ABOUT THE AACGS

  OUR HISTORY:

The African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society was organized on August 31,1993, starting with 25 members from Decatur and Central Illinois.

Our members come from all areas of the community ~ pastors, teachers, utility employees, clerical workers, supervisors, senior citizens, sales and factory workers.

The need for an African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society (AACGS) is great. Statistics have shown that only 1% of Macon County African-Americans have researched their family history.

OUR MISSION AND PURPOSE:

The African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society of  Illinois, Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3) non- profit corporation in 1993. It started out with twenty-five members of Central Illinois. Since then it has been dedicated to:

*promoting and faciltiating an interest in research,   

  preservation and publishing  African-American  

  genealogy and family histories.

*providing resources and education about Africans and

  African-American history of the Central Illinois community as a

  whole and African-American youth in particular

*enhance self-esteem and race relations through education,

  cultural activities,  fellowship and cultural events 

*promotes and preserves the study of African-American

  history. It fosters self-worth through cultural, artistic and

  educational endeavors. We honor all cultures.

*to assist and support any genealogical library in (state) which is

  open to the public