The Society was organized in 2005 as an affiliate of the Crispus Attucks Center of Lancaster, with the mission to collect, analyze, and interpret basic information about the life of African Americans in the South Central region of the Commonwealth.

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The organization’s primary goals are to increase awareness and knowledge of African-American history through the use of archival and on-line sources for genealogical family research; to create forums dealing with historical issues; and to celebrate African-American achievements and contributions to American society.

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The Society has organized and conducted annual Genealogy Workshops at various venues throughout Lancaster City that have attracted participants from nearby communities such as Columbia, York, Chester County, and Lancaster’s Peach Bottom.  By consensus, the organization’s members decided to expand programs into conferences and workshops that extend its geographic reach since the historical experiences of local African Americans can be traced to states in the Middle Atlantic region such as Maryland, Virginia and beyond to the Caribbean.

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​In 2014, the Society organized a one-day conference of speakers and presentations at Edward Hand Middle School in Lancaster and conducted a motor coach tour of Gettysburg and other historical sites.  Both of these projects were organized with the goal of bringing in students from area schools.  Students from Hand Middle School’s Exit Lancaster program participated.  The Society welcomes opportunities for partnerships and collaborative efforts that will involve more school age youth in the group’s programs.