African American Family History

Article: Getting Started
African American Research Center
African American Message Boards

Discover the details surrounding the family tree research for Rev. Al Sharpton and his interesting connection to Strom Thurmond.

Find out how fifteen-year-old Jari Honora traced his African American ancestry all the way back to 1801.

Learn how Jacqueline Campbell found her African American roots against all odds.

Find facts about your ancestors in the following collections:

Slave Narratives
Narratives that recount the life stories of 3,500 former slaves

U.S. Colored Troops Records
Records of the more than 178,000 men who served in the U.S. Colored Troops regiments during the Civil War

Freedmen’s Bureau Records
An eclectic record collection of former slaves (1865-1874) taken by the Freedmen's Bureau, which was formed to assist freed people in the South during Reconstruction

African American Family History Books Online
Books featuring inspiring stories of African American lives in history

Freedman's Bank Records
More than 480,000 records of Freedman's Savings and Trust, which served thousands of former slaves between 1865 and 1874

World War I Draft Cards
Records of nearly 2 million black men (ages 18-45) who registered for the WWI draft in 1917 and 1918

African American
Photo Collection
Thousands of photos showing African Americans throughout American history

Southern Claims Commission Records
Roughly 23,000 claims filed by Southerners who sought compensation for property seized by the Union Army

Freedmen's Bureau Marriage Records
Marriage records for thousands of former slaves from 17 Southern states

Discover the inspiring stories of the amazing people who paved the way for a better, more diverse America. Start searching the world’s largest online collection of African American family history records now. You could find ancestors who served their country in wartime, learn about their homes, their careers and much more.

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It's FREE. Enter a few simple facts about recent generations of your family. We'll use what you enter to try and find more about your family in the world's largest online genealogy collection of historical records and family trees.

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OR BEGIN YOUR SEARCH IN THE U.S. CENSUS
Every 10 years, U.S. census takers record fascinating facts about every family member in each U.S. household. Today, no source matches the census’s ability to provide a detailed picture of a family at a certain place and time in history. Only Ancestry.com has the complete U.S. Federal Census collection (1790-1930), which contains key details about the lives of millions of African Americans.

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	Learn about the many resources available to you. MORE		Watch eight stories unfold through American history and back to Africa. MORE		Get started with this helpful, step-by-step guide. MORE		Discover the family background of America's most powerful female celebrity. MORE


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