African American Resources for Alabama

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African American Online Genealogy Records

Introduction

Resources for African American research fall into two periods: pre-and post-Civil War. Post-Civil War research consists of consulting the same record types you would use to research non–African Americans. Pre-Civil War records consist of importation declarations for enslaved persons, plantation records, emancipation records, apprenticeship bonds for Freedmen, Alabama hiring practices, census records, plantation owners’ family records, church and cemetery records, military records, and Alabama court records.

Online Resources

Record Collections Discover Freedmen Search the following FamilySearch "Freedmen's Bureau record collections" 1790-1860 U.S., Southeast Coastwise Inward and Outward Slave Manifests, 1790-1860 at Ancestry (free) 1846-1867 U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Marriage Records, 1846-1867 at Ancestry ($) 1861-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection 1863-1878 U.S., Freedmen's Bureau Records of Field Offices, 1863-1878 at Ancestry (free) 1865-1872 Alabama, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch; images — How to Use this Collection Interactive Map of Freedmen's Bureau Offices with Links to Online Records at Mapping the Freedmen's Bureau - images; FamilySearch collections 1865-1874 United States, Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection 1865-1974 U.S., Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874 at Ancestry (free) Interactive Map of Freedman's Bank Branches with Links to Online Records at Mapping the Freedmen's Bureau - images; FamilySearch collections 1881-1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry ($) 1908-1874 Alabama Deaths 1908-1974 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection The Lantern Project (Legal Records Documenting Enslaved Persons) at Mississippi State University Libraries — index & images

Digital Archives

AfriGeneas

Alabama Department of Archives and History

Birmingham Public Library: Collections and Research

Samford University: Primary Sources

Larry's Alabama Archive - Larry E. Caver Jr's Collection of Alabama records

Access Genealogy: Alabama African American Records

Black Belt African American Genealogical Historical Society: Online Records

Lists of Sources

African American Genealogy Resources Page - Alabama State University

Alabama African American Genealogy Research - A list of Alabama genealogy resources, including records and databases

African American Gateway: Alabama (Allen County Public Library)

Digital Books

African American Digital Bookshelf - a growing list of digital books on FamilySearch and other websites

Research Strategy

Researching African Americans is often more challenging than researching other groups of people. Start with the present and then work back, one generation at a time. When starting out, first interview relatives, especially older relatives, and survey the records already gathered by others. Oral tradition is an important step because relatives may provide both information on recent generations and clues on where to search next. Additionally, relatives may have journals, newspaper clippings, vital certificates, or other such records of ancestors that may provide essential information and clues. Some crucial records to search for are birth certificates, death certificates, census records, and cemetery records and tombstones. The most difficult parts of African American research are slavery and the decades that followed it. One reason that researching enslaved persons is more difficult than researching other groups of people is because enslaved persons did not usually have recorded surnames, so the only way to identify them was by who the slaveholder was. Later, segregated schools, inexplicable surnames, and a lack of written or signed contracts became obstacles for genealogists who researched African Americans. Before the abolition of slavery in 1865, almost 250,000 of the 4 million enslaved persons in the southern states were freemen. However, these freemen did not leave much of a paper trail because of fear, illiteracy, and a lack of money. Many had settled in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Research guides:

• Burroughs, Tony. Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African-American Family Tree. (New York: Fireside, 2001).
• Taylor, Frazine K. Researching African American Genealogy in Alabama: A Resource Guide. (Montgomery, Alabama: New South Books. 2008). FS book 976.1 D27t.

History

For a comprehensive history of slavery in Alabama, see:

• Sellers, James Benson. Slavery in Alabama. (Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Press, 1950, 1994). (Available at the FamilySearch Library, call no. 976.1 F2s) This 426 page book includes a bibliography, on pages 399–409.
• Sylviane A. Diouf. Dreams of Africa in Alabama: the slave ship Clotilda and the story of the last Africans brought to America. (New York,New York: Oxford University Press, 2007). FS Library 976.1 F2d

To learn more about the Reconstruction Era (1868-1877), visit:

• Alabama's First Lawmakers
• A Quick Summary

To learn more about the Jim Crow Era (1859-1964), visit:

• Jim Crow Laws: Alabama
• Segregation (Jim Crow), Encyclopedia of Alabama
• Jim Crow Museum Ferris State University

Resources

Biographies

Several biographical dictionaries, compendia, and histories may contain information you need, for example:

• Black Biographical Dictionaries, 1790–1950. (Alexandria, Virginia: Chadwyck-Healy, 1980). FS Library fiche 6049870 (first of 1070 films.) This publication is sometimes referred to as "The Black Biography Project." Three of the sources included in this collection are:

• Boothe, Charles Octavius. The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Work. (Birmingham, Alabama: Birmingham Alabama Publishing, 1895). FS Library fiche 6078965 [set of 3]. This book contains biographies, birth dates, parents’ names, and sometimes pictures. It also provides information on associations and state conventions.

• Mixon, Winfield Henri. History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Alabama, with Biographical Sketches. (Selma, Alabama: A.M.E. Church Sunday School Union, 1902). FamilySearch Library FS Library fiche 6079113 [set of 3]. This book provides pictures, church minutes and history, and speeches. There is no index.

