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African American Genealogy |
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The overwhelming majority of Americans of African ancestry are descendants of slaves forcibly brought to the New World during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Most of these slaves were from peoples living within 300 miles of the Atlantic coast between the Congo and Gambia rivers in East Africa. In addition, since the end of the Second World War, a significant number of people of African ancestry have emigrated to the U.S. from the Caribbean, where their ancestors were also slaves (primarily at the hands of the British, Dutch, and French).
Since most tribal history in Africa was recorded by oral tradition rather than written down, actually tracing one's roots in Africa can be an extremely difficult task, but not impossible. Alex Haley, the author of Rootswas able to trace his ancestors all the way back to the African continent. By examining records of slave sales and slave advertisements, many people may be able to trace their family history all the way back to the original arrival of their ancestors in America.
Contacts and Sources
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 73086
Washington, D.C. 20056
Publications: Journal, AAHGS News
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdaahgs/
African American Genealogy Group
P.O. Box 1798
Philadelphia, PA 19105-1798
Telephone: (215) 572-6063
http://www.libertynet.org/aagg/
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Blvd.
New York, NY 10037-1801
Telephone: (212) 491-2200
Web Sites The World Wide Web offers an enormous number of sites dedicated to African American history, culture, and genealogy. Rather than try to list them all here, we've chosen a select few that are good starting points.
Christine's Genealogy WebsiteChristine's is a good general African American research Web site. It offers a wide variety of information, from selected lists of African Americans in U.S. census records to freedmen's bureau records, slave entries in wills, and links to museums, libraries, and historical societies that have African American collections.
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS)Use this Web site to find out in which unit a particular soldier of African descent served. You simply type in the soldier's name, and the database shows you the matching records. For more common names, the searches can take some time, and of course if there are multiple individuals with the same name, you still must determine which individual is actually your ancestor, but it is a good starting place. It also includes histories of 180 United States Colored Troops units/regiments.
Colonial WilliamsburgThe Colonial Williamsburg site gives general information about Colonial life and includes a selection of articles about African Americans.
American Slave Narratives: An Online AnthologyAs described on this site: "...Each narrative taken alone offers a fragmentary, microcosmic representation of slave life. Read together, they offer a sweeping composite view of slavery in North America, allowing us to explore some of the most compelling themes of nineteenth-century slavery, including labor, resistance and flight, family life, relations with masters, and religious belief."
The African American Mosaic A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and CultureThe Library of Congress has a large collection of materials relating to African American life in the United States. This Web site gives an overview of what they offer.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black CultureThe collection of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture includes materials about Blacks living all over the world, including the United States. In particular, they are strong in the history of Harlem and Blacks in New York and the Northeast.
1860 Noxubee County, Mississippi Mortality Schedule
1860 Noxubee County, Mississippi Mortality Schedule. Includes age, occupation, cause of death, and birthplace. part of a larger African American home page.
54th Massachusetts Infantry
Home page for the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry (1863) with history of the free black regiment, letters, service record, database of over 230,000 US Colored Troops, and battles.
African - Native Genealogy Homepage
The African-Native Genealogy Homepage focuses on the Estelusti, Oklahoma's black Indians. It includes a list of freedman surnames, bibliographies, information on freedman towns and settlements, and links to other African-American and Native Americanresources.
African American Families of Southampton/Nansemond Counties of Virginia
African American Genealogy: A Bibliography for Beginners
A short bibliography of genealogy reference works of interest to African American researchers. The general section contains books related to genealogy as a whole, while the specific section deals with African American genealogy.
African American History
Part of the Mississippi State University Historical Text Archive, this site contains a series of articles related to African American history and links to various Internet sites of interest to African-American researchers.
African American History and Genealogy Resources
African American History and Genealogy Resources with primary sources and links focused on 1800's Charleston.
African American History
Historical Text Archive African American History with extensive links to related sites, resources, and information related to African American history.
African American Lifelines
African American Lifelines home page with tips and resources for African American genealogical research such as military records.
African American Pamphlets Home Page
African American Warriors
African American Warriors homepage with lots of information and resources for African Americans in the military throughout history, individuals, books, and links to related sites.
African Studies WWW (U. Penn)
This Web site is supported by the African Studies Center at the University of Pa with information on the center, related links, associations, bulletin boards, publications, and other related resources.
