Khadijah Matin, Author at

Independent Historian

Rev. Khadijah Matin, M.S., has combined over 30 years of service in the areas of history, health and adult education. In the area of African American History, her work includes the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, serving as its National President. Her research focus areas include Midwest history and Native American/African-American research. Additionally, she lectures and performs as a storyteller focusing on her family’s history in the Midwest (Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska) and Ontario Canada and 19th and 20th century African-American history. Khadijah is also an Executive Board member of the Kansas Institute for African American and Native American Family History (KIAANAFH).

Inspired by her faith, Khadijah believes that the work in African American history and genealogy is a calling and a blessing. The works of her children Karim, Ibrahim and Jehan also are a source of inspiration.

John Grant Pegg (1869-1916)

John Grant Pegg was born around 1869 in Virginia. He began his career in about 1890 as a Pullman porter, working out of Chicago. It was there that he met Mary Charlotte Page of Kansas, a seamstress. After their marriage they moved to Omaha, Nebraska … Read MoreJohn Grant Pegg (1869-1916)

Ava Speese Day (1912-1988)

Born in 1912, Ava Speese (Day) traveled with her family in 1915 to homestead in Cherry County, Nebraska. Taking advantage of the Kincaid Homestead Act of 1904, the Speese family, Charles and Rosetta Meehan Speese and their nine children, were among forty African American families … Read MoreAva Speese Day (1912-1988)