12,455
edits
United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions
United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education - FamilySearch Historical Records (view source)
Revision as of 14:31, 11 October 2016
, 11 October 2016record citation
m (space and commas) |
m (record citation) |
||
| Line 79: | Line 79: | ||
*Document dates | *Document dates | ||
== How Do I Search the Collection? | == How Do I Search the Collection? == | ||
To begin your search it is helpful to know | The Freedmen’s Bureau records are a major source of genealogical information about post Civil War African Americans. To begin your search it is helpful to know the name and some other identifying information such as age, residence or former owner. | ||
'''Search by Name by visiting the [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2427894 Collection Page]:'''<br> Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor. | |||
= | '''View images in this collection by visiting the [https://familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https://familysearch.org/recapi/sord/collection/2427894/waypoints Browse Page]:'''<br>To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links:<br> ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page<br> ⇒Select the "Education Division or State"<br> ⇒Select the "NARA Roll Number Film Notes" which takes you to the images<br> | ||
Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. | |||
==I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?== | |||
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example use the place of residence, age, and other information for each person to search for the individuals in census records and other types of records. | |||
=== Tips to Keep in Mind === | |||
*There may be more than one person in the records with the same name. | *There may be more than one person in the records with the same name. | ||
*You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name. | *You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name. | ||
*Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life. | *Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life. | ||
*The records are a good source to quickly identify a family group and residence. | |||
*Former slaves may have had used multiple names or changed their names until they decided upon one particular name. Search all possible names along with variations or spellings of their known names. | |||
== | == I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now? == | ||
*Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names. | |||
*Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records. | |||
*Search the indexes and records of nearby counties. | |||
*Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor. | |||
== General Information About Freedmen's Bureau Records == | |||
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was established in the War Department in March of 1865. It was commonly called the Freedman’s Bureau and was responsible for the management and supervision of matters relating to refuges, freedmen, and abandoned lands. The Bureau assisted disenfranchised Americans, primarily African Americans, with temporal, legal and financial matters, with the intent of helping people to become self-sufficient. Matters handled included the distributing of food and clothing; operating temporary medical facilities; acquiring back pay, bounty payments, and pensions; facilitating the creation of schools, including the founding of Howard University; reuniting family members; handling marriages; and providing banking services. Banking services were provided by the establishment of the Freedman’s Saving and Trust Company, or Freedman’s Bank. | The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was established in the War Department in March of 1865. It was commonly called the Freedman’s Bureau and was responsible for the management and supervision of matters relating to refuges, freedmen, and abandoned lands. The Bureau assisted disenfranchised Americans, primarily African Americans, with temporal, legal and financial matters, with the intent of helping people to become self-sufficient. Matters handled included the distributing of food and clothing; operating temporary medical facilities; acquiring back pay, bounty payments, and pensions; facilitating the creation of schools, including the founding of Howard University; reuniting family members; handling marriages; and providing banking services. Banking services were provided by the establishment of the Freedman’s Saving and Trust Company, or Freedman’s Bank. <br><br> | ||
The Bureau functioned as an agency of the War Department from approximately June 1865 until December 1868. In 1872, the functions of the Bureau were transferred to the Freedmen’s Branch of the Adjutant General’s Office.<br> <br> | |||
The Bureau functioned as an agency of the War Department from approximately June 1865 until December 1868. In 1872, the functions of the Bureau were transferred to the Freedmen’s Branch of the Adjutant General’s Office. | The Bureau assisted over one million African Americans, including many of the nearly four million emancipated slaves, which was over 25% of the population of former slaves in America. <br><br> | ||
The records identify those who sought help from the Bureau at the end of the Civil War. Most supplicants were freed slaves, some of which were military veterans. In addition, a few veterans who were not African Americans also sought help from the Bureau. Freedmen’s Bureau records are usually reliable, because the records were supplied through first-person correspondence or the recording of a marriage. | |||
The Bureau assisted over one million African Americans, including many of the nearly four million emancipated slaves, which was over 25% of the population of former slaves in America. | |||
The records identify those who sought help from the Bureau at the end of the Civil War. Most supplicants were freed slaves, some of which were military veterans. In addition, a few veterans who were not African Americans also sought help from the Bureau. | |||
Freedmen’s Bureau records are usually reliable, because the records were supplied through first-person correspondence or the recording of a marriage. | |||
== Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collection Articles == | == Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collection Articles == | ||
| Line 143: | Line 126: | ||
*[[Texas, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | *[[Texas, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | ||
*[[Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | *[[Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | ||
==Citing this Collection== | ==Citing this Collection== | ||
| Line 152: | Line 131: | ||
'''Collection Citation''':<br> {{Collection citation | text= "United States, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872." Images. <i>FamilySearch</i>. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2016. Citing multiple NARA microfilm publications. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1969-1978.}}<br><br> | '''Collection Citation''':<br> {{Collection citation | text= "United States, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872." Images. <i>FamilySearch</i>. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2016. Citing multiple NARA microfilm publications. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1969-1978.}}<br><br> | ||
'''Record citation''' (or citation for the index entry):<br> {{Record Citation Link | |||
|CID=CID2427894 | |||
|title=United States, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872 | |||
}} | |||
'''Image Citation''':<br> {{Image Citation Link | '''Image Citation''':<br> {{Image Citation Link | ||
| Line 157: | Line 141: | ||
|title=United States, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872 | |title=United States, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education, 1865-1872 | ||
}} | }} | ||
== How You Can Contribute == | |||
{{Contributor_invite}} | |||
[[Category:NARA_Freedmen's_Bureau]] | [[Category:NARA_Freedmen's_Bureau]] | ||