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May 2025 Newsletter
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2025 Conference Highlights
At our National 2025 Conference major announcements were made including:
- President General. The society announced Douglas A. Cornwall as the new President General, and Ric Murphy will now become President General Emeritus.
- Publishing Company. In the spirit of scholarly research, preservation, and authorship the Society of the First African Families of English America has launched its branded publishing company to be known as Franklin Pearson Publishing.
- Angola. Representatives from the government of Angola declared their support for the society and its members and looked forward to collaborative efforts in the future, and welcomed society members to come to Angola and help commemorate their 50th anniversary of independence.
- America 250. In celebration of our nation’s semiquincentennial, the society launched a Five Star Semiquincentennial Program, designed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Our comprehensive program encourages members to engage in five key areas: education, historic preservation, patriotic service, membership growth, and community outreach. Through lectures, restoration projects, veteran support, youth engagement, and public events, the program aims to honor the nation's founding principles and our ancestors contributions, while fostering civic responsibility and national pride leading up to 2026.
- Photo Gallery. Stay tuned for our 2025 Annual Conference and Summit’s Photo Gallery.
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Meet Our New
President General
 Mr. Douglas A. Cornwall was elected as the new President General of the Society of the First African Families of English America.
President General Cornwall began his genealogical journey 10 years ago with many questions to be answered about his ancestors. The Cornwall family lineage traces back deep into the earliest colonial periods of New York, Massachusetts, and the Canadian Maritimes and while the research in this family is impressively thorough, it is his mother’s family that is the current focus of his genealogical research. This journey has uncovered a deep history in the Mid-Atlantic states of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, as well as Midwest branches in Missouri and Illinois. Further work has uncovered connections to the 1619 “Twenty and Odd” Africans through the famous enigma Anthony Johnson and a long history of free people of color making a way for themselves and their families in the early centuries of this country, and to John Gowen and Margaret Cornish.
Douglas is an AAHGS member, a charter member of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage and a charter member of the Society of the First African Families of English America.
He is also a seasoned technology and business leader with over 25 years of experience in delivering strategic insights, developing competitive intelligence, driving business growth and contributing to several major corporate business transformations. He has worked in diverse companies ranging from early-stage technology start-ups to Fortune 500 to Wall Street Investment Banks and is ideally positioned for a leadership role in the Society. He holds B.S and M.S. degrees in Engineering and Applied Mathematics from MIT, UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins and an MBA from Stanford University.
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CONGRATULATIONS
For more information on our honorees
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National Military Appreciation Month
The Society of the First African Families of English America honors National Military Appreciation Month, which is observed every May in the United States, and serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the Armed Forces, both past and present. It provides an opportunity for the nation to honor the bravery, dedication, and selflessness of service members who protect the country's freedoms and values.
This month-long observance includes significant commemorative days such as Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, and Military Spouse Appreciation Day, each highlighting different facets of military life and support systems. By recognizing their service, National Military Appreciation Month fosters a greater sense of unity, patriotism, and gratitude among Americans, encouraging support for those who defend the nation at great personal cost.
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HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
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SOFAFEA has launched a number of America 250 initiatives.
America 250 is a nationwide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. Organized by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, it aims to celebrate America’s history, honor its diverse communities, and inspire civic engagement. The initiative includes events, educational programs, and community projects across the country to reflect on our nation’s past, present, and future.
The Society has launched a Five Star Semiquincentennial Program, designed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, and in collaboration with our Regional Vice Presidents and our partners will be providing monthly events throughout the nation in 2026, and hope you will join us.
Get started early by keeping up to date on our current activities in promoting
the heroic deeds of our ancestors and America’s Forgotten Patriots.
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Memorial Day
Our Ancestors …throughout history, always answered the call when the time came to protect our democracy, at home and around the world.
In Remembrance This Memorial Day …We honor those and their families who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms of liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and equal justice for all. Society of the First African Families of English America©
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For more information
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The Society of the First African Families of English America is a 501(c)3 organizations that relies on contributions, and all contributions are tax deductible.
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