African American Internet Sources

African American Genealogy Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Introduction Research Steps	Record Finder Search Strategies
Original Records
Bible Records Business Cemeteries Census Church Records Compiled Genealogies Court Records Freedman's Bank Freedmen's Bureau Funeral Homes Land and Property	Military Records Newspapers Obituaries Occupations Online Records Oral History Probate Records Slavery and Bondage Southern Claims Commission Taxation Vital Records
Compiled Sources
Biography	Periodicals
Background Information
History Melungeons	Migration Periodicals
Finding Aids
Archives & Libraries Family History Centers] Further Reading	Internet Sources Resources Societies

At the end of class each student will be able to:

I. Use important parts of FamilySearch.org to find African American ancestors.

A. Use the online FamilySearch Catalog Place Search to find sources, especially births, marriages, & deaths. Open FamilySearch, click FamilySearch Catalog.

1. Use Place Search to find records of towns, counties, or states.

a. Explain how to use the topic Minorities with the Place Search.

b. Explain how to use the topic Slavery and Bondage with the Place Search.

2. Use Surname Search to find family histories.

3. Explain how the Keyword, Title, Film/Fiche, Author, & Call Number searches are used.

4. Use the Subject Search with phrases like African Americans, Blacks, and Slaves. B. Explain the value and find (1) the United States Research Wiki article, (2) Search this Wiki for the state, or nation you need and notice the topics listed.

C. Explain the value and find the African American (1) Quick Guide and (2) Part A on the Internet. Open Wiki.FamilySearch, Type in African American, and select the page of the state you are searching.

D. Use the Social Security Death Index and send for Social Security card application papers.

II. Use online census indexes to find African American ancestors.

A. Use online census indexes and make census image prints at Ancestry

B. Use the 1870 census at FamilySearch to find candidates for former slaveholders (Quick Guide p. 4)

III. Use Reconstruction era online sources to find African American ancestors.

A. Find and use Freedman’s Savings and Trust Records. For more information, see African American Freedmen's Bureau Records.

B. The Freedman’s Bureau at National Archives, African American Heritage describes these records and where to access them online.

C. Southern Claims Commission Records at St. Louis County Library.

IV. Use military online sources to find African American ancestors.

A. Soldiers and Sailors Database at National Park Service can help locate records of African Americans who served in the American Civil War.

B. U.S., World War I Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 at Ancestry. Find African Americans in the online World War I Draft Registration records.

V. Use Google to find vital records offices, and funeral homes.

A. Find addresses and telephone numbers of vital records offices on the Internet.

B. Find vital record birth, marriage, or death indexes on the Internet.

C. Find addresses and telephone numbers of funeral homes on the Internet.

D. Find cemetery or funeral home record indexes on the Internet.