Researching African American Genealogy: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:08, 15 March 2022

African American Genealogy Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Introduction Research Steps	Record Finder Search Strategies
Original Records
Bible Records Business Cemeteries Census Church Records Compiled Genealogies Court Records Freedman's Bank Freedmen's Bureau Funeral Homes Land and Property	Military Records Newspapers Obituaries Occupations Online Records Oral History Probate Records Slavery and Bondage Southern Claims Commission Taxation Vital Records
Compiled Sources
Biography	Periodicals
Background Information
History Melungeons	Migration Periodicals
Finding Aids
Archives & Libraries Family History Centers] Further Reading	Internet Sources Resources Societies

United States

African American Genealogy

Research Steps

African American Online Genealogy Records

Introduction[edit | edit source]

African American research in the United States is similar to other U.S. genealogical projects until about 1870. In genealogy, always start with the known and work towards the unknown.

It is important to note that no matter how much time and money you spend on your research, unless you are organized, you will frustrate yourself and your opportunity for finding the truth about your family. There are many free, quality family tree software programs that can be used to organize your research. Take advantage of the opportunity and get started today!

Research Steps[edit | edit source]

There are seven easy steps to begin your research:

Step One: Start With Yourself[edit | edit source]

Identify what you already know. Start with yourself and work backward in time by filling in as much information as you can, by memory, on a pedigree chart. Try to fill out full names (including maiden names for women), relationships, and dates and locations for births, marriages, and deaths.

Step Two: Gather Family Information[edit | edit source]

Gather home sources (birth certificates, marriage licenses, deeds, etc.) and family information. Look in the homes of parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Gather records that show family names; dates of birth, marriage, and death; places; or relationships. Older relatives will likely have more records and information than others.

Records may include:

Bibles
Newspaper clippings
Birth, marriage, death certificates
Diaries
Letters
Scrapbooks

Also look at compiled sources for any information about the family.

Step Three: Interview Your Relatives[edit | edit source]

Interview relatives, both those who live nearby and those who live faraway. Interview them either by phone or in person. Make sure to interview the eldest living relatives; their knowledge can often fill in gaps when records become scarce.

When conducting oral interviews:

Set up appointment (by phone for those who live far away and in person for those who live near).
Prepare questions beforehand.
Record the interview (ask for permission beforehand).
Write down notes afterwards.
Compare memories between relatives.
Fill out family group sheets to organize ancestors according to the information learned.

Topics to cover in interviews:

When and where things happened. Location is key in genealogical research.
Relationships
Names (including maiden names, nicknames, spellings, etc.)

Be aware of sensitive topics for the interviewee.

Step Four: Write for Copies of Records[edit | edit source]

With the information learned from the records found and interviews conducted, obtain copies of more records. These records will help prove relationships and extend the family line further. Some may be online, but others may need to be ordered from county courthouses or state vital records offices.

Such records include:

Birth, death, marriage, divorce
Courthouse Information
Land/probate deeds, conveyances, affidavit of heirship, guardianship
Tax records (includes slave information)
Voter registration
Social security administration

Step Five: Follow Up On Death Record Clues[edit | edit source]

Legal name of descendant
Marital status
Parent(s) names(s)
Parent’s birthplaces
Date and place of birth and death
Who verified death
Funeral home that handled remains
Cemetery
Verification of social security number

Step Six: Search the Census[edit | edit source]

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.

Census records usually list:

Name, age, race
Relationship to head of household
Occupation
House number
Literacy
Military experience
Home/farm ownership
Value of property

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.

Search Other Federal Records - National Archives[edit | edit source]

African American Research
African Americans- Reference Reports
Guide to Black History:Record Group Clusters
Records that pertain to American Slavery and the International Slave Trade
Black Family Research. Records of Post Civil War Federal Agencies at the National Archives - Reference Information Paper 108
Debra L. Newman. Black History: A Guide to Civilian Records in the National Archives

Records of African- American History

National Archives at Atlanta

Besides the census, there are other federal records to look for:

Military records (especially pension records)
Mortality and veteran schedules
Social Security Death Index

Step Seven: Search State and County Records[edit | edit source]

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.

State and county records may include:

State censuses
Church records
Cemetery records
Vital records
Land and property records
Narratives, histories
Directories
Voter registration cards
Tax lists (this is important for slavery research)
Wills and probate
Criminal and civil proceedings

Societies[edit | edit source]

Websites[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit | edit source]

Thomas, Kenneth H., Jr. "A note on the Pitfalls of Black Genealogy: The Origins of Black Surnames." Georgia Archives 6 (Spring 1978:23-30.
Walter B. Hill, Jr. Institutions of Memory and the Documentation of African Americans in Federal Records. 29 ( Summer, 1997)

