The Ground On Which We Stand
Historian Bios
JANICE CROSS-GILYARD is a member of the New Jersey Genealogical Society, The National Genealogical Society, a charter member of The Harriet Tubman Chapter of Sons & Daughters of the US Middle Passage, and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society – New Jersey Chapter (AAHGS-NJ). She served as Vice President (three terms) and is currently serving a second term as President for AAHGS-NJ. She is Editor of the AAHGS-NJ Family Times Newsletter, Programming Coordinator, and she provides content for the chapter’s Facebook page. Janice also serves on the following boards: The National Genealogical Society, Sons & Daughters of the US Middle Passage, and the 313+ Ancestors Speak Project.Janice has conducted her family research for the past 26 years and documented her family history back to 1720 (Native American, African American, and European). She is proud of her ancestors, which include farmers, authors, professors (two founded colleges), abolitionists, mariners, midwives, political campaigners, and pastors. Janice is enthusiastic about history and genealogy and believes that her ancestors chose her to research, document and tell their stories. She has made numerous presentations at genealogical and lineage societies, churches, libraries, universities, and she has presented at RootsTech 2021 and 2022. She is a Paul E. Sluby African American Scholarship recipient (2021 from Board of Certified Genealogist - BCG) and host a Podcast: Speak On It! History & Genealogy Conversations with Janice & Cherekana via BlogTalkRadio. Janice’s professional experience includes over 20 years in Public Relations providing consulting services. Currently, she manages all Customer Care Clients for a major health foods company in New Jersey. Janice loves history, genealogy, and travelling. For additional information visit: www.jcg-genealogycollective.com.
FRANK GERARD GODLEWSKI is an architectural designer, historian, and land- use expert focusing on African American History and Architectural History. The creative director of Fellsbridge Studio, he is Commissioner for the Caldwell Historical Preservation Commission as Architectural Expert and serves on the Essex Fells Historic Preservation Committee . Born in Montclair, he attended Cooper Union School of Architecture and pursued a Dottorato di Ricerca in Architecture in Venice . He has lectured on culture, history and design at the Montclair Art Museum, the Afro American History and Genealogical Society, the AIANY Architecture Center, the New York Armory Arts Week, Cooper Union and Princeton School of Architecture. He is a trustee of the Grover Cleveland Birthplace and Presidential Library in Caldwell, NJ.
BETTY HOLLOWAY is an educator who retired with over 30 years of experience. Upon retiring, she began to pursue her desire to research her family history. The experience she gained in family genealogy research led her to move her attention to Montclair’s undeniably intriguing African American history. There were many untold historical gems she felt the public needed to be reminded of. She wrote about Alice Hooe Foster, the founder of the Montclair YWCA, the Hooe family, and created the Montclair African American History Tour. She has presented her research at the YMCA, Montclair History Center, and the Montclair Public Library. Her work on St. Mark’s United Methodist Church archives provides a wealth of information about the growth and diversity of the Montclair African American community. A long-time community resident, Betty continues to pursue her passion for uncovering important historical stories as a Friends of the Howe House Research Team member. She received a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina Central University and a Master of Arts from Montclair State University.
KIMBERLY LATORTUE is a long time Montclair resident and local realtor who takes pride in supporting her community. As a mom of 3 she has served on various PTA's and organizations including NAACP, Montclair Mutual Aid, Montclair Early Music, and Friends of the Howe House where she is the current board President. Kimberly has a passion for social justice and providing opportunities to underserved populations.
AMINAH TOLER is a Montclair native who attended the Montclair Public Schools and still resides here. As a Montclarion, she takes great pride in her community and understands the advantageous benefits of growing up and living here. Aminah has gained the name, “The Connector,’ within the Montclair Community as she is known as someone who is able to connect people to people, people to resources and people to the community, as featured in the Montclair Neighbors Magazine. (Aug. 2020)
Aminah is one of the founding members of Montclair Mutual Aid, an organization started during the height of the pandemic to help serve neighbors in the Community. Montclair Mutual Aid has been an integral part of the Montclair Community, especially in the South End (4 th Ward) by ensuring that the needs of underserved families who may be struggling are met. Her recognized accomplishments have allowed her organization to continue to shine brightly within the community, as featured in in Suburban Essex Magazine (2021). Aminah is also a Board member of the Montclair Early Music program, a member of the Montclair Branch Chapter of the NAACP, and serves as the Vice-Chair for the Township’s Landlord Tenant Advisory Committee. She is also part of a small group of community stakeholders (Rock the Vote) involved with ensuring members of the community have the necessary forms and information regarding voting.
Aminah is also a member of Mocha Moms Inc., an organization designed to help mothers connect with other mothers of color and share insights, educational concerns and a host of other challenges they may face as Moms of Color. Most recently, Aminah serves as the Board Chair for the Friends of the James Howe House. An organization formed that secured the first “Freed Slave House,” in Montclair. Aminah is currently employed by the East Orange Public School District and works as an Administrative Assistant. and enjoys her part-time job as the Admin for the Montclair Local Newspaper.
GEOFF ZYLSTRA Dr. Geoff D. Zylstra is a historian of nineteenth-century urban technology who studies the importance of technology to the organization of space and social categories in cities. He works as an Associate Professor at the New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Zylstra has published in Technology and Culture, the Journal of Urban History and the Journal of Urban Technology and currently serves as a Contributing Editor to Technology and Culture. The National Endowment for the Humanities has supported Professor Zylstra with an institutional grant to bring humanities related curriculum to bear on science and technology courses on his campus. He received his PhD in history from Case Western Reserve University.