About the Black Ancestry Network

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 HARP Provides:

• Guided genealogical intake through structured Q&A
   
• Oral history recording (audio or video)
   
• Intake of documents, photos, and family records
   
• Historical context by decade and location
   
• AI-assisted analysis and case prioritization
   

• Perform automated archival research
   
• Replace professional historians or archivists
   
• Guarantee complete family trees or DNA matches
   
• Sell or share participant data
   

Clear boundaries ensure ethical and responsible use.

Participants begin by downloading and completing an Initial Family History Q&A. Instructions are provided to help applicants prepare documents, photos, and oral history details. Participants are encouraged to set aside at least 90 minutes and involve a family helper if available.

 Analytic Advisors (AAs) review submitted information to:

• Identify missing or unclear data
   
• Detect timeline gaps or inconsistencies
   
• Generate follow-up questions
   

This ensures the intake session is focused and efficient.

A scheduled phone or video session is conducted with a trained genealogical intake facilitator. During this session:

• Oral history is recorded
   
• Documents and photos are reviewed using applicant-provided images
   
• Information is verified in real time
   
• Clarifications are captured for accuracy
   

No in-person visits are required.

Collected information is routed through Analytic Advisors to:

• Assess historical context by decade and location
   
• Identify migration patterns and record availability
   
• Evaluate case priority
   

This process supports responsible sequencing of research efforts.

Analytic Advisors are AI-assisted tools that support organization, analysis, and contextual understanding. They:

• Help structure intake information
   
• Identify missing data
   
• Assist with historical timeline analysis
   

AAs do not independently conduct archival research or make authoritative conclusions. All analysis remains subject to human oversight.

To responsibly manage limited resources, cases may be prioritized based on:

• Elder age or health
   
• Risk of oral history loss
   
• Connection to documented historical events
   
• Near-complete genealogical records
   

Prioritization is logistical and ethical, not exclusionary. All participants are treated with respect.

As part of Phase I, eligible participants, particularly elders and individuals on fixed incomes, may be invited to join the BANG MyHeritage Family Site at no cost.

Through this private, invitation-based family site:

• A starter family tree may be pre-built
   
• Participants can view, add, and update information
   
• Family members may collaborate remotely
   
• Optional DNA exploration tools are available
   

Participation is optional, and individuals retain control over their information. The MyHeritage site serves as a continuity workspace and does not replace HARP’s intake or analysis processes.

Community Access

Free genealogical intake is available for elders and individuals on fixed incomes, subject to capacity.

Extended or expedited genealogical services may be offered separately through approved channels. Participation in paid services is never required.

The HARP Project is currently operating as Phase I, focused on intake, preservation, and workflow validation. Systems and processes are actively refined to improve accessibility, quality, and sustainability.

Participation contributes to the ongoing development of equitable genealogical reconstruction methods.

• Download the Initial Family History Q&A
   
• Learn how to prepare for an intake session
   
• Contact BANG HQ with question

 You don’t need perfect records to contribute.
Family stories, names, photos, letters, and memories, especially those held by elders, are often the missing pieces needed to reconnect broken family lines. Every detail matters, even if it feels incomplete.

If you’ve already started your genealogy elsewhere, you can bring that work into HARP-GEN.
Family trees, GEDCOM files, and prior research can be preserved and used to help reconnect families over time as new data enters the system.

Your work is never overwritten or lost, it becomes part of a growing historical record.

 Some connections happen quickly. Others take years.
By contributing your data, you allow HARP-GEN to compare records patiently and ethically, waiting until evidence supports a connection. Your contribution today may help another family tomorrow, or years from now.