Tanya Teat Foreman, Author at Family Matters Genealogy

Dr. Rosalind Franklin: DNA Analysis and Genealogy

by Tanya Teat Foreman | May 19, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!

Genealogy has come a long way! Before the internet, researching your family’s history required traveling to different areas and repositories to copy documents. Nowadays, online genealogy sites can help you perform research faster without leaving the comforts of your home; you can create a family tree on most sites. DNA analysis has added another component to genealogical research, proving familial relationships beyond a shadow of a doubt. In 2022, genealogy companies sold over $1.4 billion of direct-to-consumer DNA kits. People want to find their relatives or discover their ethnicity. We can thank Rosalind Franklin for her research and insight into DNA research.

The Scientist

Rosalind Elsie Franklin was born on July 25, 1920, in London, England. She attended St. Paul’s Girls’ School and studied physical chemistry at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, obtaining her PhD from Cambridge with a focus on the physical chemistry of solid organic colloids. She conducted research in Paris and then joined King’s College London where she conducted groundbreaking research on DNA. Franklin was passionate about her work and immersed herself in X-ray diffraction studies, which led to her critical insights into DNA structure.

DNA Discovery

Rosalind Franklin’s research played a crucial role in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. She worked on X-ray diffraction images of DNA, including the famous Photo 51, which provided critical evidence for the helical nature of DNA. Unfortunately, during her lifetime, Franklin’s contributions to DNA research were largely unrecognized. Nicknamed the “wronged heroine” or the “dark lady of DNA,” today’s scientists have lauded Franklin as the “Sylvia Plath of molecular biology;” however, her work has since gained recognition.

How Franklin’s Work Affects Genealogy

Franklin’s work indirectly contributed to the development of DNA sequencing techniques. These methods allow scientists to read the order of nucleotides (A, T, C, G) in a person’s DNA. Genealogical DNA testing relies on sequencing specific regions of an individual’s genome to create a DNA profile. This profile can be used to identify relatives, trace ancestry, and explore family connections. Franklin’s discoveries inspired subsequent research that led to the creation of commercial DNA testing kits. Companies like AncestryDNA and 23andMe use these kits to analyze specific genetic markers and provide insights into an individual’s ancestry. dna analysis

Franklin faced challenges as a woman in the male-dominated scientific field but persevered with determination. Unfortunately, Franklin’s life ended too soon. She received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 1956. Despite her illness, she continued working until her health deteriorated significantly. Rosalind Franklin died on April 16, 1958, at 37 years old.

Rosalind Franklin’s life was characterized by her unwavering commitment to scientific exploration, her passion for research, and her dedication to unraveling the mysteries of molecular structures.

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Shirley Chisholm: A Trailblazer in American Politics

by Tanya Teat Foreman | May 14, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!

Shirley Chisholm was an extraordinary American politician who made significant contributions to civil rights, women’s rights, and social justice and was a trailblazer in American Politics.

Shirley Anita Chisholm was born on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York. Chisholm spent her early years in Barbados, developing a strong sense of identity and pride in her heritage. She excelled academically and earned her college degree in the United States, attending Brooklyn College and later Columbia University. In 1964, overcoming resistance due to her gender, New Yorkers elected Chisholm to the New York State Assembly.

Four years later, in 1968, she made history by becoming the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress. She represented New York’s 12th congressional district for seven terms (1969–1983). Chisholm had an unwavering commitment to social justice. She championed anti-poverty programs, educational reform, and civil rights.

In 1972, Shirley Chisholm made another groundbreaking move – she announced her candidacy for the Democratic Party’s nomination for the President of the United States, becoming the first black candidate for a major party nomination. Her decision to run was historic because she became the first black candidate from a major political party to seek the presidency. Chisholm created her campaign slogan of “Unbought and Unbossed,” emphasizing her independence and refusal to be influenced by special interests. As a black woman, Chisholm faced significant challenges during her campaign. She encountered racism, sexism, and skepticism from some quarters. Despite these obstacles, she remained steadfast in her commitment to represent the underrepresented and marginalized.

Chisholm’s campaign platform focused on social justice, civil rights, and economic equality. She advocated for universal healthcare, education reform, women’s rights, racial equality and anti-poverty measures. Many of these issues African Americans continue to fight for today.

Chisholm participated in several Democratic primaries in New Hampshire, Florida, and California. Although she didn’t win any primaries, her campaign garnered attention and inspired many. At the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami, Florida, Chisholm made history by receiving 152 delegate votes, demonstrating her impact on the party and the nation. While Chisholm did not secure the nomination, her campaign left an indelible mark. She shattered barriers, paving the way for future black and female candidates.

