Research African American Roots Family Genealogy Family Tree History
Research African American Roots, Family Genealogy, Family Tree, History Genealogy
, a subscription site that can be accessed for free at many libraries, has the world's largest collection of , including slave census records, U.S. Colored Troops records, slave manifests and emancipation records.
See the database of records from the Freedmen's Bureau, which was set up after the Civil War to assist slaves in making the transition to freedom and finding employment, and to help soldiers get back pay and pensions. Another Ancestry.com resource is its database for the Southern Claims Commission, to review the claims of people who had property confiscated during the Civil War. It includes military records of claimants, letters, diaries and family Bible records. And it has also has Civil War records, including the U.S. Colored Troops documents. Plantation records at universities and state historical societies are another good resource. Usually on microfilm, these records detail how plantations operated, the names of slaves and their children, and daily business operations. "It's a horrible record to look at because you see a listing of horses next to a listing of slaves," said Anastasia Harman, lead family historian for Ancestry.com. Tip: Check out universities near the site of an old plantation. Check county courthouses if you know where your family homestead was located. Look for wills, deeds and plantation account books that include slave births and deaths. Most are not online. Tips: Former slaves often took the slave owner's last name. Deeds include slave sales.
Explore narratives of former slaves recorded by the in the 1930s.
See this online directory of in the United States to help find your ancestors and check out nationwide.
Investigate organizations, such as The Making of the Tuskegee Airmen, for information on black soldiers in the United States.
If you are in Washington, D.C., attend the (NARA) lectures on using their records for black family research.
The NARA has a wealth of resources, most not online, including pension applications and records of pension payments for veterans, their widows and other heirs. Pension application files usually provide the most genealogical information, including pages from family Bibles, family letters and discharge papers. One shortcut: Check out military service records and pension files online at Footnote.com, a subscription database, or see
DNA testing is one sure way to connect with family, but it costs hundreds of dollars. Go to and for details. These sites contain hundreds of names of people who have been tested and databases to connect with people who match your DNA. Also of Interest
Discover Your African American Roots
From plantation records to DNA testing there' s a wealth of genealogy tools at your disposal
Bobbi Bowman had been on the hunt for her roots for a long time. One day, she drove to a courthouse in rural Virginia and hit the jackpot. See also: She knew her family had deep roots in Campbell County near Lynchburg, Va., and she knew a family name — Williamson. She waded through mountains of in the county courthouse to find her great-great grandmother — Maria Williamson (1825-1903), a former slave who inherited 100 acres after the from her husband, a white landowner. The family connections were spelled out in a deed. Courtesy Library of Congress The U.S. Census began counting African American families after the Civil War. "If you are willing to spend a little time in your family courthouse, and have an unusual last name, you would be surprised. I was bowled over," said Bowman, a journalist from McLean, Va. If you have toyed with the idea of tracing your own African Americans roots or are stumped by a branch in your , here are some research tools to consider. The U.S. Census began counting African Americans by name in 1870. It's a rich resource to get you started on your journey. The census is available online at through 1930. Look for details about families, occupations and place of birth.Who Are You
, a subscription site that can be accessed for free at many libraries, has the world's largest collection of , including slave census records, U.S. Colored Troops records, slave manifests and emancipation records.
See the database of records from the Freedmen's Bureau, which was set up after the Civil War to assist slaves in making the transition to freedom and finding employment, and to help soldiers get back pay and pensions. Another Ancestry.com resource is its database for the Southern Claims Commission, to review the claims of people who had property confiscated during the Civil War. It includes military records of claimants, letters, diaries and family Bible records. And it has also has Civil War records, including the U.S. Colored Troops documents. Plantation records at universities and state historical societies are another good resource. Usually on microfilm, these records detail how plantations operated, the names of slaves and their children, and daily business operations. "It's a horrible record to look at because you see a listing of horses next to a listing of slaves," said Anastasia Harman, lead family historian for Ancestry.com. Tip: Check out universities near the site of an old plantation. Check county courthouses if you know where your family homestead was located. Look for wills, deeds and plantation account books that include slave births and deaths. Most are not online. Tips: Former slaves often took the slave owner's last name. Deeds include slave sales.
Who Are You
Explore narratives of former slaves recorded by the in the 1930s.
See this online directory of in the United States to help find your ancestors and check out nationwide.
Investigate organizations, such as The Making of the Tuskegee Airmen, for information on black soldiers in the United States.
If you are in Washington, D.C., attend the (NARA) lectures on using their records for black family research.
The NARA has a wealth of resources, most not online, including pension applications and records of pension payments for veterans, their widows and other heirs. Pension application files usually provide the most genealogical information, including pages from family Bibles, family letters and discharge papers. One shortcut: Check out military service records and pension files online at Footnote.com, a subscription database, or see
DNA testing is one sure way to connect with family, but it costs hundreds of dollars. Go to and for details. These sites contain hundreds of names of people who have been tested and databases to connect with people who match your DNA. Also of Interest