African American Resources for Arizona

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Record Types

Adoption Bible Records Cemeteries Census Church Records Colonial Records Correctional Institutions Court Records Crime & Punishment Directories Emigration & Immigration Genealogies Land & Property Livestock Brands Military Records Naturalization & Citizenship Newspapers Obituaries Online Collections Periodicals Probate Records Schools and Education Records Taxation Vital Records Voter Records Water Records

Arizona Background

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Cultural Groups

African Americans Indigenous Peoples Cultural Groups Swedish American

Local Research Resources

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United States

African American Genealogy

Arizona

African American Resources

African American Online Genealogy Records

Online Resources

African American Digital Bookshelf - a growing list of digital books on FamilySearch and other websites

The State of Black Arizona

History

The first person, most likely, of African heritage who came to the Arizona area was a member of a Spanish expedition. Esteban was originally from Morocco and was a enslaved to a Spaniard. He first arrived in the New World in 1528. See Esteban, a 16th Century Explorer.

Resources to learn more about African Americans in Arizona history:

Arizona's Black History Timeline

In The Steps of Esteban: Tucson's African American Heritage

Wilson, Bernard J. 2007. The black residents of Tucson and their achievements, 1860-1900: a reference guide. [Tucson, Ariz.]: Bernard Wilson. Available through WorldCat

Valenzuela, Blanca, and Regina Kelly. 1998. History paints a beautiful picture: a report on A-Mountain neighborhood history for the Casa Alegre mural project. Tucson, Ariz: s.n. (African American History in Tuscon area) Available through WorldCat

Trailtones: The African-American Heritage of Arizona,compiled by Gloria L. Smith, contains materials that highlight African American heritage in Arizona.

Resources

Biographies

In The Steps Of Esteban: Biographies and Oral Histories - contains biographies from African American pioneers, educators, military officials, and more.

Church Records

African Americans are represented mainly in five categories: Baptist, Methodist, Church of God in Christ, Church of Christ, and Apostolic.

Phoenix: Tanner Chapel AME Church, 1887 - History

Tucson: Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 1900 - History

African American Churches in Tucson

Photographic Exhibits African American Churches in Tucson, Arizona, 1900 - 1990

Funeral Homes

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

Obituaries

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

Other Records

Harris, Richard E. The First 100 Years: A History of Arizona Blacks. Apache Junction, AZ: Relmo Publishers, 1983.

Vital Records

Birth

The Arizona, Birth Records, 1881-1948 ($) collection contains birth records between 1881 and 1948 for most counties in Arizona. Information often includes name, birth date, sex, father, mother's maiden name, race or color, parents' birth places, condition at birth, and remarks.

Death

The Arizona, County Coroner and Death Records, 1881-1971 ($) collection contains death records between 1881 and 1971 for most counties in Arizona. Information often includes name, age, sex, informant, and death date/place.

The Arizona, Death Records, 1887-1960 collection contains death records between 1887 and 1960 for every county in Arizona. Information usually contains name, gender, race, marital status, birth date and place, death date and place, burial date and place, age, occupation, parents and their birth places, and medical information.

Archives and Libraries

Sabio Library
The University of Arizona Libraries
1510 E. University Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6406
Website: University Libraries

Pioneer Museum (Flagstaff)
2340 N. Fort Valley Road
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: 928-774-6272
Email: AHSFlagstaff@azhs.gov
The Pioneer Museum has a few collections documenting African American pioneers. See Black Genesis for reference to Beppie Culin Papers (1850-1900) on page 64 which contain 324 bills of sale for enslaved persons.
Website: Pioneer Museum

African American Multicultural Museum
617 North Scottsdale Road, Suite A
Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Phone: 480-314-4400

Societies

Black Family Genealogy & Historical Society
P. O. Box 90683
Phoenix, Arizona 85066-0683
Website: Black Family Genealogy & Historical Society