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Thanks to Alex Haley, creator of the "Roots" saga, people
from all walks of life have developed an interest in family history
research. Discovering information about one's heritage can be very rewarding.
For many African Americans, however, the search can become quite challenging
because of the institution of slavery. Fortunately for us, historians
who have followed in Haley's footsteps have been documenting their research
methods and procedures. Over the past 25 years since "Roots" first
appeared, countless articles and books have been published to help guide
researchers who are looking for information about their ancestors.
For those who want to learn more about genealogy, there are numerous
categories of books to choose from. Some of the many categories of books
on genealogy and family history preservation are listed below.
- Beginning guides for research
- Intermediate/advanced research
- How-to books on genealogy
- Slave research
- Researching free ancestors before 1865
- Internet research
- Researching public records, including
- census records
- Military research
- Birth
- Death
- Marriages
- Deeds/land records
- Court records
- Additional research records include church records,
cemetery research, scrapbooks/family cook-books, and family reunion
records.
As you can see from these various categories, genealogy/family history
research covers a very wide range of subjects. Like other professions,
many genealogists or family historians have begun to specialize
in certain areas.
What’s available for African American research? A growing number
of genealogy books are geared specifically for African American research.
The historians publishing these books have put considerable time
and effort into sharing and passing on their discoveries to others who
are researching ancestors. A recent review by the author for the Southern
California Genealogical Society on what is available for African American
research, revealed the following.
"Family Pride: The Complete Guide to Tracing
African-American Genealogy," by
Donna Beasley; Macmillan books;
In "Family Pride," Ms. Beasley gives step-by-step instructions
on how to research African American family history and genealogy. Her
chapters include information on how to begin, oral history, slavery,
the African connection, writing and publishing your findings, and working
with technology. In her bibliography, she lists books and periodicals
that best support genealogy research.
"Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing
the African American Family Tree," by Tony Burroughs; Simon & Schuster, New York;
www.simonsays.com
In “Black Roots," Mr. Burroughs delivers a step-by-step "how-to" book
to help those starting to research African American family history. He
uses many of the methods used in an introductory genealogy class that
he teaches at Chicago State University. His chapters include information
on preparing to research, which covers the fundamentals of getting
started. It also features guidelines on what types of records are available
for research and where to find them, samples of worksheets and forms
needed for research, using computers and the Internet for research,
and writing a family history.
"A Genealogist's Guide
to Discovering your African-American Ancestors," by
Franklin Carter Smith and Emily Annie Croom; www.familytreemagazine.com
In "A Genealogist's Guide," Mr. Carter and Ms. Groom provide
step-by-step techniques for research that may be useful to those who
want to learn more about their ancestors. Their chapters include information
on basic principles of genealogy, census records, federal resources,
state-county-local sources, a study of names (given names and surnames),
slaveholder documents, the issue of mixed race, and special situations,
such as free Negroes before the Civil War.
"Finding A Place Called
Home: A Guide to African-American Genealogy and Historical Identity," by Dee Parmer Woodtor; Random House, New
York.
In "Finding a Place Called Home," Ms. Woodtor gives us methods
for searching and interpreting records. She outlines interviewing
techniques for family members and friends, and also shares information
about using the Internet for genealogical purposes. Her chapters include
information on beginning your genealogical research, techniques and
tools used, searching for ancestors during the Civil War era and during
Reconstruction, and slaves and slave owners. Additional information
includes African American institutional records, and what to do with
your research: writing family memoirs or the family story.
'Tracing African-American Roots," by Dee Clem; Cater Publishing,
Inc.; gatorpub@worldnet.att.net
In "Tracing African American Roots," Ms. Clem presents a great
how-to book that provides general guidelines on how to use oral history,
personal family data, and public records to find your ancestors.
Her chapters include information on starting your search for African
American ancestors, organizing your records, the importance of libraries
and archives, and census schedules. The following records are also
reviewed: vital, cemetery, mortuary, church, court, land and tax, military,
slavery, and miscellaneous records. Resources on the Internet are also
covered.
"How To Trace Your African-American
Roots," by Barbara Thompson
Howell; Citadel Press Book, published by Carol Publishing Group.
In "How to Trace Your African-American Roots," Ms. Howell
produces a practical guide that shows you how to use the basic resources
of every genealogist to trace your ancestors and more. Her chapters
include information on where to find and what to look fin in birth
records, marriage certificates, deeds, death records, wills, and
census records. For beginning genealogists and family historians, she
outlines how to start, how to keep track of every-thing, how to locate
family documents, and how to investigate church, cemetery; census,
and town and county records.
"Finding Your African American
Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide," by
David T. Thackery;
Ancestry Publishing
"Finding Your African American Ancestors" is a compilation of
works by the late David T. Thackery. Mr. Thackery was a curator of local
and family history at the Newberry Library in Chicago for fifteen years.
His chapter in "The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy," as
well as his guide to African American research at the Newberry Library,
is included in this book. Other chapters include information on free
blacks, the Underground Railroad, the transition from slavery to freedom,
and military records. Also included are slave narratives from various
states, and additional African American sources.
"Black Genesis," by James Rose and Alice Eichholz; Gale Research
Co.
