Nancybelle Valentine's family tree

This information is based on interviews with Nancybelle and her mother, a 2001 newspaper interview with her mother, and searches of the 1880 and 1930 US Census data. The one area of uncertainty is the information on Nancybelle 's grandmother. Her name was Rovutter Daniel Wilson, but she was known as Annie within her family. I found a census record for an Ann Daniel that largely corresponded to the information Elder Nancybelle gave me about her grandmother. Thus, the lines drawn from her images are wavy to denote this uncertainty.

If you have trouble reading the text on the image, try this page.

The images of Nancybelle and her sister are by James Vanderzee.

Elder Nancybelle talks politics

Elder Nancybelle and Rev. Brahma discuss their church

Sidebar: Family and childhood photos

These photographs date from 1917 to the late 1940s, and include pictures of Nancybelle's grandparents, aunts, uncles cousin and sister. One section features photographs of Nancy and her sister taken by legendary photographer James Vanderzee.

The music is from La Boheme -- Nancybelle's favorite opera. She often heard opera on the radio during her childhood. The singer is Enrico Caruso.

Clip: Steven Fullwood on African American gay life in the mid-20th century