While doing research in the governmental archives for a client, Ms. Howell began reading some of the W.P.A. slave narratives that were stored in about six archives throughout America. The passion grew until she was studying almost daily for hours.

Soon, she began research on a full-time basis. She spent five days each week in research facilities from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for almost a year before she decided exactly which path her self-appointed mission would take. The result is an on-going series of 24 books entitled I WAS A SLAVE, now in hundreds of bookstores in America and several other countries.

“I put everything that I had learned about project management, book publication, and national publicity during the previous three decades to good use. All of my career experiences had prepared me for this worthwhile mission and I happily worked in research rooms and my office for 12-18 hours per day duringsix days per week for years. Relatively soon, my books became well-known nationally and were international great-sellers by the time that the sixth book was published.”

Donna Wyant Howell is

• a specialized historian with in-depth research experience in the WPA slave narratives
  Ms. Howell has the unique distinction of being the only known historian who specializes exclusively in the slave narratives on a full-time basis.
    
  
• the compiler of The I WAS A SLAVE Book Collection which is available throughout the United States and also in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, Bermuda, Austria, and Japan. The series is being used as reference books in hundreds of grade schools, junior and high schools, colleges and universities (such as Notre Dame, Howard University, and Georgetown, among others), and public libraries.
    
  The books consist of portions of autobiographies of thousands of former slaves, many full autobiographies, and archival photographs. Six books of the 24-book series have been published. They have not been rewritten and remain virtually unedited in the former slaves' own words.
  (http://www.iwasaslave.com)
    
  She and the nationally acclaimed book series have been featured on NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, CNN, C-SPAN, Voice of America, PBS, NPR, The Washington Post, The New York Times, dozens of newspapers, magazines, radio broadcasts, and other national and international venues.
    
  
• a keynote speaker for programs about her specialized expertise in American history for many federal government agencies, universities, civic and religious organizations, genealogical societies, conventions, and special functions
    
  
• a professional editor for almost three decades and a newspaper columnist who uses the words of the former slaves to write articles distributed to approximately 210 newspapers nationwide
    
  
• a special instructor of supplemental American history classes (sponsored by the federal government and colleges)
  She has conducted these student-participation classes from the junior high school level (ages 11-13 years) through the university level.
    
  
• a hired expert consultant and narrator for PBS and other television programs about slavery
    
  
• the National Director of the American Slaves Foundation, which has chapters in 28 states and the District of Columbia and has over 340 volunteer area coordinators throughout the United States (http://www.AmericanSlavesFoundation.org)
    
  
• an honoree and recipient of special awards: Women of Washington honoree (other honorees include Mrs. Sadat, former First Lady of Egypt; Dorothy Height; Helen Thomas, the highest ranking member of the White House press; and Patti LaBelle), the US Postal Service Special Award for Black History Month; Blacks in Government honoree; and many plaques and appreciation certificates from genealogical associations, Afrocentric groups, American history organizations, the California State Assembly, the California State Senate, and the Premier (President) of Bermuda