PBS films black history series in Cumberland

PBS films black history series in Cumberland
Documentary shot at C. William Gilchrist Gallery

CUMBERLAND — The C. William Gilchrist Gallery was recently the site of the filming of a Public Broadcasting System documentary series titled African American Lives, which traces black history through genealogy and DNA science.

The program is a co-production of Thirteen/WNET New York and Kunhardt Productions Inc.

The series is being hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois professor of the humanities and chair of African-American studies at Harvard and one of the most powerful academic voices in America.

In 1997 he was listed in Time magazine's "25 Most Influential Americans."

Gates was born and raised in Piedmont, W.Va., and lived for a time in Cumberland. In the segment being filmed in the Queen City he interviewed his own family concerning life in Allegany County and also historian and genealogist Jane Ailes, who spoke about her family, general life and slavery. Filming took place both inside and outride of the building at 104 Washington St. The four-part series will profile accomplished African Americans using genealogy and DNA to trace their roots down through American history and back to Africa. The series hopes to inspire others to consider and trace their own history.

The first two parts will air at 9 p.m. on Feb. 1 and the second two parts at 9 p.m. on Feb. 9 on PBS stations.