(CNN) -- Anita Davenport's curiosity about her family's past began with the photographs that surrounded her. She said she wanted to know the stories behind the images of her parents and uncles. 

Anita Davenport's grandfather, Walter, was stationed in Battle Creek, Michigan, during World War I. 

The stories she found -- and shared during several phone conversations from her home in Culver City, California -- parallel the African-American journey during the past century. 

The search took her to 1894, when her grandfather, Walter, was born in Stone Mountain, Georgia. 

Walter Davenport moved to Wedowee, Alabama. During World War I, Davenport was stationed at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan, Anita said. 

Thousands of other African-Americans were also on the move, mainly to the Northeast and the Midwest, eager for opportunities related to the war and industrialization, according to Howard Dodson, a historian and the director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. 

Walter Davenport later returned to Alabama, married and had nine children, one of whom was Anita's father, Frank. 

Walter was fond of Battle Creek and regaled his family with stories, Anita said. The stories must have been convincing. The eldest of his nine children, also named Walter, moved north to Battle Creek in 1951. 

Frank Davenport, Anita's father, later joined his older brother in Michigan. Anita was born in Battle Creek. 

Between 1940 and 1970, more than 5 million African-Americans left the South, migrating to cities like Boston, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan, and New York. 
What is the name of Anita's grandfather?
What year was he born?
Where was he born?
Where did he move after?
In what war did he enlist in?
Where was he stationed?
Was Walter African-Amerian?
In what areas of the U.S. did African-American move to during that time?
Why?
What kind?
How many children did Walter have?
What is the name of Anita's father?
Did Walter like Battle Creek?
What was the name of Walter's child who moved there in 1951?
Who else moved there?
During what years did African-Americans leave the South?
How many left?
What's the name of one of the cities they moved to?
Who is Howard Dodson?
Where does Anita live currently?
Walter.
Anita Davenport's grandfather, Walter, 
1894
e search took her to 1894, when her grandfather, Walter, was born in Stone Mountain, Georgia. 
Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Walter, was born in Stone Mountain, Georgia. 
Wedowee, Alabama.
Walter Davenport moved to Wedowee, Alabama.
World War I
 During World War I, Davenport 
Battle Creek, Michigan
stationed at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan
Yes.
Thousands of other African-Americans were also on the move
The Northeast and the Midwest.

Thousands of other African-Americans were also on the move, mainly to the Northeast and the Midwest, 
They were eager for opportunities.
eager for opportunities related to the war and industrialization
War and industrialization.
eager for opportunities related to the war and industrialization
Nine
Walter Davenport later returned to Alabama, married and had nine children,
Frank Davenport
Frank Davenport, Anita's fathe
Yes
Walter was fond of Battle Creek
Walter
The eldest of his nine children, also named Walter, moved north to Battle Creek in 1951. 
Anita's father
Anita's father, later joined his older brother in Michigan. Anita was born in Battle Creek. 
Between 1940 and 1970
Between 1940 and 1970, more than 5 million African-Americans left the South
More than 5 million
Between 1940 and 1970, more than 5 million African-Americans left the South, 
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan, and New York. 
A historian and director of the Schomburg Center
 Howard Dodson, a historian and the director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. 
Culver City, California
 her home in Culver City, California 