African American Biography: Difference between revisions

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''[[Portal:United States of America|United States&nbsp;]] &gt; [[African American Research|African American Research&nbsp;]] &gt; Biography''<br>  
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[[United States Biographies|Biographies]] provide useful genealogical information such as an individual’s birth date and place (including foreign birthplaces where applicable); family members; occupation and education; and social, political, and religious affiliation. They may also contain a physical description of the person, his or her previous residences, and immigration information. Biographies are the product of family knowledge or previous research compiled about early settlers and prominent citizens of the state, county, or town. Many lesser-known individuals may have biographical sketches written about them in local histories.  
==Online Resources==
 
*'''1785-2000''' GU272 Descendants, 1785-2000. Database at [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/2756/gu272-descendants-1785-2000 American Ancestors.]  — index & images ($).  This database includes the individuals who are descendants of the 272 people who were enslaved by the Society of Jesus and Georgetown University in 1838. The association was formed in 2016 to support and unite the descendants of these enslaved people.
 
==Biographies==
 
African American biographies are available at the FamilySearch Library. [[United States Biographies|Biographies]] provide useful genealogical information such as an individual’s birth date and place (including foreign birthplaces where applicable); family members; occupation and education; and social, political, and religious affiliation. They may also contain a physical description of the person, his or her previous residences, and immigration information. Biographies are the product of family knowledge or previous research compiled about early settlers and prominent citizens of the state, county, or town. Many lesser-known individuals may have biographical sketches written about them in local histories.<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[African American Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div><br>


You will find many biographies in the biographical sections of statewide, regional, and county histories.  
You will find many biographies in the biographical sections of statewide, regional, and county histories.  


The following resources are available at the Family History Library:  
The following resources are available at the FamilySearch Library:  


*''Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction'', Hallie Q. Brown, New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 1988 (FHL book 973 D3hom).
*''Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction,'' by Hallie Q. Brown. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 1988 (FS Catalog book {{FSC|639894|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 D3hom}}; {{WorldCat|228659487|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; '''''Online at:''''' {{FSDB|48735}}
*''Pride of Family: Four Generations of American Women of Color'', Carole Ione, New York, New York: C. Ione, 1991 (FHL book 921.73 Io6p).
*''Black Biographical Dictionaries 1790-1950'', Randal K. Burkett, nancy Hall Burkett, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds., Alexandria, Virginia: Chadwyck-Healy, Inc., [198-] (FHL book 973 F2bbd).
*''African American Biographies&nbsp;: Profiles of 558 Current Men and Women'', Walter L. Hawkins, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland &amp; Co., 1992 (FHL book 973 F26h).
*Black Women in America&nbsp;: An Historical Encyclopedia, Darlene Clark Hine, Brooklyn, New York: Carlson Pub., 1993 (FHL book 973 F26b).
*''Notable Black American Women'', Jessie Carney Smith, ed., Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, 1992 (FHL book 973 D36nbw).


Many presentations from the recent AAHGS (Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society) conference will soon be freely available for video streaming and downloading. These include the following:  
[[Image:{{SlaveNarrative}}]]
*''Pride of Family: Four Generations of American Women of Color,'' by Carole Ione. New York, New York: C. Ione, 1991. {{WorldCat|866444508|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}
*''Black Biographical Dictionaries 1790-1950,'' by Randal K. Burkett, Nancy Hall Burkett, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds.. Alexandria, Virginia: Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., [198-]. {{FSC|509200|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 F2bbd}}
*''African American Biographies: profiles of 558 Current Men and Women,'' by Walter L. Hawkins. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland &amp; Co., 1992. {{FSC|712546|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 F26h}}
*''Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia,'' by Darlene Clark Hine. Brooklyn, New York: Carlson Pub., 1993. {{FSC|678182|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 F26b}}
*''Notable Black American Women,'' by Jessie Carney Smith, ed.. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, 1992. {{FSC|2280662|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 D36nbw}}


*Dr. Quintard Taylor, Jr., Author and Professor of American History, University of Washington<br>Presentation: ''Roots West: African American History in the Trans-Mississippi West''  
'''Slave Narratives.''' In the 1930s over 3,500 typescript interviews of formerly enslaved persons were compiled by the WPA. See:  
*Mary Hill, Author and accredited genealogist for Southern and Eastern States<br>Presentation: ''Finding Records of Your Ancestors: 1870 to Present''
 
