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{{AfrAm-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb | |||
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]] | |||
| link2=[[United States Census|U.S. Census]] | |||
| link3=[[African American Genealogy|African American Genealogy]] | |||
| link4= | |||
| link5=[[African American Census|Census]] | |||
}}<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[African American Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div> | |||
== Introduction == | |||
In [[United States Census|census records]] from 1790-1840, only names of the head of household were provided, along with the number of enslaved persons and Free Persons of Color. In 1850 and 1860, the Federal government took a supplemental "Slave Schedule" giving the slaveholder's name and the number of enslaved persons by gender, age, and a designation of Black or Mulatto. The names of all free Blacks were included in the 1850 and 1860 census. Beginning in 1870, the census listed the names of all African Americans. | |||
African | *More information, about African Americans in the United States Census, is available at the [https://www.archives.gov/files/research/census/african-american/census-1790-1930.pdf. National Archives and Records Administration]. | ||
*''List of Free Black Heads of Families in the First Census of the United States, 1790,'' by Debra L. Newman. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service, 1973. {{FSC|143454|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 X2nd.}}; {{WorldCat|38865717|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; ''''' Online at:''''' {{FSDB|59430}}. | |||
Local Census and County Records, State census records, school census records, town census records, deeds, bills of sale, marriage records, county will books, and probate records sometimes lists names of enslaved persons and other genealogy information. | |||
African American genealogical research can be challenging, especially after you hit the brick wall of the 1870 census. There are, however, more and more ways to get over that wall and more resources to learn the techniques for doing so. | |||
Included here are some of the best the internet has to offer, as well as some searchable census sites of particular interest for African Americans: | |||
Christine's African American Genealogy Website, an excellent resource for roots-seekers, includes links to a variety of genealogical sources and African American homepages: | Christine's African American Genealogy Website, an excellent resource for roots-seekers, includes links to a variety of genealogical sources and African American homepages: | ||
*[http://ccharity.com/ | *[http://ccharity.com/ Christine's African American Genealogy] | ||
Christine's Genealogy Website's census links for African | Christine's Genealogy Website's census links for African American Genealogy: | ||
*[ | *[https://ccharity.com/contents/various-census-transcriptions/ Census links at Christine's African American Genealogy] | ||
ThoughtCo's list of links for African American History: | |||
*[ | *[https://www.thoughtco.com/african-american-history-4133344 ThoughtCo] | ||
African | Researching Your African American Ancestors | ||
*[ | * Located at [https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/researching-your-african-american-ancestors/ Boston Public Library]. | ||
'''Slave Narratives.''' For autobiographical sketches of formerly enslaved persons, see: | |||
*[http:// | :*University of North Carolina features the ''[http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/ North American Slave Narratives]''. | ||
:*Library of Congress indexes 2,300 slave narratives in ''[https://www.loc.gov/collections/slave-narratives-from-the-federal-writers-project-1936-to-1938/about-this-collection/ Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project]''. | |||
:*'''1936-1938''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1944/ U.S., Interviews with Formerly Enslaved People, 1936-1938] at Ancestry - Index & Images ($) | |||
'''Another useful website with links to the census by state:''' | |||
[https://accessgenealogy.com/black-genealogy Access Genealogy - African American Genealogy] | |||
Use census records to: | Use census records to: | ||
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*Learn an ancestor's town or county of residence (This leads to other records, such as vital records of a town or county.) | *Learn an ancestor's town or county of residence (This leads to other records, such as vital records of a town or county.) | ||
*Find a state of birth for an ancestor and their parents | *Find a state of birth for an ancestor and their parents | ||
== Census Records == | |||
=== Content === | === Content === | ||
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{| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders" | {| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| '''1870''' | | '''1870''' | ||
| '''1880''' | | '''1880''' | ||
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| '''1930''' | | '''1930''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| <center>Names of all household members</center> | | <center>Names of all household members</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Age | Age | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Birth month and year | Birth month and year | ||
| <center></center> | | <center></center> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| <center></center> | | <center></center> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center></center> | | <center></center> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Birthplace (state) | Birthplace (state) | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Birthplace of parents (state) | | Birthplace of parents (state) | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Marital status (single, married, widowed, or divorced) | | Marital status (single, married, widowed, or divorced) | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Number of children born to mother and number still living | | Number of children born to mother and number still living | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Occupation | | Occupation | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Relationship to head of household | | Relationship to head of household | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Residence (town and county) | | Residence (town and county) | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
| <center>X</center> | | <center>X</center> | ||
|} | |} | ||
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Census records are accessible at: | Census records are accessible at: | ||
* | *FamilySearch Library and FamilySearch centers | ||
* | *[http://www.archives.gov National Archives] for addresses of regional branches | ||
*State archives | *State archives | ||
*University libraries and some large public libraries | *University libraries and some large public libraries | ||
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=== Tips === | === Tips === | ||
