Reviewer, editor, pagecreator
143
edits
m
Updated language.
m (Text replacement - "https://www.familysearch.org/family-history-library/welcome-to-the-family-history-library" to "https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/") |
m (Updated language.) |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
African | African American genealogical research for recent years follows the same procedures as for any other ethnic group. However, there are specific strategies for tracing African American roots prior to 1870. Most of the records are available through the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] and through [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch]. | ||
===Research Guides and Source Lists=== | ===Research Guides and Source Lists=== | ||
For guides to African American family history research, see: | For guides to African American family history research, see: | ||
*[[Getting Started With African American Research]], for a step-by-step guide. | *[[Getting Started With African American Research|Getting Started with African American Research]], for a step-by-step guide. | ||
*[[Quick Guide to African American Records]], a Wiki article including some pre-1870 sources and strategies. | *[[Quick Guide to African American Records]], a Wiki article including some pre-1870 sources and strategies. | ||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&collectionId=&fed=false&page=1&catSearchType=keywords&searchCriteria=African+American+1870-Present&placeName=African+American&author_givenName=&author_surname= Finding Records of Your Ancestors African Americans 1870 to Present], an in depth article including a case study of recent sources. | *[https://www.familysearch.org/search/search/index/catalog-search#searchType=catalog&filtered=true&collectionId=&fed=false&page=1&catSearchType=keywords&searchCriteria=African+American+1870-Present&placeName=African+American&author_givenName=&author_surname= Finding Records of Your Ancestors African Americans 1870 to Present], an in-depth article including a case study of recent sources. | ||
*[[African American Research]] FamilySearch list of records, databases, indexing projects, presentations and other guides. | *[[African American Research]] FamilySearch list of records, databases, indexing projects, presentations and other guides. | ||
*Dee Parmer Woodtor, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/40331192 Finding a Place Called Home: An African American Guide to Genealogical and Historical Identity]'' (New York: Random House, 1999)(FS Library book 973 F2wd). This book explains the basic as well as complex research techniques required for African | *Dee Parmer Woodtor, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/40331192 Finding a Place Called Home: An African American Guide to Genealogical and Historical Identity]'' (New York: Random House, 1999)(FS Library book 973 F2wd). This book explains the basic as well as complex research techniques required for African American research. | ||
*Marie Taylor, ''FamilySearch Library bibliography of African-American sources : as of 1994'' (Salt Lake City: FamilySearch Library, 1994)(FS Library book 973 F23tm). This book lists 3,320 African American sources, including Canadian records. It also includes articles from historical and genealogical periodicals. | *Marie Taylor, ''FamilySearch Library bibliography of African-American sources : as of 1994'' (Salt Lake City: FamilySearch Library, 1994)(FS Library book 973 F23tm). This book lists 3,320 African American sources, including Canadian records. It also includes articles from historical and genealogical periodicals. | ||
*Also, African | *Also, African Americans with Native American ancestry should check African-Cherokee Connections (CD-ROM 2928 in the FamilySearch Library). | ||
The following records can help determine if an ancestor was born free or | The following records can help determine if an ancestor was born free or enslaved. | ||
For records of the Underground Railroad, go to: [http://www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/ www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/] and [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html]. | For records of the Underground Railroad, go to: [http://www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/ www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/] and [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html]. | ||
To make a | To make a slavery connection, you must first identify the slaveholder, and then study the slaveholder's records for clues to family information. About 15 percent of formerly enslaved persons took their last slaveholder's surname. Sources for identifying the slaveholder include Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations from the Revolution Through the Civil War: Series A through N {{FSC|Film nos. 1,534,196 through 1,534,236}}, and military records at: | ||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/sg/ht_list.html www.familysearch.org/sg/ht_list.html] and | *[http://www.familysearch.org/sg/ht_list.html www.familysearch.org/sg/ht_list.html] and | ||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
*http://www.aagsnc.org/genlinks/Genealogical_Resources/Freedmens_Bureau_Records/ | *http://www.aagsnc.org/genlinks/Genealogical_Resources/Freedmens_Bureau_Records/ | ||
Another helpful source of information for locating African | Another helpful source of information for locating African American ancestors is the Records of the Commissioners of Claims 1871—1880 {{FSC|Film nos. 1,463,963 through 1,463,987}}. Nearly 22,300 cases are filed by individual names, family groups, churches, and businesses. Records include testimony of neighbors, relatives, and former slaves to support a claimant’s assertions, taken during the Civil War because of loyalty to the Union. A master index to these case files is found in Southern Loyalists in the Civil War: The Southern Claims Commission by Gary B. Mills {{FSC|Book: 975 M2s}}. | ||
{{African American|African American}} | {{African American|African American}} | ||