African American Genealogical Societies Around the U.S.A.
This article in Everton's Online Genealogical Helper contains the addresses of several African-American organizations focusing on Genealogy. The article was authored by Sandra Brown.
African American Genealogical Societies Around the U.S.A.
List of African American Genealogical Societies Around the U.S.A. with addresses and phone numbers.
African American Genealogy & History Links
This page contains links to African American Genealogy resources on the Internet.
African-American Genealogy Group
The African American Genealogy Group (AAGG) is dedicated to the encouragement of and support for genealogy research in the African-American community of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. Includes information on the group and services it provides.
African American Genealogy Sources in the Louisiana Division of the New Orleans Public Library
Lists sources are listed in order of their general ease of use and value for research in African American family history.
African American How-To Guide From Family Tree Maker
Family Tree Maker Online Genealogy How to for African American research. Includes tips and resource information, contacts and sources, and links to related sites.
African American Mosaic
The African American Mosaic A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture. This is a sample exhibit online of the kinds of materials and themes covered by the publication and the Library's collections. Lots of great information, pictures, and links.
African American Sources for Gibson County, Indiana
African-American Sources for Gibson County, Indiana with surnames, queries, papers, obituaries, military records, and other sources.
Afrigeneas
This page contains information on the mailing list that focuses on genealogical research and resources related to those of African ancestry. The site contains a frequently-asked questions page, a newsletter, FTP area, query page, and surname database.
Afrigeneas Homepage
Afrigeneas is a mailing list focused on genealogical research and resources in general and on African ancestry in particular. This page serves as a focal point for information about African ancestored families and for pointers to genealogical sources worldwide.
AFRIGENEAS Mailing List
Part of the Genealogy Resources on the Internet site, this page provides subscription details on the mailing list that focuses on researching African ancestors.
AfriGeneas News, The
An online newsletter with articles focused on genealogical research of African ancestry.
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. with information on the society, membership, publications, and services.
Afro-American Sources in Virginia - A Guide to Manuscripts]
Afro-American Sources in Virginia A Guide to Manuscripts. Includes table of contents, searchable text, and press release.
ALGenWeb:Ethnic Groups:African American
African American Genealogy and History Sites and links focusing on Alabama.
Alliance for West Virginia Black History
In addition to providing information about the purpose and activities of the Alliance, this site contains information on the origin of African Americans in West Virginia, Civil War and reconstruction, segregation, and honoring the past.
American Slave Narratives
American Slaves Narratives: An Online Anthology Includes index of narratives, pictures, related readings, sound files, and links to related sites. Very interesting site.
Amistad Research Center
Six selections from The Refugee: Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada Related by Themselves, Benjamin Drew, ed., (Boston, 1856)
Amistad
Amistad: The History with related articles, events, and history.
Black Indian Genealogy Research
Black Indian Genealogy Research African American Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes. Book offer with ordering information and review of content.
Black Studies - A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm
National Archives and Records Administration: Black Studies A Select Catalog of NARA Microfilm Publications with introduction, how to order, and overview of system and materials.
Black/African Related Resources
This is a list of online information storage sites (FTP, Gopher, Telnet, WWW, BBS, Database, etc.) that contain a significant amount of information relating to or of concern to Black or African people, culture, and issues around the world, either in files or conferences.
Boston African American National Historic Site Home Page
Boston African American National Historic Site information with virtual tour, events, educational programs, history, and contact information.
Britannica Guide to Black History
Part of the Britannica Online site, these pages contain articles related to black history broken down by time period. Examples of articles include American Anti-Slavery Society, Confiscation Acts, biography on Frederick Douglass, Chicago Race Riot of 1919, and many others.
Christine's Genealogy Website
Dauphin County Slaveholders
Slavery in Penn. With Dauphin County slaveholder surnames, 1790 census, Lebanon slaveholders, profiles, documents, images, queries, links and resources.
Documenting the American South: Narratives on Slavery
Documenting the American South: Narratives on Slavery includes individual stories, history, and other information of interest.
Excerpts from Slave Narratives
Excerpts from Slave Narratives (University of Houston) with a large selection to view online.
Frontier Press Bookstore - African American History/Research
Frontier Press Bookstore African American History / Research with book prices, summaries, and ordering.
