Jerome Spears, Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society (AAHGS) member – Native of Baltimore, Maryland, earned Geography degrees from Morgan State University & the University of Hawaii & over the years, has used his formal training & other life experiences to champion the cause of uncovering & preserving his family’s narrative & history (going back many generations). He is an Historic Sotterley & Susquehanna Plantation descendant, as well as a (Georgetown) GU272 relative, who in 2016, authored a manuscript entitled “I’VE GOT YOUR BACK”, where he chronicled his eight linear ancestral families (in southern Maryland) – rising out from slavery to freedom & beyond. This effort garnered him the esteemed [ AAHGS – Elizabeth Clark-Lewis Genealogy Award ] acknowledging his measured contributions to original African American research. In 2023 he was a featured panelist at the inaugural stakeholders Descendants of Slavery Empowerment Conference at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, in Washington, D.C., & is also featured in three (award winning) short-film documentaries, the first being “Talking and Walking Common Ground”, the second (viewable via PBS) is entitled: “FINDING US”, as well as a third project (via YouTube) entitled: “The Story of Camp Stanton”. He has extensively used DNA (including “Genetic Visual Phasing”) & other advanced methods to find & then successfully contact distant relatives in Africa & other places around the world. His previous national-level presentation appearances include: AAHGS, RootsTech Connect, the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree, and the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference. Jerome is also a retired U.S. Army veteran & current Board Member of the Descendants of Jesuit Enslavement Historical & Genealogical Society, who now spends his time researching, lecturing, & discovering remarkable family treasures to some day pass-on to his present & future generations.
