MISSION

Kinfolkology is dedicated to recovering, preserving, and sharing the histories of enslaved people and their families in full partnership with descendants of enslaved ancestors.

Kinfolkology works to transform fragmented archival records into living genealogies, restoring names to the historical record, reconnecting families separated by slavery, and honoring the enduring kinship networks that have persisted across generations.

Kinfolkology honors the claims of kinfolk, past and present. Kinfolkology recognizes that the dead belong to the living: not as property, but as ones for whom love has been proclaimed.

VISION

Kinfolkology integrates datawork with rootwork, and research with care. Kinfolkology is dedicated to empowering Descendants with sovereignty over digital archives representing enslaved ancestors. Kinfolkology is guided by an understanding that while enslaved ancestors are no longer living, they were and are part of communities and families that are very much alive.

DATAWORK

Kinfolkology hosts five databases built by Kinfolkology Founding Executive Director Jennie K. Williams, Ph.D.: Oceans of Kinfolk, Louisiana Kindred, Remembered by Name, Named in Affectionate Terms and Reeds Memoriam.

KINFOLKOLOGY X COMMUNITY

Kinfolkology x Community workshops are devoted to collaboration and co-visioning with Descendants of enslaved ancestors around the themes of data, genealogy, justice, and reparations.