The West Florida Genealogical Society was selected for the National Genealogical Society’s Genealogical Tourism Award in recognition of the 1821 Sampler project. This award seeks to promote research and encouragement of family history tourism. The award was presented at the NGS Family History Conference in Sacramento, CA on May 24, 2022.
The 1821 Sampler Project and its mosaic of faces is a public project sponsored by the 200th Anniversary Commission, established at the request of the City of Pensacola and Escambia County Board of County Commissioners to commemorate Florida’s entry into the United States in 1821. It also commemorates the 200th Anniversary of Escambia County, which was created at that time.
West Florida Genealogical Society member Erin Renfroe and Past-President Virginia Shelby identified over 2,300 individuals who might have been present on July 17, 1821 for the changing of the flags ceremony in Pensacola. Present-day residents of West Florida were invited to “represent” one of the individuals living in the area in 1821 - European colonial families, American settlers, free people of color, enslaved people, and the military. Over 500 have participated so far.
The incredible website that presented this data in a dynamic, user-friendly way was designed by Joe Vinson. Visit the project at 1821Sampler.com.
Joe Vinson also produced a program about the 1821 celebrations and the history behind them. Narrated by Sherri Hemminghaus Weeks, it features interviews with Virginia and Erin, along with Dr. Judy Bense, Margo Stringfield, and others. Well-done and informative - click here to watch.
If you would like to view the raw data that underlies the Sampler Project and the source list, click here.