African American Resources for Minnesota: Difference between revisions

Johnson, Frederick L. Uncertain lives : African Americans and their first 150 years in the Red Wing, Minnesota area. Call number 977.614/R1 F2j (includes bibliographical references and index).
Taylor, David Vassar. African Americans in Minnesota Call Number 977.6 F2td (includes index).

Resources[edit | edit source]

African American[edit | edit source]

Duluth Lynchings, 1920 from the Minnesota Historical Society

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Minnesota Cemeteries (Find a Grave)

Census Records[edit | edit source]

Church Records[edit | edit source]

Emancipation Records[edit | edit source]

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

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

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Land and Property[edit | edit source]

Plantation[edit | edit source]

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

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

Oral Histories[edit | edit source]

T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History
Minnesota Black History Project at the Minnesota Historical Society
Our Gathering Places Oral History Project at the Minnesota Historical Society
Rondo Oral History Project at the Minnesota Historical Society

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Board of Commissioners. Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars: 1861-1861. St. Paul, Minnesota: Pioneer Press Company, 1890.
Minnesota Adjutant General’s Report of 1866. Roseville, Minnesota: Park Genealogical Books, 1997. (FamilySearch Library book 977.6.) The report lists 26,088 names of men who served during the Civil War period, including citizen soldiers who served in local militias. It gives name, age, state or country of birth, dates of service, and remarks, and is arranged alphabetically. Family history researchers should look at both.

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Reconstruction Records[edit | edit source]

Freedman’s Bank[edit | edit source]

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 Freedmen. 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:

Freedmen's Bureau[edit | edit source]

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.^[1] 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 enslaved persons. These films do not appear to contain the names of the enslaved.

To find Freedmen's Bureau records:

DiscoverFreedmen - the search on this site will utilize all of the Freedmen's Bureau records on FamilySearch, including:
- 1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Claim Records,1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Hospital and Medical Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contracts, Indenture and Apprenticeship Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Ration Records,1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Freedmen's Court Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Land and Property Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen's Complaints, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1865-1972 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:

1865-1872 United States Freedmen's Bureau Miscellaneous Records,1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
1865-1872 United States Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
1865-1872 United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images. These reports primarily contain statistical and historical information.
More collections are available in the FamilySearch Catalog. Search for "FREEDMEN - MINNESOTA" in the Subjects search bar to find.

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

School Records[edit | edit source]

Slavery Records[edit | edit source]

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

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.

Death[edit | edit source]

Minnesota Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990 - information may include name, gender, death date and place, age, birthplace, race, marital status, and parents and their birthplaces

Divorce[edit | edit source]

Voting Records[edit | edit source]

Archives and Libraries[edit | edit source]

For a list of archives and libraries in Minnesota: Minnesota State Archives and Libraries.

Minnesota State Archives

Minnesota Digital Library
University of Minnesota
Wilson Library, Room 60
309 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612-624-4002

Societies[edit | edit source]

Minnesota Historical Society
345 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: 651-259-3000

References[edit | edit source]

↑ "African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau," "African American Heritage," National Archives, accessed 11 May 2018.

[1] "African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau," "African American Heritage," National Archives, accessed 11 May 2018.

[2] Prior to Minnesota becoming a territory much of north eastern Minnesota was in Saint Croix County (now located only in Wisconsin)

[1]

