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This work only exists because people support it. Free resources, youth programs, transcription projects, and moving the archive forward all happen because folks donate.

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A restricted fund

The 3,096 Fund

In 1862, Washington, D.C. printed the names of 3,096 people and the prices put on them. The 3,096 Fund researches those families and finds their living descendants. Every gift is restricted to that work.

Goal: $25,000 to pull every petition file from the National Archives and put a professional genealogist on these families for five months.

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Paid Genealogy Services

Need deeper research support? Walt & Chey Genealogy offers paid research services for families looking for more intensive help with their trees.

Workshops & Speaking

Invite Walt to speak at your library, university, museum, or community organization. Topics include Black genealogy, crossing the 1870 wall, understanding slavery records, and anti-racism genealogy work.

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Follow @FormerLovePoet on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Share BEP resources with folks who need them. Tag us in your genealogy wins. Community support keeps this work visible and accessible.

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Thank you for supporting this work

Because of you, descendants of chattel slavery can access free resources, youth can learn their history, and our ancestors' stories stay alive. This work doesn't happen without community support.