Throughout her career, Chisholm took a resolute stand against economic, social, and political injustices. She advocated for black civil rights and women’s rights, using her platform to amplify marginalized voices. Chisholm’s legacy continues to inspire generations of leaders who fight for equality and justice.

After retiring from Congress in 1983, Chisholm taught at Mount Holyoke College while remaining active in political organizing. In 1993, she was nominated for the ambassadorship to Jamaica, but health issues prevented her from accepting the position. Shirley Anita Chisholm, the trailblazing American politician, passed away in Ormond Beach, Florida on January 1, 2005 at 80 years old due to complications after a series of strokes.

In 2015, Shirley Chisholm was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing her immense contributions to American society.

Shirley Chisholm’s life story serves as a testament to courage, resilience, and the power of one person’s voice to effect change. She blazed trails, shattered glass ceilings, and left an indelible mark on American history.

The 6888th Postal Battalion

by Tanya Teat Foreman | May 6, 2024 | Women's History Wednesday

The 6888th Postal Battalion was first featured in a blog post in the November 2022 issue of the Family Jewels newsletter; however, it is definitely worth repeating! Tyler Perry is directing and producing a Netflix film about these incredibly fearless African American women. This movie has star-studded actresses including Kerry Washington and Oprah Winfrey. The movie is due to be released sometime in 2024.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion also known as the Six Triple Eight was an all-African American, all-female postal military unit that delivered mail across England and France to American troops, government personnel and Red Cross volunteers during WWII. A warehouse in England stored millions of pieces of mail considered undeliverable. Mail improperly addressed or the shifting locations of troops made them hard to find. This affected the morale of servicemen because they could not receive packages or letters from loved ones. The Army estimated that it would take six months or more to deliver the backlog.months or more to deliver the backlog.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt created The Women’s Army Corps (WAC) to include women in the war effort. First Lady Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt along with civil rights leader Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune advocated for African American Women to have a place in WAC despite segregation. By late 1944, about 817 African American women enlisted and trained in Oglethorpe, Georgia to serve overseas.

The Army established the 6888th battalion in February of 1945 and chose Major Charity Edna Adams to lead these women. They understood the perils of delivering mail in a war zone. The women of the “Six Triple Eight” worked three eight-hour shifts seven days a week around the clock to sort and deliver the backlog. Using this method, they created a new tracking system and managed to process the backlog in three months instead of the estimated six.

The British and the French celebrated and praised the 6888th but the United States ignored their valor and tenacity when they arrived back home. They returned to the United States in February 1946 without a parade, fanfare, or a hero’s welcome and the Army deactivated the unit shortly thereafter. On March 14, 2022, President Joe Biden awarded the 6888th the Congressional Gold Medal, 76 years after they disbanded at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Stagecoach Mary

by Tanya Teat Foreman | May 1, 2024 | African American History

Welcome to Women’s History Wednesdays!

Every Wednesday we will feature a little known but important women in history.

If you watched the movie “The Harder They Fall” in 2021 you would have seen the real-life historical figure named Stagecoach Mary played by Zazie Beetz. Mary Fields was a 6 ft tall, 200 lbs. woman who drank whiskey, cursed like a sailor, wore pants under her skirt, and packed a pistol in the folds of her apron. She definitely was NOT a delicate flower! She was allowed to patronize saloons and taverns at a time when women could not.

Mary Fields was born enslaved in Hickman County, Tennessee, in about 1832. After Emancipation, she made her way to Florida, worked on a Mississippi River riverboat and lived in a convent in Ohio. She eventually ended up in Montana to nurse her friend, Mother Superior Mary Amadeus Dunne, back to health. She lived in her convent with the nuns but was kicked out by the Bishop because she swore and drank too much. She did odd jobs to get by – laundress, restauranteur, and took on roles that were considered men’s work – maintenance, repairs hauling freight, and construction. She was the first African American woman to work as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service. She got the job because she was the fastest applicant to hitch a 6-horse stagecoach; that was how she got her nickname, Stagecoach Mary. She worked as a mail carrier from 1895 to 1903. She was fearless but carried several guns to protect herself from wild animals, stagecoach bandits and robbers. Her life story has been portrayed by Esther Rolle, Dawnn Lewis, Kimberly Elise, Erykah Badu, Zazie Beetz, and Whoopi Goldberg between 1976 and 2024.