Guide to Tracing Your African American Civil War Ancestor
Guide To Tracing Your African American Civil War Ancestor with overview of publication and ordering information.
Heritage Books - African American
This page identifies books on African American genealogy that are available from Heritage Books. It includes pricing and ordering information.
History of African Americans in the Civil Wars
List of Free Blacks, either born free or released from slavery, in Augusta County, Virginia; includes name, age, appearance, former 'owner' if any, source of documentation of free status (from main page The Valley of the Shadow)
Internet Resources for Students of Afro-American History
List of Free Negroes, either born free or released from slavery, in Staunton (VA) township; includes name, age, appearance, former 'owner' if any, source of documentation of free status (from main page The Valley of the Shadow)
Kentucky African-American Experience
Includes information on slave censuses, deed books, regimental, judicial and other records.
Milwaukee Urban Archives: African American Collections
This is a listing of books and other documents that make up the Milwaukee Urban Archives' African American Collections.
Museum of African American History
Website for world's largest African American history museum (in Detroit, MI), dedicated to the preservation and presentation of African and African American history and culture; info on history and exhibits, celebrations, links to related sites
Museum of African Slavery
A site for remembering the experiences of enslaved Africans in modern times - particularly useful to students and teachers; links to other museums and sites; learning resources
National Archives and Records Administration: Black Studies
The National Archives identifies publications and resources it has available pertaining to African Americans.
National Park Service African-American Civil War Sites
Descriptions of, and links to, some National park sites associated with African American history during the Civil War period
North Star: Tracing The Underground Railroad
Resource site for research on Underground Railroad; includes 'The Walk to Canada', info on railroad stops, Civil War, Learning Center (for students & teachers), bibliography & books online, links to other UGRR sites
Pennsylvania Department: African-American Genealogy- Sources
list of materials--in book form and on microfilm--available in the Penn Dept and useful to researchers working on African-American Genealogy; includes handbooks, locality guides, census and slave registers
Register of Free Blacks Augusta County, Virginia
List of Free Blacks, either born free or released from slavery, in Augusta County, Virginia; includes name, age, appearance, former 'owner' if any, source of documentation of free status (from main page The Valley of the Shadow)
Register of Free Negroes and Mulattoes in the Corporation of Staunton
List of Free Negroes, either born free or released from slavery, in Staunton (VA) township; includes name, age, appearance, former 'owner' if any, source of documentation of free status (from main page The Valley of the Shadow)
Slave Entries in Wills, Deeds, Etc.
More Slave Documents From Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri , South Carolina , Tennessee , and Virginia; entries from: Loudon County, Virginia slave information or from Florida and North Carolina. (Link from Thiessens' Index page.)
Slave Information from Various Loudoun County, VA Documents
This page contains information such as date of transaction, slave name, owners, source of information, and comments for slave transactions taken from a variety of Loudoun County sources.
SLAVEINFO Mailing List
This entry, part of the Genealogy Resources on the Internet Home Page, explains how to subscribe to this mailing list, which focuses on discussions about genealogical research pertaining to slavery and slaves in the United States.
Testimony of the Canadian Fugitives
Six selections from The Refugee: Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada Related by Themselves, Benjamin Drew, ed., (Boston, 1856)
Third Person, First Person - Slave Voices from the Special Collections Library
Text and photos of historic slavery-related documents; site based on an exhibit at Duke University in 1995; topics include: Caesar (escaped slave); Forced Migration - The Slave Trade and the Nature of Chattel Slavery; Plantation America - The Work of Slaves; The Age of Revolutions - Two Kinds of Freedom; Black Southerners in the Old South - The Slave Community; The Problem of Freedom - The Destruction of American Slavery, Freedom's Strange Fruit
To Know My Name
A Chronological History of African Americans in Santa Cruz County, CA, with links to local history articles, photos, and resources
Underground Railroad - Taking the Train to Freedom
Background and Summary of the NPS Underground Railroad Study, with focus on preservation of historic sites, and alternatives for commemoration and interpretation of the underground railroad's significance.
