On February 28 Historians from throughout the State of Washington, and as far away as the East Coast gathered at the Museum of History and Industry to participate in the Association for African American Historical Research and Preservation Inaugural Conference. Among those chronicling [Washington State] African American pioneers, were Harriet Craven Greenwood and her sister Kanashibushan, descendants of Roslyn’s Black Miners and story-telling historians of the lives of Black Pioneer Coal Miners.
     Seattle historian, Ed Diaz, put the conference together and presented a high range of speakers . . . Diaz’s quest for history of the area came when . . . he read a fascinating article about an African American pioneer, Nathan Harrison . . . Instead of filing the information away, Diaz launched his own investigation. Within months, Mr. Harrison’s unmarked grave was graced with a proper plaque due to Diaz’s tireless efforts.
     Now Mr. Diaz is enhancing historical understanding . . . He investigates, researches, and brings scholars together. These efforts resulted in the first annual Association for African American Historical Research and Preservation (AAAHRP) history conference on February 28, 2004 at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry. - The Cascade Times (March 2004)

Thanks to everyone who helped make the AAAHRP Inaugural Conference, held on February 28, 2004, an unqualified success! Here are a few excerpts from some of the many unsolicited e-mail messages and letters received by AAAHRP after the conference. (All on file) We expect the Second Annual Conference to be even better.

“I am writing to thank you for the wonderful conference you put on in Seattle.” - D.B.

"I found a copy of the book Sylvia Stark: A Pioneer by Victoria Scott and Ernest Jones published in Seattle . . . and was reminded of one of the presentations at your conference--by Fr. Thomas Murphy. So again, I appreciate what you did to make the conference happen.  I'm continuing to learn from it. . . ." - C.P.

"I sure am looking forward to returning to next year's conference. After I shared what I learned and experienced at this year's conference at a faculty meeting, the Dean of the School of Education [Marian College] was delighted. . . ." - Dr. D.B.

“Congratulations on a successful conference.” - J.R.

“I wanted to say how tremendously delighted I was by the inaugural African-American history conference - it was an unqualified success, and I want to extend my most hearty congratulations.” - L.M.

The Conference Master of Ceremonies was King County Councilmember Larry Gossett.

The Conference Keynote Speaker was Dr. Stephanie Camp, University of Washington History Professor and author of Closer to Freedom: Enslaved Women and Everyday Resistance in the Plantation South. (Dr. Camp earned her Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania from the Department of History; she also studied at Penn as an undergraduate majoring in French literature and culture. In between those two degrees, she earned an MA in African American Studies from Yale University.)

Many people, from presenters and moderators to volunteers and venue support staff, had a hand in the success of the AAAHRP Inaugural Conference. Listed below are some of them. If you were part of the team, and we missed your name, please accept our apologies. AAAHRP sincerely thanks you all!