[1]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
 | link2=[[African American Genealogy|African American Genealogy]]
-| link3=[[Minnesota Genealogy|Minnesota]]
+| link3=[[Minnesota, United States Genealogy|Minnesota]]
 | link4=
 | link5=[[African American Resources for Minnesota|African American Resources]]
 }}
 <div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[African American Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div>
+{{TOC left}}
 ==Introduction==
 ==Online Resources==
-*[https://www.findagrave.com/geographic/4?state=25 Minnesota Cemeteries] (Find A Grave)
+<li>'''1846-1867''' [https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1231 U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Marriage Records, 1846-1867] at Ancestry ($)</li>
-*[http://www.mndigital.org/reflections/ Minnesota Digital Archives]
+<li>'''1861-1872''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1414908 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872] at FamilySearch</li>
-*[http://www.discoverfreedmen.org/ Discover Freedmen] - this site searches all of the Freedmen's Bureau record collections on FamilySearch altogether (and redirects there)
+<li>'''1865-1874''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1417695 Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874] at FamilySearch</li>
-*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1417695 Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874]
+<li>[[African American Digital Bookshelf]] - a growing list of digital books on FamilySearch and other websites</li>
-*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1414908 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872]
+<li>[http://www.discoverfreedmen.org/ Discover Freedmen] - this site searches all of the Freedmen's Bureau record collections on FamilySearch altogether (and redirects there)</li>
-*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1231 U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Marriage Records, 1846-1867 ($)]
+<li>[http://www.mndigital.org/reflections/ Minnesota Digital Archives]</li>
 ==Research Strategy==
-*Taylor, David Vassar. ''African Americans in Minnesota'' [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/1350869?availability=Family%20History%20Library Call Number 977.6 F2td] (includes index).
+*Taylor, David Vassar. ''African Americans in Minnesota'' {{FSC|1350869|item|disp=Call Number 977.6 F2td}} (includes index).
 ==History==
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 *[http://www.mnopedia.org/african-americans-minnesota African Americans in Minnesota]
-*Johnson, Frederick L. ''Uncertain lives : African Americans and their first 150 years in the Red Wing, Minnesota area''. [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/1354893?availability=Family%20History%20Library Call number 977.614/R1 F2j] (includes bibliographical references and index).
+*Johnson, Frederick L. ''Uncertain lives : African Americans and their first 150 years in the Red Wing, Minnesota area''. {{FSC|1354893|item|disp=Call number 977.614/R1 F2j}} (includes bibliographical references and index).
-*Taylor, David Vassar. ''African Americans in Minnesota'' [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/1350869?availability=Family%20History%20Library Call Number 977.6 F2td] (includes index).
+*Taylor, David Vassar. ''African Americans in Minnesota'' {{FSC|1350869|item|disp=Call Number 977.6 F2td}} (includes index).
 ==Resources==
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 ===Cemeteries===
-*[https://www.findagrave.com/geographic/4?state=25 Minnesota Cemeteries] (Find A Grave)
+*[https://www.findagrave.com/geographic/4?state=25 Minnesota Cemeteries] (Find a Grave)
 ===Census Records===
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ===Emancipation Records===
 ===Funeral Homes===
+*[https://app.air.inc/a/borzvL1af/b/8dc76b25-27b0-42b5-a889-6c7027db068f CAAGS Obituary and Funeral Home Collection] at California African American Genealogical Society - index & images
 ===Genealogies===
 ===Land and Property===
 ====Plantation====
+===Obituaries===
+*[https://app.air.inc/a/borzvL1af/b/8dc76b25-27b0-42b5-a889-6c7027db068f CAAGS Obituary and Funeral Home Collection] at California African American Genealogical Society - index & images
 ===Oral Histories===
 *[http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/williams/ T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History]
-*[http://collections.mnhs.org/voicesofmn/10002616 Minnesota Black History Project] at the Minnesota Historical Society
+*[https://libguides.mnhs.org/aafh/oh Minnesota Black History Project] at the Minnesota Historical Society
-*[http://collections.mnhs.org/voicesofmn/10002699 Our Gathering Places Oral History Project] at the Minnesota Historical Society
+*[https://mnhs.gitlab.io/archive/voices-of-minnesota-collections/collections.mnhs.org/voicesofmn/10002699.html Our Gathering Places Oral History Project] at the Minnesota Historical Society
-*[http://collections.mnhs.org/voicesofmn/10002704 Rondo Oral History Project] at the Minnesota Historical Society
+*[https://mnhs.gitlab.io/archive/voices-of-minnesota-collections/collections.mnhs.org/voicesofmn/10002704.html Rondo Oral History Project] at the Minnesota Historical Society
-*[http://collections.mnhs.org/voicesofmn/10002846 Oral History Interview with Nettie Sherman] at Minnesota Historical Society
-*[http://collections.mnhs.org/voicesofmn/10002856 Oral History Interviews with S. Edward Hall] at Minnesota Historical Society
 ===Other Records===
@@ Line 62: / Line 65: @@
 *Board of Commissioners. [https://archive.org/details/minnesotacivil01minnrich ''Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars: 1861-1861'']. St. Paul, Minnesota: Pioneer Press Company, 1890.
-*''Minnesota Adjutant General’s Report of 1866''. Roseville, Minnesota: Park Genealogical Books, 1997. (Family History Library {{FHL|688637|title-id|disp=book 977.6}}.) The report lists 26,088 names of men who served during the Civil War period, including citizen soldiers who served in local militias. It gives name, age, state or country of birth, dates of service, and remarks, and is arranged alphabetically. Family history researchers should look at both.
+*''Minnesota Adjutant General’s Report of 1866''. Roseville, Minnesota: Park Genealogical Books, 1997. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|688637|title-id|disp=book 977.6}}.) The report lists 26,088 names of men who served during the Civil War period, including citizen soldiers who served in local militias. It gives name, age, state or country of birth, dates of service, and remarks, and is arranged alphabetically. Family history researchers should look at both.
 ===Newspapers===
@@ Line 72: / Line 75: @@
 ===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 freed slaves. 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 master or mistress 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.<br>
