1: Get Started
2: Record Sources
3: Library and Other Resources
4: Slavery Resources
5: Break through Barriers
6: Get Help
Translation Tips
Music
Goal 2: Explore African American record sources.
Choices
ALearn how find record sources for African American ancestors.
- Quick Guide: Explore the Quick Guide to African American Records on Family Search.
FS—Quick Guide to African American Records
- Post-1865: Learn how to find helpful resources for research after 1865.
FS—Finding Helpful Resources, Post-1865—22:56 - 2018 - Use FamilySearch tools for research after 1865.
FS—How FamilySearch Tools Can Help with Post-1865 Resources—18:17 - 2018 - Resources: Read the first part of the article to learn about resources for Afro-American research.
GC—Resources for Ethnic Genealogy - Learn about free African Americans in North Carolina and Virginia.
GC—Free African Americans in North Carolina and Virginia - Explore the African American Online Genealogy Toolbox in this video.
African American Online Genealogy Toolbox—79:45 - 2015 - Watch this video to learn about researching free people of color.
RT—Hidden in Plain Sight: Free People of Color in Your Family Tree—14:05 - 2022
- Learn about Blacks in the Revolutionary War period.
RT—Researching Black Patriots and Loyalists During the Revolutionary Era—61:13 - 2024
BExplore vital and census records.
- Vital Records: Learn about vital records for African Americans.
FS—African American Vital Records
- Explore
death records on the AfriGeneas website. - Explore marriage records on the AfriGeneas website.
- Census: Learn about African Americans in United States Census records.
FS—African American Census
- Learn about African American census schedules.
AC: African American Census Schedules - Explore census records on the AfriGeneas website.
CExplore newspaper records for African Americans.
- Newspapers: Learn about African American ancestors in newspapers.
FS: African American Newspapers - Tips: Here are some tips for using Black newspapers in genealogy research.
AJC: Using Black Newspapers for Genealogy: Tips from Tim Pinnick - 2018 - Learn more about African American newspapers.
APL—Delving into African American Newspapers—44:15 - 2024
- Resources: Explore African American newspaper resources on the Ancestor Hunt site.
Record Search Practice |
Montomery Moses is mentioned in the news in the late 1800's. Use the "AC: African American Newspaper, 1829-1947" QUIKLink below to answer these questions:
- What is the publication date of the article that mentions Montgomery?
- What is his profession??
- Click the QUIKLink mentioned above.
- In the search screen, enter "Montgomery" as the first name and "Moses" as the last name.
- In the search results screen, click View Record for Montgomery Moses.
- Read the information in the center column.
- Click the newspaper to view and locate the information on the right side of the page.
- The article was published on 5 July 1873.
- Montgomery Moses was a Circuit Judge.
(Contributed by Brent Bunker )
QUIKLinks
DExplore other record types for African Americans.
- Cemeteries: Learn about African American cemeteries.
FS—African American Cemeteries - Obituaries: Learn about obituaries for African Americans.
FS—African American Obituaries - Learn how to find obituaries for African Americans.
GC—Obituaries for African Americans - Probate: Get an overview of probate records in this FamilySearch Wiki article.
FS: African American Probate Records - Military: Learn about military records for African Americans.
FS—African American Military Records
PR—The Colored Troops of the United States Military - Learn about military records for African Americans in this videos.
AAC—Military Records—10:05 - Courthouse: Learn about the types of records you can expect to find in courthouses.
AAC—Courthouse Pieces—11:53
- * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings for research records. Then use the learnings for searches for a U.S. ancestor.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for two or more ancestors.