In "Black Genesis," Mr. Rose and Ms. Eichholz outline suggested
steps for the beginning genealogist and family historian. They encourage
the development of black genealogical research and also offer ways genealogical
materials can be used to reexamine history. Their chapters include information
for the novice--an introduction to genealogy, genealogical guidebooks,
and oral history. National Archives and federal records are reviewed,
as well as war records-the Revolution (1776), the War of 1812, the Civil
War, and other military records. There is also a complete chapter on
slave research, including such topics as bills of slave sales, slave
advertisements, court records, plantation records and diaries,
and other records that may be useful.
"Locating Free African
American Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide," by
Aaron L. Day; Carlberg Press, Anaheim, Calif.; www.banksday.com
In "Locating Free African American Ancestors," the author
presents a reference manual that is a great aid for genealogy researchers.
It gives tips on problem-solving techniques, research methods, and resources
for locating ancestors. Included is information on beginning your search,
tracing your ancestors through the census schedules, locating information
about free ancestors from documents, and following the paper trail to
your ancestors. The chapters also include information on searching for
free ancestors before 1865, genealogical forms, steps for tracing
your ancestors, genealogy resources on the Web and your public library,
resources available for researching your ancestors, and genealogical
books and magazines. There is also a listing of surnames of Negroes
who were free in the United States in 1830.
"A Student's Guide to African
American Genealogy," by Anne
E. Johnson, Adam Merton Cooper, and Roger Rosen; The Rosen Publishing
Group, Inc.
In "A Student's Guide to African American Genealogy," the
authors illustrate the unique and important contributions of African
Americans to American culture. The book is tailored not only for African
Americans who are trying to trace their roots back to Africa, but also
for those who may be interested in African American family history
research.
The first chapter of this book lists other books for those interested
in further study. The chapter "Starting Your Exploration" details
fourteen books on African American history, and "African American
Language and Culture" reviews 45 books on African American history.
There are also eleven books of interest on African language and culture.
Other chapters include information about slave life, free blacks and
freedmen, and Reconstruction and modern history. For the beginning
researcher, there is also information on getting started; where to
research; family history on the Internet; and preserving your family history, which
includes the topics family tree, oral history, and writing your family
history.
"Black Family Research:
Records of Post-Civil War Federal Agencies at the National Archives," by Reginald Washington; National Archives
and Records Administration-Reference Information Paper 108; www.archives.gov
In "Black Family Research," Mr. Washington reviews some of
the most important records available for the study of black family life
and genealogy. These are Reconstruction-era federal records that document
the black family's struggle for freedom and equality. These documents
are available for research at the National Archives and Records Administration.
This reference booklet describes three post-Civil War federal agencies'
records.
- The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands (Record
Group 105), also known as the Freedmen's Bureau, which was established
in the War. Department by an act of Congress on March 3, 1865.
- Records
of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Co., which was established as a
banking institution primarily for the benefit of former slaves.
- Records of the Commissioners of Claims, which was established by
an act of Congress on March 3, 1871, to review and make recommendations
regarding the claims of Southern Loyalists who had "furnished stores
and supplies for the use of the Army" during the Civil War.
"Free Negro Heads of Families in
the United States in 1830," by
Carter G. Woodson; The Assn. for the Study of Negro Life and History,
Inc.; www.bookfinder.com
In "Free Negro Heads of Families," Mr. Woodson documents the
study of the free Negro in the United States in 1830 and beyond. It was
his aim to promote the further study of a part of our history
that had been neglected.
With a grant from the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial in 1921, Mr.
Woodson and a staff of researchers documented the Negroes in this country
who were free prior to the Emancipation in 1865.
Written in 1925, the information in this book was extracted from the
manuscript schedules of the 1830 United States Census. In the introduction,
Mr. Woodson covers the origin of the free Negro, the attempt to prevent
the increase of free Negroes, economic achievement, the free Negro
before the law, and social distinctions. He also references other books
of interest that have been written on the subject.
There were 319,498 free Negroes in the United States in 1830, and they
were living in 28 states. The surnames of those families are listed in
this book, as well as an index to the names, and the states where they
were living.
FURTHER READINGS
- "Black Genealogy," by Charles L. Blockson and Ron Fry; www.amazon.com
- "Finding Your People: An African-American Guide to Discovering your
Roots," by Sandra Lee Jamison; www.time.com
- "Free Negro in North Carolina," by John Hope Franklin;
The University of North Carolina Press; www.barnesandnoble.com.
- "The Right to Fight: A History of African Americans in the Military," by
Gerald Astor;
- "Roots," by Alex Haley; Garden City, New York; www.amazon.com
- "Free Negro Registers," Karen Sutton; www.barnettsbooks.com
- "Slaves in the Family," by Edward Ball; www.bestwebbuys.com
- "African American Genealogy: A Bibliography for Beginners," by
Barnetta McGhee White; www.afrigenas.com
- "Free Blacks and Mulattos in South Carolina 1850 Census," by
Margaret Peckham Motes; www.bigtreebooks.com
- "Slaves and Nonwhite Free Persons in the 1790 Federal Census
of New York," by Gilbert S. Bahn; www.bookfinder.com
- "African American Genealogical Sourcebook," by Paula K. Byers; www.amazon.com
- "First Steps in Genealogy," by Desmond Walls Allen; www.ngsgenealogy.org
- "Free African Americans of North Carolina & Virginia/Maryland & Delaware," by
Paul Heinegg; Clearfield Co. Inc., Genealogical Publishing
Co., Inc.; www.genealogical.com
© Aaron L. Day,
Used with permission. |