• Moorman, Joseph H. and E. L. Barrett. Leaders of the Colored Race in Alabama. Mobile, Alabama: News Publishing, [198–?]. FS Library fiche 6079115 [set of 2]. This source contains biographical sketches with birth dates, educational information, a history of each minister’s service, and a history of churches. It includes an index.

Census Records

The 1866 Alabama State Census lists African Americans. The census is divided into two sections: "White" and "Colored." The census lists the head of household, number of family members in each age category (males and females separated), and family total. The 1866 census is found on Ancestry in the Alabama State Census, 1820-1866 database. See 1866 Census for more information.

Church Records

A few parish registers list enslaved persons who attended church with their slaveholders (see Church Records).

To learn more about historic African American churches in Alabama, see The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their leaders and their work. Booth, Charles Octavius. Birmingham: Alabama Pub. Co., 1895. (available on Archive.org)

Two churches important to African American history are:

• St.Bartley Primitive Baptist Church Huntsville (1808- )
• Dexter Avenue Baptist Church Montgomery (1883- )

Funeral Homes

• CAAGS Obituary and Funeral Home Collection at California African American Genealogical Society - index & images

Land and Property

Enslaved persons are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see Land and Property).

• 1818-1835 Shelby County, AL Deed Books Referencing Enslaved People at From the Page, Shelby County, Museum & Archives

Plantation

Some plantation records mention enslaved persons. The FamilySearch Library has many plantation records on microfilm. These records are described in a series of booklets by Kenneth M. Stampp. Guides for Series A–M are available at the FamilySearch Library:

• Stampp, Kenneth M., ed. A Guide to Records of Antebellum Southern Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War: Series A–M, Selections from the Manuscript Department, Duke University Library. (Frederick, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1986). FS Catalog book 975 H2sm. The FamilySearch Library has microfilms of most of the records described in the guide. Alabama plantation records are scattered throughout.

For example, the booklet for Series F describes records of many plantations in Alabama and other states of the Deep South:

• Records of Ante-bellum Southern Plantations from the Revolution Through the Civil War: Series F, Selections from the Manuscript Department, Duke University Library. (Frederick, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1986–1987). FS Library films beginning with 1549774 (first of 84 films.
• Sankofagen: Alabama plantations

Law and Legislation

• State slavery statutes. Alabama, ca. 1818-1865 (22 fiche) FS Library 6118902

Obituaries

• CAAGS Obituary and Funeral Home Collection at California African American Genealogical Society - index & images

Oral Histories

• Alabama, WPA life histories, stories, tales from formerly enslaved persons, and short stories
• George P. Rawick, general editor ; Jan Hillegas, Ken Lawrence, editors, The American slave : A composite autobiography 30 Volumes. Westport, Connecticut : Greenwood Pub. Co., 1971-1977 FS Library 973 F2aa

Other Records

• Dreams of Africa in Alabama: the slave ship Clotilda and the story of the last Africans brought to America. By Sylviane A. Diouf. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, c2007. FS book 976.1 F2d.

Military Records

Civil War
Over 10,000 Alabama freedmen served as Union Soldiers as well as in the Confederate Army.

A record was made of men of African descent who served in the Confederate Army:

• Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Negroes in the Confederate Army, 1860–1907. (FamilySearch Library film 1653243 item 4.) This source lists the name of the soldier and his duty. It may indicate the name of the slaveholder, the date of pay, slaveholder’s place of residence, where the soldier served in the military, and his military expenses.

World War II
A record was made of naval casualties by state during the war:

• Combat Connected Naval Causalities, World War II, by States. Two Volumes. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946. FS Catalog book 973 M3dc This source is alphabetically arranged by state, then within the state by dead, missing, wounded, Prisoner of War (POW), died or killed while a POW, and POWs released.

The Tuskegee Airmen were America's first Black military aviator group and served in the U.S. army between 1941 and 1946.

• Tuskegee Airmen - An estimated 16,000 to 19,000 airmen including mechanics, parachute riggers, and support staff were involved.
• For photos of Tuskegee Airmen visit American Profile - Tuskegee Airmen

See also Alabama Military Records

Newspapers

• Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery

Probate Records

Enslaved persons are sometimes mentioned in wills (see Probate Records).

Garrett-Nelson, LaBrenda. Gleaning Information about Enslaved Ancestors from Probate Files NGS Magazine 48 #2 (April-June 2022): 23- 27 FS Library 973 D25ngs

Reconstruction Records

Freedman's Bank

An excellent source is the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (visit the African American Freedman's Savings and Trust Company Records page to learn more). This company was created to assist African American soldiers of the Civil War and formerly enslaved persons. Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company signature cards or registers from 3 March 1865 to 25 July 1874 may list the name of the depositor, date of entry, age, birthplace, residence, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husband’s name, death information, children’s names, name of father and mother, brothers’ and sisters’ names, remarks, and signature. Early books sometimes contained the name of the former slaveholder and the name of the plantation. Copies of death certificates were sometimes attached to the entries. The collection is organized alphabetically by state, then city where the bank was located, then date the account was established, then account number.