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 == Introduction ==
-African American research in the United States is similar to other U.S. genealogical projects until 1870 and earlier. In genealogy, always start with the known and work towards the unknown.
+African American research in the United States is similar to other U.S. genealogical projects until about 1870. In genealogy, always start with the known and work towards the unknown.
 It is important to note that no matter how much time and money you spend on your research, unless you are organized, you will frustrate yourself and your opportunity for finding the truth about your family. There are many free, quality family tree software programs that can be used to organize your research. Take advantage of the opportunity and get started today!
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 *Prepare questions beforehand.
 *Record the interview (ask for permission beforehand).
-*Write down notes during the interview and afterward.
+*Write down notes afterwards.
 *Compare memories between relatives.
 *Fill out family group sheets to organize ancestors according to the information learned.
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 Be aware of sensitive topics for the interviewee.
-=== Step Four: Order Copies of Records  ===
+=== Step Four: Write for Copies of Records  ===
 With the information learned from the records found and interviews conducted, obtain copies of more records. These records will help prove relationships and extend the family line further. Some may be online, but others may need to be ordered from county courthouses or state vital records offices.
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 *Courthouse Information
 *Land/probate deeds, conveyances, affidavit of heirship, guardianship
-*Tax records (includes information about enslaved persons)
+*Tax records (includes slave information)
 *Voter registration
-*Social Security Administration
+*Social security administration
-=== Step Five: Follow Up on Death Record Clues  ===
+=== Step Five: Follow Up On Death Record Clues  ===
 *Legal name of descendant
@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 === Step Six: Search the Census ===
-Federal census records are taken every ten years and are available from 1790 through 1950. Only the head of household was listed from 1790 to 1840. Starting in 1850, every member of the household was listed, but this did not include enslaved persons. 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 by name.  Before 1870 African Americans were listed by age, but not name. Some state census records are also available depending on the state.
+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.
 Census records usually list:
-*Name, age, and perceived race
+*Name, age, race
 *Relationship to head of household
 *Occupation
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 *Value of property
-Begin searching with the name of a person you know who would have been included in the 1950 census. If you have trouble finding the person, look for siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Many extended family members 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.
 ==== Search Other Federal Records - National Archives  ====
 *[https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans  African American Research]
-*[https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/reference-reports African Americans- Reference Reports]
+*[https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/reference-reports.html African Americans- Reference Reports]
-*[https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/guide/record-groups Guide to Black History: Record Group Clusters]
+*[https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/guide/record-groups Guide to Black History:Record Group Clusters]
 *[https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/slavery-records.html Records that pertain to American Slavery and the International Slave Trade]
-*[https://www.archives.gov/files/publications/ref-info-papers/rip108.pdf Black Family Research. Records of Post Civil War Federal Agencies at the National Archives.  Reference Information Paper 108]
+*[https://www.archives.gov/files/publications/ref-info-papers/rip108.pdf Black Family Research. Records of Post Civil War Federal Agencies at the National Archives - Reference Information Paper 108]
-*''Black History: A Guide to Civilian Records in the National Archives.'' Debra L. Newman. '''''Online at:''''' {{FSDL|378575}}.
+*Debra L. Newman.'' Black History: A Guide to Civilian Records in the National Archives''
+''' Records of African- American History '''
-''' Records of African American History '''
 *[https://www.archives.gov/atlanta/finding-aids/black-history.html National Archives at Atlanta]
@@ Line 123: / Line 122: @@
 == Societies ==
-*[https://www.aahgs.org/ Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society]
+*[https://www.aahgs.org/ Afro-American Historical And Genealogical Society]
 *[https://sdusmp.org/New2/ Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage]
 == Related Articles ==
-*'' Starting Your African American Research.'' Char McCargo Bah.  NGS Magazine 33 #4 (October-December 2007): 20-22.
+*Char McCargo Bah. '' Starting Your African American Research.'' NGS Magazine 33 #4 (October-December 2007): 20-22.
-*''Black Slavery Emancipation Research in the Northern States.'' James Petty.  National Genealogical Society Quarterly 100 #4 (December 2012): 293-304. {{FSC|1984200|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 B2ng.}}
+*James Petty. ''Black Slavery Emancipation Research in the Northern States.'' National Genealogical Society Quarterly 100 #4 (December 2012): 293-304 FHL 973 B2ng
 == Websites  ==
-*[https://www.americanancestors.org/education/learning-resources/read/african-american-research AmericanAncestors] by NEHGS
+*[http://www.afrigeneas.com/ www.afrigeneas.com]
-*[https://www.accessgenealogy.com/black-genealogy AccessGenealogy]
+*[https://www.americanancestors.org/education/learning-resources/read/african-american-research www.americanancestors.org/education/learning-resources/read/african-american-research]
-*[http://caagri.org/ Center for African American Genealogy Research]
+*[https://www.accessgenealogy.com/black-genealogy www.accessgenealogy.com/black-genealogy]
-*[https://www.thoughtco.com/african-american-history-4133344 African American History] at ThoughtCo.
+*[http://caagri.org/ www.caagri.org]
+*[https://www.thoughtco.com/african-american-history-4133344 www.thoughtco.com/african-american-history-4133344]
+*[http://www.slaverysite.com/Body/genealogy.htm www.slaverysite.com/Body/genealogy.htm]
 == Resources  ==
-*[https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/georgia_archive/vol6/iss1/5/''A note on the Pitfalls of Black Genealogy: The Origins of Black Surnames,''] Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr.,  "Georgia Archives," Volume 6, number 1, 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.
+*[https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1997/summer/institutions-of-memory.html Walter B. Hill, Jr. '' Institutions of Memory and the Documentation of African Americans in Federal Records.'' 29 ( Summer, 1997)]
-*[https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1997/summer/institutions-of-memory.html '' Institutions of Memory and the Documentation of African Americans in Federal Records.''] Walter B. Hill, Jr., "Prolog Magazine," Summer 1997, Vol. 29, No. 2.
 {{African American|African American}}
 [[Category:African American Records]]