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Quick Guide to African American Records: Difference between revisions
Quick Guide to African American Records (view source)
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*Specific information you need to trace your African American ancestors. | *Specific information you need to trace your African American ancestors. | ||
= Beginning Your Search = | |||
:*Write down what your family knows about your ancestors. | :*Write down what your family knows about your ancestors. | ||
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:*See [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=All_T3_ResMeth_-_How_Do_I_Begin.ASP ''How Do I Begin?''] for more information. | :*See [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=All_T3_ResMeth_-_How_Do_I_Begin.ASP ''How Do I Begin?''] for more information. | ||
= Searching Recent Records = | |||
Start with the most recent generations. Look at general federal and state records and then look at records specifically for African Americans. | Start with the most recent generations. Look at general federal and state records and then look at records specifically for African Americans. | ||
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For step-by-step instructions for finding African-American families in recent U.S. records, see Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Part A: African American, 1870 to Present (36367). You can see this as another [http://www.familysearchwiki.org/36367_African_American_Records.pdf article] on this site. | For step-by-step instructions for finding African-American families in recent U.S. records, see Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Part A: African American, 1870 to Present (36367). You can see this as another [http://www.familysearchwiki.org/36367_African_American_Records.pdf article] on this site. | ||
=== General U. S. Records === | |||
1. Search United States records, as described in the United States Research Outline (30972) such as: | 1. Search United States records, as described in the United States Research Outline (30972) such as: | ||
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5. Join an African American Genealogical Society in your area or the area where your ancestors lived. | 5. Join an African American Genealogical Society in your area or the area where your ancestors lived. | ||
=== African American Records === | |||
*African American records at the Family History Library are listed in the bibliography below. Look for records from the place and time your ancestor lived. | *African American records at the Family History Library are listed in the bibliography below. Look for records from the place and time your ancestor lived. | ||
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Also see: | Also see: | ||
*[http://www.members.aol.com/strat43z/melung.html www.members.aol.com/strat43z/melung.html] | :*[http://www.members.aol.com/strat43z/melung.html www.members.aol.com/strat43z/melung.html] | ||
and | ::and | ||
*[http://www.ccharity.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Web_Links&file=index&req=viewlink&cid=21 www.ccharity.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Web_Links&file=index&req=viewlink&cid=21] | :*[http://www.ccharity.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Web_Links&file=index&req=viewlink&cid=21 www.ccharity.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Web_Links&file=index&req=viewlink&cid=21] | ||
The following records can help you determine if an ancestor was born free or freed by a slave owner. | The following records can help you determine if an ancestor was born free or freed by a slave owner. | ||
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**Local court, land, and probate records. The lives of free African Americans were still closely regulated by law and custom. | **Local court, land, and probate records. The lives of free African Americans were still closely regulated by law and custom. | ||
= Searching Transition Records from Slavery to Freedom = | |||
'''Records of the Underground Railroad''' | '''Records of the Underground Railroad''' | ||
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Look under "Migration" in both sections. Also see: | Look under "Migration" in both sections. Also see: | ||
*[http://www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/ www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/] | :*[http://www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/ www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/] | ||
and | ::and | ||
*[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html] | :*[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html] | ||
=== Making the Slave Connection === | |||
You must first identify the slave owner, and then study the owner’s records for clues to your family. Correctly identifying your ancestor in slave records is difficult. Even professional researchers are successful only about 50 percent of the time. | You must first identify the slave owner, and then study the owner’s records for clues to your family. Correctly identifying your ancestor in slave records is difficult. Even professional researchers are successful only about 50 percent of the time. | ||
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Keep in mind that only about 15 percent of former slaves took their last slave owner’s surname. Some took the surname of people they admired, such as Lincoln or Washington, and some took a surname they had been using for many years without the knowledge of the slave owner. | Keep in mind that only about 15 percent of former slaves took their last slave owner’s surname. Some took the surname of people they admired, such as Lincoln or Washington, and some took a surname they had been using for many years without the knowledge of the slave owner. | ||
Sources for identifying the slave owner: | === Sources for identifying the slave owner: === | ||
'''Military Records''' | '''Military Records''' | ||
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3. Act as if each family name on the list was the name of the former slave owner. Use the records listed under Search Records of Slaves. As you use the records you will start eliminating some names, and others will look more promising. | 3. Act as if each family name on the list was the name of the former slave owner. Use the records listed under Search Records of Slaves. As you use the records you will start eliminating some names, and others will look more promising. | ||
4. If you don’t find a match, try to find out if the family moved from a different location. If so, repeat this process as you check the census records for the other location. | 4. If you don’t find a match, try to find out if the family moved from a different location. If so, repeat this process as you check the census records for the other location. | ||
= Searching Records for Slaves = | |||
When you know the slave owner’s name or if you have a list of possibilities: | When you know the slave owner’s name or if you have a list of possibilities: | ||
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1863 The Emancipation Proclamation frees only slaves in states in rebellion against the Union. | 1863 The Emancipation Proclamation frees only slaves in states in rebellion against the Union. | ||
1865 Last slaves in America freed on 19 June. | 1865 Last slaves in America freed on 19 June. | ||
= For More Information = | |||
Guidebooks and Histories | '''Guidebooks and Histories ''' | ||
Walker, James D. Black Genealogy: How to Begin. Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia, Center for Continuing Education, 1977. (FHL book 973 F27w.) | Walker, James D. Black Genealogy: How to Begin. Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia, Center for Continuing Education, 1977. (FHL book 973 F27w.) | ||
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*Available for a fee on the Internet at: | *Available for a fee on the Internet at: | ||
[http://www.il.proquest.com/products/pt-product-AfricanAmBio.shtml www.il.proquest.com/products/pt-product-AfricanAmBio.shtml] | [http://www.il.proquest.com/products/pt-product-AfricanAmBio.shtml www.il.proquest.com/products/pt-product-AfricanAmBio.shtml] | ||
'''Internet Sites''' | |||
*[http://www.afrigeneas.com/ www.afrigeneas.com] | *[http://www.afrigeneas.com/ www.afrigeneas.com] | ||