*When using the 1870 census, look for the second filming, which is usually easier to read. In the | *When using the 1870 census, look for the second filming, which is usually easier to read. In the FamilySearch Catalog, the Film Notes that describe each census film will state (1st) or (2nd) in the description. | ||
*The 1890 census was destroyed. | *The 1890 census was destroyed. | ||
*Search for your family in every available census to find additional children, | *Search for your family in every available census to find additional children, in-laws, grandparents, and other members of a changing household. | ||
*When you find your family, photocopy the whole census page or ask your | *When you find your family, photocopy the whole census page or ask your FamilySearch center for a form to copy census information. | ||
*To to privacy laws, U.S. census records are opened to the public 70 years after they are taken. | *To to privacy laws, U.S. census records are opened to the public 70 years after they are taken. | ||
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Census indexes are located at: | Census indexes are located at: | ||
*The | *The FamilySearch Library and FamilySearch centers | ||
* | * [http://www.archives.gov National Archives] regional branches | ||
*State archives | *State archives | ||
*University libraries and some large public libraries | *University libraries and some large public libraries | ||
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'''1870 Census Indexes''' | '''1870 Census Indexes''' | ||
''African Americans in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census {{FSC|1003743|item|disp=FS CD-ROM no. 388 copy 2}}.'', (must access at the FamilySearch Library). | |||
*African American heads of households | *African American heads of households | ||
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*A family's town, county, and state of residence | *A family's town, county, and state of residence | ||
''Accelerated Indexing Systems (AIS) Microfiche Indexes of U.S. Census and Other Records'' | ''Accelerated Indexing Systems (AIS) Microfiche Indexes of U.S. Census and Other Records,'' by Ronald Vern Jackson. Salt Lake City Utah: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1984. {{FSC|711262|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 D2ai}}. Use this index to find the heads of household from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Dakota Territory, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming. | ||
'''1880 Census Indexes''' | |||
''' | *'''1980''' {{RecordSearch|1417683|United States, Census, 1880}} at FamilySearch. This includes names, dates, and places for nearly six million African Americans. | ||
This is the best index to the 1880 census. Use this index to: | |||
*Find almost anyone listed in the 1880 census (It lists all members of the household.) | *Find almost anyone listed in the 1880 census (It lists all members of the household.) | ||
*Locate ancestors when you do not know their state of residence (This index covers the entire United States; most indexes cover one state only | *Locate ancestors when you do not know their state of residence (This index covers the entire United States; most indexes cover one state only). | ||
'''1900-1930 Census Indexes''' | '''1900-1930 Census Indexes''' | ||
To use the 1900 census Soundex indexes see the following paragraph on "Soundex Indexes." | To use the 1900 census Soundex indexes see the following paragraph on "Soundex Indexes." | ||
== Soundex Indexes == | == Soundex Indexes == | ||
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=== Converting a Surname to a Soundex Code === | === Converting a Surname to a Soundex Code === | ||
There is an online name converter on the Internet. This is the quickest way to convert a surname to a Soundex code. Go to [ | There is an online name converter on the Internet. This is the quickest way to convert a surname to a Soundex code. Go to BradAndKathy's Genealogy to use [https://bradandkathy.com/genealogy/yasc.php '''Yet Another Soundex Converter''']. | ||
'''Steps To Do It Yourself''' | '''Steps To Do It Yourself''' | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 1. Write the family surname in the far right <br>column of this chart, but '''omit the letters H and'''<br>'''W''' if they are not the first letter. | | 1. Write the family surname in the far right <br>column of this chart, but '''omit the letters H and'''<br>'''W''' if they are not the first letter. | ||
| ASHCROFT = ASCROFT <br>CARWRIGHT = CARRIGT <br> | | ASHCROFT = ASCROFT <br>CARWRIGHT = CARRIGT <br> | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
|- | |- | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 7. Stop coding after you have three numbers. If a name <br>does not have enough numbers, add zeros to make <br>three digits. For example, the Soundex code for Haley <br>is H400. | | 7. Stop coding after you have three numbers. If a name <br>does not have enough numbers, add zeros to make <br>three digits. For example, the Soundex code for Haley <br>is H400. | ||
| <br> | | <br> | ||
| Ancestor's <br>Soundex code _-_ _ _ | | Ancestor's <br>Soundex code _-_ _ _ | ||
|} | |} | ||
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#Determine the Soundex code for the ancestor's surname. | #Determine the Soundex code for the ancestor's surname. | ||
#In the | #In the FamilySearch Catalog, find the number for the correct Soundex film. | ||
#On the film, find the ancestor's Soundex code, then search for the given name (given names are alphabetical within the code group). | #On the film, find the ancestor's Soundex code, then search for the given name (given names are alphabetical within the code group). | ||
#Copy all the information you find you may need every detail for your census search). | #Copy all the information you find you may need every detail for your census search). | ||
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After you have the ancestor's Soundex code, find the Soundex film as follows: | After you have the ancestor's Soundex code, find the Soundex film as follows: | ||
#In the | #In the FamilySearch Catalog, click '''Place Search''' and type the state where your ancestor lived. | ||
#On the Place Search Results screen, click the state. | #On the Place Search Results screen, click the state. | ||
#From the list, click the census year you want: '''[state] - Census - [year].''' | #From the list, click the census year you want: '''[state] - Census - [year].''' | ||
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*Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County | *Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County | ||
To find film numbers for city indexes in the | To find film numbers for city indexes in the FamilySearch Catalog, you must search under the name of the state, not the city. The following steps should be used: | ||
#Use the '''Place Search'''. | #Use the '''Place Search'''. | ||
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{{African American|African American}} | {{African American|African American}} | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:African_American_Records]] | ||