Community Historian Society

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BEFORE YOU APPLY
COMMON QUESTIONS

Return to the main overview page here. >>

Interested in joining our Team? See how it all works here. >>

Check out our Terms & Agreement page before you apply here >>

Before you apply, make sure you check out the Code of Conduct before here. >>

Application Requirements

The Root Keeper role is a collaborative, standards-based position within the Community Historian Society. It is designed for Indigenous Black Americans (FBA “Foundational Black Americans”, American “Black” Indians) who are already engaging in historical research and documentation and are prepared to contribute to the preservation of that work in permanent, published form. This is not an open or automated application process. Root Keepers are selected based on demonstrated research ability, consistency, and alignment with the mission of Trace Thy Roots. The requirements below are provided to ensure clarity, transparency, and mutual understanding before applying.

This application is used to identify Native Black Americans who are already engaged in historical research and documentation and who are interested in contributing to published archival projects.

Please answer all questions thoughtfully. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed.

Full Legal Name
Preferred Display Name (if different)
Email Address
Primary Social Media Platform (select all that apply)
How long have you been publicly sharing historical or research-based content?
Which best describes your research focus? (choose all that apply)
What sources do you primarily work with? (select all that apply)
Do you work well with others?
Are you willing to follow publisher direction after training?
Are you able to complete assigned research tasks in a timely manner?
Are you comfortable collaborating with a trained genealogist and publisher?
Will you be able to attend our orientation meetion on 3/13/2026? (you will receive a formal invitation if your application is accepted)
Please check all that apply:

What would you like to do next?

OVERVIEW

Return to the main page for summary of the Partnership Program.

OVERVIEW

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HOW IT WORKS

Interested in joining our Team? See how it all works before you apply.

HOW IT WORKS

CLICK HERE >>

LET'S AGREE

We are transparent. To keep all parties on the same page,  make sure you check out our Terms and Agreement page before you apply.

LET'S AGREE

CLICK HERE >>

    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    You were never meant to do this alone. Tracing our lineage is sacred work — a calling passed down through blood and spirit. Even when the records are broken or the names are wrong, the truth is still there, waiting. This space was built to help you uncover it with guided steps, intuitive tools, and the ancestral wisdom already rising in you.

    Pencil sketch of a young Black boy standing with eyes closed and hand over heart, as sun rays pour down onto his head. His legs extend into deep tree roots, with ancestral silhouettes in the background.

    If you’ve got a surname, a family story, or even just a feeling — you’re ready. We meet you where you are. No fancy tools or DNA kits required to begin.

    No. In fact, we teach you how to work around the confusion many DNA tests bring — especially for Black Americans who were reclassified or mislabeled. Paper records and oral history go a long way.

    Trace Thy Roots was built specifically for Black Americans. We focus on real records, not myths — and we use AI to help restore what was erased. This isn’t ancestry entertainment. This is lineage restoration.

    Just internet access, curiosity, and a willingness to see your family in a new light. Everything else — tools, downloads, and instructions — is included.

    The courses are fully self-paced so you can go at your own rhythm. Whether you have 20 minutes or 2 hours a week, it’s designed to fit into your life.

    While anyone is welcome, the curriculum centers the Black American experience — especially descendants of the reclassified, the renamed, and the erased. If that’s not your background, we still invite you to learn respectfully.

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