+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 Freedmen. 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.<br>
 Online collections of Freedman's Bank records:
@@ Line 80: / Line 83: @@
 ====Freedmen's Bureau====
-The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was created by the US government in 1865 until 1872 to assist former slaves 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 masters and plantations, and current residences.<ref>"African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau," "African American Heritage," ''National Archives'', accessed 11 May 2018. </ref> 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 former slaves. These films do not appear to contain the names of former slaves.
+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.<ref>"African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau," "African American Heritage," ''National Archives'', accessed 11 May 2018. </ref> 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 enslaved persons. These films do not appear to contain the names of the enslaved.
 To find Freedmen's Bureau records:
 *[http://www.discoverfreedmen.org/ DiscoverFreedmen] - the search on this site will utilize all of the Freedmen's Bureau records on FamilySearch, including:
-**{{RecordSearch|2432941|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Claim Records,1865-1872}}
+**'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2432941|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Claim Records,1865-1872}} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau Claim Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|2432992|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Hospital and Medical Records, 1865-1872}}
+**'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2432992|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Hospital and Medical Records, 1865-1872}} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau Hospital and Medical Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|2475025|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contracts, Indenture and Apprenticeship Records, 1865-1872}}
+**'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2475025|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contracts, Indenture and Apprenticeship Records, 1865-1872}} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contracts, Indenture and Apprenticeship Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|1414908|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872}}
+**'''1861-1872''' {{RecordSearch|1414908|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872}} at FamilySearch  - [[United States Freedmen’s Bureau Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|2431759|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Ration Records,1865-1872}}
+**'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2431759|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Ration Records,1865-1872}} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau Ration Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|2515868|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired, 1865-1872 }}
+**'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2515868|United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired, 1865-1872 }} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|2515865|United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Freedmen's Court Records, 1865-1872 }}
+**'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2515865|United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Freedmen's Court Records, 1865-1872 }} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen’s Bureau, Freedmen’s Court Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|2515867|United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Land and Property Records, 1865-1872 }}
+**'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2515867|United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Land and Property Records, 1865-1872 }} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Land and Property Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|2492627|United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen's Complaints, 1865-1872 }}
+**'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2492627|United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen's Complaints, 1865-1872 }} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen's Complaints - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-**{{RecordSearch|2427894|United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872 }}
+**'''1865-1972''' {{RecordSearch|2427894|United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872 }} at FamilySearch  - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
 Other FamilySearch collections not included:
+*'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2575789|United States Freedmen's Bureau Miscellaneous Records,1865-1872 }} at FamilySearch  - [[United States Freedmen's Bureau Miscellaneous Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-*{{RecordSearch|2575789|United States Freedmen's Bureau Miscellaneous Records,1865-1872 }}
+*'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2721171|United States Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen, 1865-1872 }} at FamilySearch  - [[United States Freedmen’s Bureau, Records of Freedmen - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
-*{{RecordSearch|2721171|United States Freedmen's Bureau, Records of Freedmen, 1865-1872 }}
+*'''1865-1872''' {{RecordSearch|2427901|''United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872'' }} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; images. These reports primarily contain statistical and historical information.
-*{{RecordSearch|2427901|''United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872'' }} Images only. These reports primarily contain statistical and historical information.
 *More collections are available in the FamilySearch Catalog. Search for "FREEDMEN - MINNESOTA" in the Subjects search bar to find.
@@ Line 110: / Line 111: @@
 ====Birth====
 ====Marriage====
-The Freedmen's Bureau (1865-1872) was created by the US government to assist former slaves in the southern United States. One of their responsibilities was to record the marriages (past and present) of the former slaves. 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.
+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.
 *[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1414908 United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872]
@@ Line 121: / Line 122: @@
 ====Divorce====
-===Voting Registers===
+===Voting Records===
 ==Archives and Libraries==
 For a list of archives and libraries in Minnesota: [http://www.statearchives.us/minnesota.htm Minnesota State Archives and Libraries]. <br><br>
@@ Line 145: / Line 146: @@
-{{African American|African American}}
 {{Minnesota|Minnesota}}
 [[Category:Minnesota, United States]]
 [[Category:African American Records]]
+[[Category:Minnesota Cultural Groups]]