*Beth Wilson, Reference librarian for land records, African-American genealogy, and documentation research<br>Presentation: ''Trails Back: Tracing Ancestors in Slavery through Census, Probate, and Land Research''  
:*Library of Congress' free site that indexes 2,300 narratives in ''[https://www.loc.gov/collections/?q=slave+narratives+from+the+federal+writers%27+project,+1936-1938 Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project]''
*Dr. Spencer Crew, Director of the National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.<br>Presentation: ''National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: Activities and Accomplishments''  
:*Born in slavery slave narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938. {{WorldCat|47265597|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}
*Angela Walton Raji, Author and avid African–Native American genealogist<br>Presentation: ''Beyond the Dawes Rolls: Black Indian Ancestry East of the Mississippi''  
:*''A Comprehensive Name Index for the American Slave,'' by Howard E. Potts. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1997. {{FSC|731705|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 F22p}}; {{WorldCat|36284310|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}
*Adele Marcum, Professional genealogist and content specialist<br>Presentation: ''Where Should I Start? Beginning Research on Ancestry.com''  
:*University of North Carolina's free site ''[http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/ North American Slave Narratives]''
*Howard Dodson, Chief, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library<br>Presentation: To be announced


=== External Links  ===
=== External Links  ===


*http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmbios1.html  
*The [http://www.thehistorymakers.com/ History Makers], Chicago, has short biographical sketches of African American leaders. It created 3500 interviews, now stored at the Library of Congress.
*http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/aframer/bios/  
*Biographies of Famous African Americans at [http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmbios1.html InfoPlease]
*http://womenshistory.about.com/od/africanamerican/a/black_women.htm  
*Biographies of Great African-Americans at [https://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/aframer/bios/ EnchantedLearning]
*http://www.multcolib.org/homework/biohc.html
*''10 of the Most Important Black Women in U.S. History,'' by Jone Johnson Lewis, 12 December 2020, at [http://womenshistory.about.com/od/africanamerican/a/black_women.htm ThoughtCo]
 
{{African American|African American}}


[[Category:African_Americans]]
{{African American|African American}}
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[[Category:African_American Records]] [[Category:Biographies]]

Revision as of 16:32, 3 February 2025


African American Genealogy Wiki Topics
African American Image 5.jpg
Beginning Research
Original Records
Compiled Sources
Background Information
Finding Aids


Online Resources[edit | edit source]

  • 1785-2000 GU272 Descendants, 1785-2000. Database at American Ancestors. — index & images ($). This database includes the individuals who are descendants of the 272 people who were enslaved by the Society of Jesus and Georgetown University in 1838. The association was formed in 2016 to support and unite the descendants of these enslaved people.

Biographies[edit | edit source]

African American biographies are available at the FamilySearch Library. Biographies provide useful genealogical information such as an individual’s birth date and place (including foreign birthplaces where applicable); family members; occupation and education; and social, political, and religious affiliation. They may also contain a physical description of the person, his or her previous residences, and immigration information. Biographies are the product of family knowledge or previous research compiled about early settlers and prominent citizens of the state, county, or town. Many lesser-known individuals may have biographical sketches written about them in local histories.


You will find many biographies in the biographical sections of statewide, regional, and county histories.

The following resources are available at the FamilySearch Library:

The W.P.A. slave narratives of the 1930s were part of a genré started prior to the American Civil War. This slave narrative example was published in 1871.
  • Pride of Family: Four Generations of American Women of Color, by Carole Ione. New York, New York: C. Ione, 1991. At various libraries (WorldCat)
  • Black Biographical Dictionaries 1790-1950, by Randal K. Burkett, Nancy Hall Burkett, and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds.. Alexandria, Virginia: Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., [198-]. FS Catalog book 973 F2bbd
  • African American Biographies: profiles of 558 Current Men and Women, by Walter L. Hawkins. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co., 1992. FS Catalog book 973 F26h
  • Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia, by Darlene Clark Hine. Brooklyn, New York: Carlson Pub., 1993. FS Catalog book 973 F26b
  • Notable Black American Women, by Jessie Carney Smith, ed.. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, 1992. FS Catalog book 973 D36nbw

Slave Narratives. In the 1930s over 3,500 typescript interviews of formerly enslaved persons were compiled by the WPA. See:

External Links[edit | edit source]

  • The History Makers, Chicago, has short biographical sketches of African American leaders. It created 3500 interviews, now stored at the Library of Congress.
  • Biographies of Famous African Americans at InfoPlease
  • Biographies of Great African-Americans at EnchantedLearning
  • 10 of the Most Important Black Women in U.S. History, by Jone Johnson Lewis, 12 December 2020, at ThoughtCo


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