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Research

Dr. Carolyn Haliburton Carter is an experienced genealogist, researcher, a public and oral history historian. Dr. Carter is also an experienced Underground Railroad Historian. Her exploratory approach to researching family history and learning the family's important stories starts from the known to the unknown. Highly accomplished educator and communicator with over 20 years of collaborative conservation of historical knowledge and records research, marketing, and branding experience, with a focus on preservation, transcribing and abstracting original material, cataloging, analyzing problems and evidence, and legal retention, gathering information, oral accounts, and other research, such as births or marriage. Carter is experienced in documenting primary and secondary sources and accurately citing the sources. Compile a proof argument, summarize a case study, and complete written reports.

  • ·Experienced with identifying, evaluating, and recommending properties for historic designation to preserve cultural, architectural, and historical significance.

  • ·Qualified in working with historical societies in the United States, Africa, Ireland, and other genealogical repositories for resources to secure additional historical documents, as well as archival and historical agencies on a national, state, and local level. Experienced in recording and archiving oral histories.

  •  Family History Research - Experienced in preserving historical records in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration Records Management Regulations, its policy and guidelines for the management and disposal of records, specifically rare and collectible private family documents.  Examine and maintain Ancestry.com DNA records for several private families.

  • Historian and Researcher for Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) – National Park Service Network to Freedom Underground Railroad Historic Site designation application. Conducting extensive research on the site of WCCCD’s two NTF historic designations and the Michigan Central Railroad’s national designations.

  • Underground Railroad Site Historic District Research - Conducted intensive research, which resulted in WCCCD receiving a City of Detroit local historic site designation and a Network to Freedom National Park Service Underground Railroad Designation specifically for WCCCD programming.

  • ·Through historic research and collaboration, submitted applications for City of Detroit Secondary Street Signs for notable Detroiters; Curtis L. Ivery (WCCCD) and Beulah T. Whitby (AKA) both were completed and unveiled in December 2023.

  • As the former Civil Rights Historian with the National Park Service, I conducted in-depth archival and literature-based research to document the historical and cultural significance of African American burial sites. This work involved developing site profiles, analyzing historical records, and consulting with descendant communities to inform preservation and management strategies.

  • Saint Augustine’s University Archives - Had oversight of an art appraisal consultant project to determine the value of SAU's historic artwork. Made recommendations for additional artwork purchases and/or the selling of artwork. Reviewed and edited comprehensive appraisal reports to determine the value and process of working with an auction house.  Researched the history of SAU, St. Agnes Hospital, and the historical chapel built by the founding families/students, for grants and presentations.

  • Registered Researcher- Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Library of Congress and National Archives in Washington, DC, Tennessee State Archives, Ohio State Archives, Lansing State Archives, and Caswell County, North Carolina Archives, Allen County, IN Genealogical Records.

  • Research Technology - Using archival software to create digital images for database use by cataloging, accessing, and arranging archival collections for internal and external research.  Creating an internal-only database for the approval and updating of documents before public release. 

  • Experience in collecting data and researching historical records for grant writing purposes to secure historical designation and external funding for preservation and archival purposes.

  • Presentation and Marketing - Led the SAU marketing and communication teams to develop stories of interest and provide presentations for internal and external stakeholders using social media, websites, and emails. 

  • Genealogy Student Research Trip/Faculty Lead - Coordinated and chaperoned student trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, UT, and Allen County Public Library, IN, and the National Genealogical Society Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Grand Rapids, MI to research at their genealogical facilities.

  • Researched Archives Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Research and Digital Records – Archiving Project. Researched and digitized documents in the Blanche Coggan Collection.

  • Lead Researcher Various Personal Clients – (Michigan, Washington, D.C., Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia) Researched genealogical records for birth certificates, slave records, death certificates, wills, probate, U.S. census records, draft registration, manuscripts, military records, church records, land, wills, deeds, family documents, and other primary and secondary records.

  • Research - National Council on Public History – Attended the National Council on Public History Conference in Nashville, TN, to learn best practices in recording, documenting, and archiving oral history.

  • Off the Beaten Path: Detroit’s Black Historical Past – Researched, interviewed, and collected historical information on Black people in Detroit who made significant contributions to the city’s history.

  • Uses only original sources such as birth certificates, death certificates, wills, probate records, census records, draft registration, military records, church records, and other original sources.

  • Knowledge of sources for United States genealogical and slave records

  • Extensive knowledge of genealogical records in Michigan, Washington, D.C., Tennessee, Ohio, and North Carolina

  • Access to Ancestry.com, US census, vital records, newspapers,s and extensive experience using other archival databases and software.

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