other women of color in DAR who then felt more positive about the society, "sometimes people get stuck on one incident although the person it directly affected did more forward"

Used to being only person of color growing up in Japan and Germany; serving on chapter lineage committee; uncomfortable when a white DAR member talked about being in Confederacy lineage society and Union soldiers destroying family's records and plantation

Forming friendships with white members and other members of color in DAR

Supporting DAR's mission; loving being around members who enjoy history, genealogy projects, and community service; being proud of military and having ancestors who fought for our country