Learn the history of the ethnic, racial, and religious groups of your ancestors. The background of these groups often reveals clues about where they originated, why they moved, and where they settled. Their stories also add depth and richness to your family history.

You can find members of minority groups in most of the same records as all other Americans, so start in the same places you would search for everyone else. You may also find a few records created especially about a particular group.

Some records and histories of African Americans, Belgians, Dutch, German Americans, and Mennonites are at the Family History Library.

People of African Descent

There were many African Americans in Indiana from the early 1800s. Many were free persons. In 1850 the federal government passed laws making life very hard for free blacks, and at that time many left for Canada. About 1852 there were approximately 3,000 free African Americans in Indiana.

The following books and periodicals contain histories, bibliographies, and essays about African Americans in Indiana:

Gibbs, Wilma L., ed. Indiana’s African-American Heritage: Essays from Black History News & Notes. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1994. (FHL book 977.2 F2i; computer number 720338.) This contains many insightful articles on education, culture, women, and history and includes some biographical sketches of noteworthy African Americans.

Thornbrough, Emma Lou. The Negro in Indiana Before 1900: A Study of a Minority. Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, 1993. (FHL book 977.2 F2t; computer number 720337.) This book details the population changes and social history of African Americans in Indiana.

Robbins, Coy D., comp. Indiana Negro Registers, 1852–1865. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1994. (FHL book 977.2 F2r; computer number 717428.) The lists are alphabetical by county and give name, age, physical description, place of birth, residence, names of witnesses, and date registered. This book includes records of 2,138 free African Americans in 15 counties: Bartholomew, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Harrison, Hendricks, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Knox, Martin, Ohio, Orange, Switzerland, and Washington. The Family History Library has microfilms of these records from Floyd, Henry, and Knox counties. These are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

INDIANA, [COUNTY]- SLAVERY AND BONDAGE