By Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed. D
The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1, A Narrative History
The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol.1, A Narrative History, is the first volume in a narrative history about the descendants of two families that share a common ancestor, Martha Kitchings Seawright Ellison, born into slavery, in 1849, in Aiken County, South Carolina. The book documents the beginnings of the family saga through Martha’s life during slavery, The Civil War, The Reconstruction Era, and family life in Aiken County and beyond. The book documents the saga with contextualized resurrected stories of relatives forgotten over the years who were contributory figures of African American history in Aiken County, South Carolina, and beyond.
The book includes the famed stories of relatives who were born and lived in Aiken County. Floster L. Ellison, Jr., who during the Civil Rights Movement, became the co-founder of the Palmetto State Barbers Association, the first African American Barber Inspector in the state of South Carolina, and the first Director of Social Services of Crafts-Farrow State Hospital in 1965, because of racial integration of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. Tommy Ellison, whose experiences as a youth singing on the children choir at Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church, inspired him to pursue a legendary career in gospel music, affectionately known by his fans as “Mr. Superstar of Gospel.” Roosevelt & Henry Seawright who were successful brick masons in the Aiken community, and Wallace Seawright, Sr. who strategically survived the pitfalls of sharecropping life who was successfully employed as a textile technician at Graniteville Manufacturing Company.
By Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed. D
The Thompson Family: Untold Stories From The Past (1830-1960)
Through the stories of enslaved ancestors and notable relatives, The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from The Past (1830-1960) chronicles the rich history of an prominent African American family from the Wagener and Salley communities of Aiken County, South Carolina that features stories of individuals who were enslaved, served in the Civil War, achieved entrepreneurial success during the Jim Crow era, and much more. The book includes an appendix section which consists of individual pictures, documented history of places and events, and primary sources.
The book is the 2019 African American Genealogical and Historical Society Book Award Winner (Non-Fiction/Genealogy) and Literary Titan Gold Award Winner.
Award winning Author
Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed. D
Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed. D is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Dr. Curry received a bachelor’s degree in political science from South Carolina State University, and has earned several graduate degrees in education, which includes a doctorate degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Argosy University,
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Sarasota. Dr. Curry has taught middle school social studies for five years and currently is an adjunct professor of education at Claflin University.
In 2018, Dr. Curry launched Renaissance Publications, LLC. On September 1, 2018, he published his first genealogy book, The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from the Past (1830-1960). The book chronicles the reflections and experiences of his relatives that shed new light on African American History in Aiken County and South Carolina. In October 2019, Dr. Curry received the 2019 African American Historical and Genealogy Society Book Award in the Non-Fiction Category-Genealogy for his book. On February 12, 2020, the South Carolina Legislature recognized Dr. Curry for his significant work in service to African American History and Heritage in South Carolina and congratulate him on his book award.
Dr. Curry is a member of several civic, historical, and professional organizations which includes: South Carolina Genealogical Society, South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce, Aiken-Barnwell Genealogical Society, Friends of the Aiken County Historical Museum, Aiken County Historical Society, Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society, African American Historical and Genealogical Society. He is also a volunteer for the International African American Museum. As a volunteer, he coordinates outreach efforts to local stakeholders to solicit memberships and partnerships.
In addition, Dr. Curry has done several book signings and presentations at local conferences, workshops, bookstores, and schools across the state and nationwide. His most recent project is “Salley and The Thompson Family” an exhibit in the Aiken County Historical Museum that featured the founding of Salley, South Carolina and the illumination of his ancestors and relative stories through artifacts and primary sources.
Dr. Curry currently lives in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife, Takiyah S. Curry, who is a registered nurse and graduate of the University of South Carolina. They have two sons, Braxton & Braylon.
Schedule an Event
Below are some of the ways you can engage Renaissance Publications for presentations and speaking engagements.
Presentations
Writing Family History Book Series: The Narrative Inquiry Approach
Presentation mode: Online or In-Person
Writing Family History Book Series: The Narrative History Approach
Narrative history is the practice of writing history in a story-based form. It tends to entail writing based on reconstructing a series of short-term events about individuals or specific events in a broader context. Learn about how to write a narrative history about your relatives and the process in writing your family history book using the narrative history approach.
Examples from the acclaim book, The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol.1, A Narrative History will be used during the presentation.
Presentation mode: Online or In-Person
The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol.1, A Narrative History
The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol.1, A Narrative History, is a presentational history about the descendants of two families that share a common ancestor, Martha Kitchings Seawright Ellison, who was born into slavery in 1849 , in Aiken County, South Carolina.
Thia presentation will detailed the stories of relatives who were contributory figures in African American history in Aiken County, South Carolina, and beyond. The presentation will also include the famed stories of Floster L. Ellison, Jr., who during the Civil Rights Movement, became the co-founder of the Palmetto State Barbers Association, and the first African American Barber Inspector in the State of South Carolina; and Tommy Ellison, whose experiences as a youth singing on the children choir, inspired him to pursue a legendary career in gospel music, affectionately known by many of his fans as “Mr. Superstar of Gospel”.
Presentation mode: Online or In-Person
The Thompson Family: Untold Stories From the Past (1830-1960)
Through the stories of enslaved ancestors and notable relatives, The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from The Past (1830-1960) presentation chronicles the rich history of an prominent African American family from the Wagener and Salley communities of Aiken County, South Carolina.
Presentation mode: Online or In-Person
The Thompson Family: Untold Stories From the Past (1830-1960) (Groups Only)
Through the stories of enslaved ancestors and notable relatives, The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from The Past (1830-1960) presentation chronicles the rich history of an prominent African American family from the Wagener and Salley communities of Aiken County, South Carolina.
Presentation mode: Online or In-Person
Speaking Engagements
Book Dr. Curry for your next speaking engagement.
“Reviving historical scholarship through ancestry”
Upcoming Events
Author Talk-Charleston County Public Library
OCT 8: Join Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed.D at Main Library for an Author Talk about the Thompson Family! Learn about Lavinia Thompson, who was born into slavery in 1844 […]
Find out more »African American Genealogy Series: Writing Family History- The Narrative History Approach
Please join us to learn from South Carolina genealogist and author Dr. Walter Curry, Jr. who will present on Writing Family History: The Narrative History Approach. Narrative history is the […]
Find out more »Book Discussion-The Center For African American History, Art, & Culture
Join the Center and Dr. Curry as we explore the first volume in a narrative history about the descendants of two families that share a common ancestor, Martha Kitchings Seawright […]
Find out more »