The McGowan Project Volunteers
by RL Canady
How 50+ years of African American funeral home records were turned into a remarkable genealogical family history collection by the work of the African American Genealogy Interest Group (AAGIG)
In 1955, Alto McGowan started a funeral home business with Chester Johnson, whom he soon bought out. By 1956, McGowan had expanded to two locations. In 1957, he purchased a home that once belonged to prominent Dallas jeweler Simon Linz, located at 2830 South Ervay Street in Dallas, Texas. This became the permanent location of the business. The purpose of the business was to serve African American families not being served by other funeral homes.
