Debra Newton-Carter

I attribute my success to finding my tribe, really, and being consistent with the message that there were free blacks who served in the Revolution. My husband always told me that people told him when he was growing up that all blacks at that time were slaves. When he found out that he had free people of color that were in the military, he was flabbergasted. But it was something that he was so proud of till the day he died. So finding my community and staying consistent with that important message has been key to my success.

The best advice I've ever received came from my mother, who served as an assistant editor for the Journal of Social Issues and later as an undergraduate secretary in the English Department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She told me two things: back it up three ways, and verify, verify, verify. That is my mantra when working with my teams. Those principles have guided all of my research and editorial work.

If you’re just starting out, my best advice is to find a mentor—someone who really knows the records but also has the imagination to see the 'person' behind the paperwork. A great mentor helps you stop just listing names and dates and starts helping you understand what life was actually like for your ancestors. That’s how you bring a story to life.

Don't try to do this work in a vacuum. You need to build a community. Join active Facebook groups where people are constantly helping each other solve research puzzles. I also highly recommend joining a lineage society like the DAR or SAR. Even if your ancestor wasn't in the military, there are so many other groups where you can find people with similar interests and deep expertise.

Finally, lean on your local resources. I started my journey with a librarian in a local history department who personally showed me the ropes. Whether it’s your town library or a regional history room, getting in touch with the people who have been doing this work for years is your best shortcut to success.

The biggest challenge in my field right now is the shifting landscape of how we access our history. As researchers, we rely heavily on digital archives to verify the past, but we are seeing significant changes in how federal institutions, like the Library of Congress and the National Park Service, manage these online resources. When digital records are reorganized or moved, it creates a “moving target” that requires a great deal of persistence to navigate.

At the same time, the general public and our descendants rely on museums for the tangible side of history. There is a very real concern when physical displays are removed or archives are altered, because history needs to be something we can experience in person. Research truly comes to life when you can take your children to a museum and let them interact with the tangible evidence of their heritage.

The great opportunity, however, is the growth of local digitization. While national databases are in flux, smaller courthouses and local history rooms are receiving grants to put their 'hidden' records online. In Massachusetts, we have an incredible wealth of original records dating back to the 1600s. My goal is to use these digital tools to protect the tangible stories of the past, ensuring they remain accessible and real for the generations to come.

I'd say faith, having an inquisitive mind, and connection with people are the most important values to me in my work and personal life. These values guide everything I do, from my research to my relationships with family and colleagues.