How To Begin Your African American Genealogy Research

Genealogy research is rarely easy or straightforward, and African American genealogy research adds a whole other layer of complexity when you’re looking for enslaved ancestors. We’ve compiled some of our best tips and information with links to help you get started on your genealogy journey with confidence. 

FINDING AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN YOUR GENEALOGY RESEARCH

Researching women in history is already quite difficult, but it can be even more difficult to find African American women ancestors. In this article, African American Women in Genealogy Research, Adrienne Abiodun highlights different cultural practices during various historical periods. For example, when African American women married before the 13th Amendment was ratified, marriage records that could provide maiden names are sometimes very difficult to locate, if one exists at all.

You’ll also learn more about helpful resources such as Bible indexes that could help you find records of births, marriages, and deaths within the family. One such index is the Daughters of the American Revolution online index and the Yancey Family Genealogy Bible index that includes 60,000 surnames!

HOW TO UTILIZE FREEDMAN’S BANK RECORDS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY

Established in 1885 as a bank to assist formerly enslaved African Americans, The Freedman’s Bank Records has become an invaluable resource for genealogy research. In addition to inventory lists included in wills and probate records of enslavers, these bank records can be a significant source to find an ancestor’s name and other information. 

Between 1865 and 1871, approximately 37 branches opened in major cities in Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. To learn more about Freedman’s Bank Records and how to use them in your African American genealogy research, read our article here. 

LINEAGE SOCIETIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ENSLAVED ANCESTORS 

There are many challenges when it comes to researching your enslaved ancestors–the records are hardly consistent, and there is a great likelihood that you’ll run into frustrating and devastating brick walls. This can definitely be the case when you’re hoping to join a lineage society like the Sons and Daughters of United States Middle Passage. 

When documentation is hard to come by, how do you use oral histories passed from generation to generation to help you find the paper trail you need to join a lineage society? What types of record collections should you search and where do you find them? Assuming you can make it as far back as 1870, and you still cannot locate your ancestor back to 1860, there are avenues you can still pursue. Read our article Honoring and Proving Formerly Enslaved Ancestors Through Lineage Society Membership. 

How To Use DNA Test Results for African American Genealogy

In 2006, PBS aired a television program called African American Lives in which Henry Louis Gates Jr. explored the genealogies of prominent African-Americans. In this mini-series, Gates used traditional genealogical research in combination with DNA analysis to reveal secrets about his guests’ family histories. 

You can use your own DNA results to help you do what Gates did for others. DNA can drastically change your genealogy journey when it can be difficult to find traditional genealogical records. For more tips on how to use DNA in your African American genealogy research, read our article DNA: Transforming African American Genealogy.

THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY RESEARCH

Still feeling lost? You’re not alone! Getting started is often the hardest part of any genealogy research project. How do you even know what you’re looking for? What are realistic goals to set? How do you keep from getting discouraged when you hit a seemingly insurmountable brick wall?

In this article, 4 Important Elements For African American Genealogy Research, we’ll walk you through the basics of African American genealogy research to help you feel confident in your strategies and approach. 

WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY

Meet Adrienne Abiodun of Legacy Tree Genealogists:

Adrienne Abiodun is a senior genealogy researcher here at Legacy Tree Genealogists. She is an energetic researcher who loves challenging genealogical research projects. In addition to her 19 years of genealogy experience, she’s obtained a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. Her areas of specialty include: Genetic Genealogy, DNA, Unknown Parentage, African American Genealogy Research, Southern United States Genealogy Research, and Lineage Society Applications. You can hear her on a recent podcast episode on KPBS:

KPBS Episode featuring LTG’s Adrienne Abiodun: Reparation Efforts In California Move Forward

“I think what I’m interested in this whole reparations and lineage-based approach is who is going to vet the research? Who’s going to conduct this level of research? It’s not a weekend activity, per se. This could take several years for a person to research their family history–decades even–even though there have been advancements that make this research easier. Records have been digitized–they’re even available online. You don’t have to go to a courthouse, but there are still hurdles that are going to be very hard to overcome. It will look very different from family to family. What people need to have is patience. If you’re talking about starting with a person today, and they have to prove their parents and their grandparents and then their great-grandparents–maybe even second great-grandparents–until they find an enslaved person. And the records are going to most likely be outside California.” 

Listen to the full episode about Reparation efforts in California here. 

If you’d like to work with our team of professional genealogy experts to help you find your enslaved ancestors, please contact us here.