African American Introduction
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
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 FamilySearch Library and through FamilySearch.
Research Guides and Source Lists[edit | edit source]
For guides to African American family history research, see:
- 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.
- Finding Records for Your Ancestors, Part A-African American 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.
- Dee Parmer Woodtor, 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.
- 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 enslaved.
For records of the Underground Railroad, go to: www.freedomcenter.org/freedomstations/ and www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/j1.html.
To make a slavery connection, you must first identify the enslaver, and then study the enslaver's records for clues to family information. About 15 percent of formerly enslaved persons took their last enslaver's surname. Sources for identifying the enslaver include Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations from the Revolution Through the Civil War: Series A through N FS Catalog Film nos. 1,534,196 through 1,534,236, and military records at:
The Freedman’s Savings and Trust Records include birthplace, place brought up, residence, age, complexion, name of employer or occupation, spouse, children, father, mother, brothers and sisters, remarks, and signature. These records are found in Registers of Signatures of Depositors in Branches of the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company, 1865—1874 FS Catalog Film nos. 928,571 through 928,591. An additional guide for Freedmen’s Bureau field office records is Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Field Offices of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands: Record Group 105 by Elaine Everly and Willna Pacheli FS Catalog Book: 973 F23ea. Part 1 includes Alabama and Louisiana, Part 2 includes Maryland and South Carolina, and Part 3 includes Tennessee and Virginia. Some of the Freedmen’s Bureau records are available online at:
Another helpful source of information for locating African American ancestors is the Records of the Commissioners of Claims 1871—1880 FS Catalog 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 FS Catalog Book: 975 M2s.