The Ohio Genealogical Society Conference held in Columbus, Ohio 31 Mar-2 Apr 2011 was blessed with the presentation "Born to Serve: The Life of an African American Nurse in World War I by Deborah Abbott, PhD.

Dr. Abbott presented her case study on the life of Aileen Cole Stewart for a genealogy project requested by Dr. James Banks, Director of the Crile Archives and Center for Military Education at the Cuyahoga Community College, Western Campus .... Cleveland, OH.

With only a photograph, a handerchief, a signature and a death notice Dr. Abbott used vital records, federal census records, city directories, eductaional magazines & journals, newspapers, employment records, cluster genealogy techniques and other resources to uncover the life story of Aileen Cole Stewart (1893-1997)
http://tinyurl.com/3vnrr3g

Of particular interest to me was the fact of Aileen Cole Stewart being born in Piqua, Ohio, also my birth location, but she was a descendant of former Randolph slaves who settled in Piqua following their freedom in 1846 by the Will John Randolph of Roanoke Plantation in Charlotte County, VA. I have been researching the Randolph slaves and their descendants for 20 years.

A great presentation an a bit of 'genealogical serendipity'.

Thank You Dr. Deborah Abbott!!!!!!

Art Thomas

The ancestor chart (PDF) for Aileen Cole Stewart aka Bertha Allen Cole as I had it before Dr. Abbott's presentation which now needs some 'serious' updating.