United States Colored Troops - Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
A database of over 230,000 names of the United States Colored Troops (USCT); includes 180 histories of USCT units/regiments, and links to the most significant battles they fought in, and other civil war links
United States Colored Troops in the Civil War
Index page from the Lest We Forget Web Site; topics include Books, Civil War chronology, first black soldiers, history of colored troops, info on specific regiments & battles, related speeches, documents, art & history, and more; also includes Name search of civil war soldiers & sailors, military & pension records, schedule of civil war events, many other civil war records.
United States Colored Troops Resident in Baltimore at the time of the 1890 Census
Home page for the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry (1863) with history of the free black regiment, letters, service record, database of over 230,000 US Colored Troops, and battles.
United States Colored Troops: Civil War
Historical Notes on participation of Colored Troops in Civil War, many Links to Other Documents
Walk to Canada: Tracing the Underground Railroad
Historian and author Anthony Cohen traced one of the possible routes of the Underground Railroad from Montgomery County, Maryland to Ontario, Canada. Includes Tony's Weekly Reports; Map and Itinerary: Tony's Route from Sandy Spring to Canada; FAQs, links to other Underground Railroad Sites on the Web
Willow Bend Books: African American
Here you will find the books that are available from Willow Bend Books. This page identifies the books by title, author, abstract, order number, and price.
Willow Bend Bookstore - African American
Titles, reviews of over 30 books, periodicals, and other resources on African American genealogy, history, etc, with ordering info (link from Willow Bend Books homepage.) Books and CDs
Below is a sampling of early colonial newspapers that published slave advertisements. From them you may be able to find information about your own ancestors. - Boston Independent Advertiser
- Connecticut Gazette
- The Georgia Gazette or Independent Register
- The Guardian of Freedom (Frankfort, Kentucky)
- Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser
- Missouri Republican
- Mobile Gazette
- The New England Journal
- The New Jersey Journal
- New Orleans Advertiser and Prices Current
- New York Gazette
- New York Weekly Journal
- New York Weekly Post Boy
- The Norfolk Intelligencer
- North Carolina Gazette
- The Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Advertiser
- Virginia Gazette
Books such as those listed below may be able to help you locate the newspapers that you are seeking. - The Afro-American Press and Its Editors, by Penn I. Garland
Reviews African-American magazines and newspapers published between 1827 and 1891. - Bibliographic Checklist of African-American Newspapers, by Barbara K. Henritze
A list of approximately 5,500 African American newspapers that have been identified in all major bibliographic sources, including newspaper directories, union lists, finding aids, African American bibliographies, yearbooks, and more. It is searchable by geographic region, time period, and title. - Sesquicentennial 1827-1977: Black press handbook, 1977
- Encyclopedic Directory of Ethnic Newspapers and Periodicals, by Lubomyr R. Wynar
In addition to slave advertisements, plantation books may be excellent sources. Also, since slaves were considered property, you may find records of them in deed books and the probate records of their owners. You may also want to look into Slave Genealogy: A Research Guide with Case Studies by David H. Streets.
Post-1864 Research
For individuals who lived after 1864, you can generally use the same procedures as for any other group: look for census records, vital records, and family sources. Many, but not all, former slaves took the surname of their owners upon emancipation. Some tried different names before settling on one. Also, don't forget to check Civil War indexes, as many former slaves served in the military. Census.govprovides an index of African Americans who were enumerated in the 1870 U.S. Census (the first Census in which African Americans were included as citizens).
It is also possible that your ancestors were prominent in the affairs of the African American community in the United States. As a result, we strongly recommend that you consider searching back issues of the appropriate African American newspapers (and, of course, general newspapers for the time period after African Americans began to receive appropriate coverage). The four books listed above may help you locate a newspaper that was published in the area where your ancestor lived.
Innumerable books have been written on the African American experience in the United States. Of particular genealogical value is the printed catalog Afro-Americana, 1553-1906, published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, which includes many valuable historical resources. Other helpful books include Black Genealogy by Charles L. Blockson and Ron Fry and Ethnic Genealogy: A Research Guide, edited by Jessie Carney Smith. These books have information about both pre- and post-1864 research.
Searchable database of sources from the Ohio Historical Society which includes manuscript collections, newspaper articles, serials, photographs, and pamphlets. Both the digital image and the text of the image are displayed. Searchable via keyword on each of the mediums or just one, or browsable. Part of the Library of Congress's "American Memory".
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