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Researching African American Genealogy (view source)

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=== Step Two: Gather Family Information  ===
=== Step Two: Gather Family Information  ===
Gather your records (birth certificates, marriage licenses, deeds, etc.) from home sources. Ask relatives for records as well. Older relatives will likely have more records and information than others.
Gather your records (birth certificates, marriage licenses, deeds, etc.) from home sources. Ask relatives for records as well. Older relatives will likely have more records and information than others.
 
Home sources may include: bibles; newspaper clippings; birth, marriage, death certificates; diaries; letters; scrapbooks; etc.


=== Step Three: Interview Your Relatives  ===
=== Step Three: Interview Your Relatives  ===
Interview relatives, both those who live nearby and those who live faraway. For relatives who live in other states, a phone call and a follow-up letter will work. For nearby relatives, interview them in person at their convenience.
Interview relatives, both those who live nearby and those who live faraway. For relatives who live in other states, a phone call and a follow-up letter will work. For nearby relatives, interview them in person at their convenience.


Remember when conducting oral interviews:
When conducting oral interviews:
*Set up appointment (by phone for those who live far away and in person for those who live near).
*Set up appointment (by phone for those who live far away and in person for those who live near).
*Prepare questions beforehand.
*Prepare questions beforehand.
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*Relationships
*Relationships
*Names (including maiden names, nicknames, spellings, etc.)
*Names (including maiden names, nicknames, spellings, etc.)
Be aware of sensitive topics for the interviewee.


=== Step Four: Write for Copies of Records  ===
=== Step Four: Write for Copies of Records  ===
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*Verification of social security number
*Verification of social security number


=== Step Six: Search the Census ===
=== Step Six: Search the Census ===
 
Federal Census Records are taken every ten years and are available from 1790 through 1940. Some local and state census records are also available depending upon the venue.


Census records contain: name, age, race, occupation, house number, occupants, literacy, military experience, home/farm ownership, value of property, neighbors and much more.  
Federal census records are taken every ten years and are available from 1790 through 1940. Only the head of household was listed from 1790 to 1840. Starting in 1850, every member of the household was listed. Starting in 1880, relationships to the head of household were added. The 1870 census is the first one in which all African Americans were listed. Some state census records are also available depending on the state.  


Begin searching with the name of a person you know who would have been included in the 1940 census.  
Census records list: name, age, race, relationship to head of household, occupation, house number, occupants, literacy, military experience, home/farm ownership, value of property, neighbors and much more.  


If you have trouble finding the person, look for siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles. Most families lived only a few doors from each other.
Begin searching with the name of a person you know who would have been included in the 1940 census. If you have trouble finding the person, look for siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles. Most families lived only a few doors from each other.


=== Step Seven: Search at the State and County Level  ===
==== Search Other Federal Records ====
Besides the census, military records are another important federal record to search. African Americans have served in every war. They may be found in Revolutionary War records, Civil War records, and World War I and II records. Pension records offer the most information of any military record.


In many cases, state and local records are the best sources for finding information. For example, many jurisdictions completed census records annually in addition to the 10-year Federal Census
Also look for mortality and veteran schedules.


Records also include voter registration cards, tax information (this is important for slavery research), land grants, deeds, wills and probate, some vital records, cemetery listings and transcriptions, criminal and civil proceedings, etc.
=== Step Seven: Search State and County Records ===


Most states have an Archives Office that each county routinely sends information to. This is done to free space at the local level as well as to preserve the history of each locale.
In many cases, state and county records are the best sources for finding information. Most states and counties have an archives office. Many of these records are online, but some may only be accessible at the archives.


== What You Will Find  ==
State and county records may include: state censuses, church records, cemetery records, vital records, land and property records, narratives, county histories, directories, voter registration cards, tax lists (this is important for slavery research), wills and probate, criminal and civil proceedings, the Social Security Death Index, etc.  
 
What you will find in interviewing members of the family is that African Americans often use nicknames instead of proper birth names. Many of us don't know the "real" names of our family members. This tradition is a direct result of slavery. Families in bondage gave each child a "secret" name so that if the family were ever separated and later rejoined, this "secret" name would be the unique identifier for reuniting.
 
An additional benefit of having a "secret" name was to deter an unsuspecting blood brother and sister from procreation or likewise, father and daughter. Unfortunately, this unique survival technique hundreds of years later creates yet another obstacle for the researcher who uses official records to trace lineage.
 
As you prepare for the interview, be mindful that there are some very deep, embarrassing, painful family secrets that relatives might not be willing to share right away, so tread lightly. For you, stirring up pain, waking the dead, shaking the leaves and branches of your tree might not be your intention but for the person who hasn't let go and or chooses to forget...it isn't just that simple. Establishing a mutually trusting, caring relationship must come first and hopefully one day you'll learn the real reason of how and why Uncle Joe was your uncle and your grandfather.  


== Related Articles ==
== Related Articles ==
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== Websites  ==
== Websites  ==


*http://www.afrigeneas.com/  
*[http://www.afrigeneas.com/ www.afrigeneas.com]
*http://www.accessgenealogy.com/african/  
*[https://www.familysearch.org/campaign/african-american-genealogy www.familysearch.org/campaign/african-american-genealogy]
*http://www.genealinks.com/africanamerican.htm
*[https://www.americanancestors.org/education/learning-resources/read/african-american-research www.americanancestors.org/education/learning-resources/read/african-american-research]
*http://caagri.org/  
*[https://www.accessgenealogy.com/black-genealogy www.accessgenealogy.com/black-genealogy]
*http://www.nypl.org/research/sc/sc.html
*[http://caagri.org/ www.caagri.org]
*http://genealogy.about.com/cs/africanamerican/
*[https://www.thoughtco.com/african-american-history-4133344 www.thoughtco.com/african-american-history-4133344]
*http://www.slaverysite.com/Body/genealogy.htm
*[http://www.slaverysite.com/Body/genealogy.htm www.slaverysite.com/Body/genealogy.htm]


== Resources  ==
== Resources  ==
*Thomas, Kenneth H., Jr. "A note on the Pitfalls of Black Genealogy: The Origins of Black Surnames." Georgia Archives 6 (Spring 1978:23-30.
*Thomas, Kenneth H., Jr. "A note on the Pitfalls of Black Genealogy: The Origins of Black Surnames." Georgia Archives 6 (Spring 1978:23-30.


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