Online collections of Freedman's Bank records:

• United States, Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
• U.S., Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874 at Ancestry (free)

Alabama had a branch of the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company in Huntsville and Mobile. In each city depositors are listed by account number. The records are in:

• Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (Huntsville, Alabama), Registers of Signatures of Depositors, 1865–1874. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0816. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969. FS Library film 928571
• Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (Mobile, Alabama). Registers of Signatures of Depositors, 1867–1874. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0816. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969. FS Library film 928572

Example of a Freedman's Bank record.

Freedmen's Bureau

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was created by the US government in 1865 until 1872 to assist formerly enslaved persons in the southern United States. The Bureau created a wide variety of records extremely valuable to genealogists. Such documents include censuses, marriage records, and medical records. These records often include full names, former slaveholders and plantations, and current residences. For 1865 and 1866, the section on abandoned and confiscated lands includes the names of the owners of the plantations or homes that were abandoned, confiscated, or leased. It gives the county and location, a description of the house, the number of acres owned, and the number of cabins of formerly enslaved persons. These films do not appear to contain the names of formerly enslaved persons.

• Alabama Collections
• Records of the field offices for the state of Alabama, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872:M1900
• Records of the Assistant Commissioner for Alabama, 1865-1870:M809
• Records of the Superintendent of Education for the state of Alabama, 1865-1870:M810

To find additional Freedmen's Bureau records:

• DiscoverFreedmen site for searching the following Freedmen's Bureau records on FamilySearch:
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau Claim Records,1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau Hospital and Medical Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • Interactive Map of Freedmen's Bureau Hospitals with Links to Online Records at Mapping the Freedmen's Bureau - images; FamilySearch collections
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contracts, Indenture and Apprenticeship Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau Ration Records,1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Freedmen's Court Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Land and Property Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen's Complaints, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection

Other FamilySearch collections not included:

• United States Freedmen's Bureau Miscellaneous Records,1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
• United States Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
• Alabama, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch; images — How to Use this Collection
• United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch; images — How to Use this Collection
• More collections are available in the FamilySearch Catalog. Search for "FREEDMEN - ALABAMA" in the Subjects search bar to find.

Visit the African American Freedmen's Bureau Records page to learn more about utilizing these records.

Slavery Records

One reason that researching enslaved persons is more difficult than researching other groups of people is because the enslaved did not usually have recorded surnames, so the only way to identify them was by who the slaveholder was. Later, segregated schools, inexplicable surnames, and a lack of written or signed contracts became obstacles for genealogists who researched African Americans. Before the abolition of slavery in 1865, almost 250,000 of the 4 million African Americans in the southern states were Freemen. However, these Freemen did not leave much of a paper trail because of fear, illiteracy, and a lack of money. Many settled in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

The Library of Congress has an online exhibit called the African-American Mosaic which has photographs and narratives of formerly enslaved persons in Alabama.

• State Slavery Statues. Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1989 FS Library 22 microfiche Alabama - 6118902

Vital Records

Records of African Americans may be listed as "colored" in birth, marriage and death records. See Alabama Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for those records

Marriage

The Alabama African American Marriages Project has indexed a large selection of African American marriages in Alabama ranging from the 1800s to the early 1900s. The index is organized by county.

FamilySearch has digitized Alabama Colored Marriage books. These can be found in the Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950 collection as well on the FamilySearch Catalog on each county page.

The Freedmen's Bureau (1865-1872) was created by the US government to assist formerly enslaved persons in the southern United States. One of their responsibilities was to record the marriages (past and present) of the formerly enslaved couples. These records can be found in the collections below and include the lists of marriages that occurred previously, marriage certificates, and marriage licenses. The information contained on the records may include the name of the husband and wife/groom and bride, age, occupation, residence, year or date of marriage, by whom, number of children, and remarks.

• United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
• U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Marriage Records, 1846-1867 Ancestry ($)

Death

The Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 ($) collection is an index of Alabama death certificates. The index includes the deceased's name, age, birth place, death date and place, burial date and place, race, marital status, gender, residences, parents, and parents' birth places.

Voting Records

• Alabama 1867 Voter Registration Records Database. Alabama Department of Archives and History.
• Carolyn M. Rowe, comp. 1867 Voting Registration, Walker County, Alabama. (1995)

Archives and Libraries

Alabama Department of Archives and History
P.O. Box 300100
624 Washington Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: 334-242-4364
Website

J.F. Drake Memorial Learning Resources Center
Alabama A & M University
Box 489
Normal, AL 35762
Phone: 205-851-5760
Website

Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research
Samford University Library
Samford University 800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229
Phone: 205-726-2748
Website

Birmingham Public Library: Department of Archives & Manuscripts
Birmingham Public Library
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, Alabama USA 35203
Phone: 205-226-3631
Email: jbaggett@bham.lib.al.us
Website

Societies

Birmingham African American Genealogy Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 12011
Birmingham, AL 35202
Email: info@baaggroupinc.org
Website
Facebook

Black Belt African American Genealogical & Historical Society
P.O. Box 971
Selma, AL 36702
Phone: 205-726-2748
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