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As part of executing its educational mission year-round, MGC offers programs on open records and other topics of interest to genealogists 4 to 5 times a year. To avoid conflicting with regularly scheduled meetings of other societies and organizations, M:O.R.E. presentations will occur during the 5th week of a month.  

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Click here to see the presentations of those speakers who have allowed us to record their talks and make them available to everyone.

 

The presentations are free, but registration is required.​​​​

Sybil J. Gilchrist​

Camarades of War I

Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET via Zoom

This presentation is FREE, but registration is required.

Now, while we're all watching the brilliant movie “6888” which details the tribulations and successes of an African-American women’s Army corps in World War II, let’s take a deeper look at the records that genealogists can access to tell military stories about their own relatives. 

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Massachusetts resident Sybil Gilcrist discovered five brave African American patriots from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in her extended family. Bound by community ties, these men and their families shared a vibrant social, religious, and commercial life. Through compelling research, Sybil will delve into the soldiers' military tours, share the records that revealed their stories, and recount her own journey to uncover this poignant history.

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Join us as Sybil Gilcrist brings their remarkable journeys to life:

  • Pvt. Esau Samuel Moorman (Army) served in France.

  • Sgt. Ernest Chaucer Moorman (Air Service) served in Virginia.

  • Cpl. Charles Harrison Flippin, Sr. (Army) served in Maryland.

  • Cpl. Herbert Flippin (Army) served in North Carolina.

  • Pvt. Edward “Eddie” Harrison Smith (Army) served in France.

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This talk is not only a tribute to these heroes but also an exploration of the challenges they faced—and the resilience that defined their legacy. Their service sheds light on the harsh realities of military segregation and the paradox of risking their lives for a nation that denied them equality. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor their contributions. Gain insights into the unique records available to research your own family during World War I.

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About the Presenter

Sybil J. Gilchrist is an inspiring educator, accomplished linguist, and passionate genealogist with deep roots in Portsmouth and Danville, Virginia. A lifelong learner and storyteller, Sybil earned her BA in English from Virginia Union University and an MA in French from Boston University. Her global perspective was shaped by a Junior Year Abroad at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and her life-changing experience teaching English in Francophone Cameroon as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1967.

After returning from West Africa, Sybil embarked on a distinguished career in education, teaching French and other languages for over three decades in the Medford Public Schools in Massachusetts. Beyond the classroom, she channeled her expertise into freelance French-English translation and community leadership roles.

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Today, Sybil is an active force in regional organizations. She serves on the Executive Board of the New England Translators Association and the board of the New England chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS-NE). Her commitment to preserving African-American history is evident in the compelling articles she has written for the AAHGS-NE newsletter and her engaging virtual presentations on the Moorman-Flippin Legacy.

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Her debut book, Camarades of War I, is the culmination of a research journey that began in 1982, fueled by her desire to uncover and honor her family’s history. Drawing on decades of research, official records, and treasured stories shared by family and friends, Sybil brings the experiences of five African-American World War I soldiers to life, offering an unforgettable glimpse into their courage, sacrifice, and legacy.

Registration

Previous M:O.R.E. Presentations

  • Sybil J. Gilchrist: Camarades of War I (30 Jan. 2025)

  • Miriam Weiner: You Are Invited to a Meeting with the KGB (10 Nov. 2024)

  • Jenifer Kahn Bakkala: Writing a Compelling Family History (30 Sept. 2024)

  • Sara E. Campbell:  What's in My Vault--Confessions of a DPW Engineer (29 April 2024)

  • Jill Marie Snyder: Dear Mary, Dear Luther:  A Courtship in Letters (29 Feb. 2024)

  • Anne Hanson, Buried Secrets:  Looking for Frank and Ida (30 Jan. 2024)

  • John D. Warner: Archivist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (30 Nov. 2023)

  • Kate Kelley, Meet the Photo Angel (30 Nov. 2022)

  • Kenvi Phillips, PhD: Sounds like Sounds Like Family:  The Oral Tradition in Researching Family History (29 Sept. 2022)

  • Paul Joseph Fronczak: The Foundling, True Identity (31 Jan. 2022)

  • David J. Silverman: This Land Is Their Land (30 Nov. 2021)

  • Nicka Sewell-Smith: The Trask 500 (30 Sept. 2021)

  • John D. Warner: Archivist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (30 June 2021)

  • Amy Whorf McGuiggan: Finding Emma (31 March 2021)

  • Brooke Schreier Ganz: Reclaim the Records (27 Jan. 2021)

  • Judy Bambrough-Billingsley: Too Brown to Keep (29 Oct. 2020)

Recorded M:O.R.E. Presentations

We are grateful to these presenters who allowed us to record their talks and make them available to you.

Sara E. Campbell Handout

Sybil J. Gilchrist Handout

Recorded Presentations
Gilchrist
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