In the book Gram’s Gift, Joyce Mosley shares her family’s history, tracing African, European, and Native American roots back to the 1600s. The story follows Gram as she gathers her grandchildren to teach them about their ancestors' vital contributions to American history.
The narrative begins with Cyrus Bustill, who was born enslaved but eventually purchased his freedom and operated a successful bakery that supplied bread to George Washington’s troops at Valley Forge. After the Revolutionary War, Cyrus moved to Philadelphia, becoming a prominent businessman, educator, and community leader. His descendants upheld this legacy as agents for the Underground Railroad, soldiers in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War, and dedicated voting rights advocates.
This presentation will specifically highlight the achievements of Sarah Mapps Douglass and her mother, Grace Bustill. Both women demonstrated extraordinary courage and leadership during an era of limited rights for Black women. The talk will explore their significant accomplishments as well as the challenges they endured.
Gram’s gift to her grandchildren was the preservation of this legacy, of which Sarah and Grace are an integral part. She hopes you enjoy learning about this history as well.
5:00 PM - Complimentary Refreshments. Explore ASMH's new core exhibit, The History of Quakerism: A Religious Revolution, which opened in April 2026 after a multi-year capital campaign.
6:00 PM - Presentation by Joyce Mosley
7:00 PM - Program ends
Joyce Mosley assumed the role of family historian over twenty years ago. She wrote Gram’s Gift to ensure her family’s children know their history and that all children know that Black history is American history. Her family is among the first families to reside in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She can trace her family history to the 1600s to the first mayor of Philadelphia, Humphrey Morrey, and Cyrus Bustill, born 1732, enslaved, purchased his freedom, and baked bread for George Washington’s troop at Valley Forge.
Joyce is a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Colonial Daughters of the 17th Century, the Society of Founding Families of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the African American Genealogy Group, the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage, and the Society of the First African Families in English America.
She presents her research at DAR, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) meetings and conferences, as well as at local libraries, churches, and schools.
In 2019, PBS featured Mosley on an episode of “Movers and Makers” https://video.whyy.org/video/outbound-y8big3/
BOOK AWARDS
Phillis Wheatley Book Award 2021
International AAHGS Book Award 2021