Researching African American Genealogy

Introduction
African American research in the United States is similar to other U.S. genealogical projects until about 1870. In genealogy, always start with the known and work towards the unknown.

It is important to note that no matter how much time and money you spend on your research, unless you are organized, you will frustrate yourself and your opportunity for finding the truth about your family. There are many free, quality family tree software programs that can be used to organize your research. Take advantage of the opportunity and get started today!

Research Steps
There are seven easy steps to begin your research:

Step One: Start With Yourself
Identify what you already know. Start with yourself and work backward in time by filling in as much information as you can, by memory, on a pedigree chart. Try to fill out full names (including maiden names for women), relationships, and dates and locations for births, marriages, and deaths.

Step Two: Gather Family Information
Gather your records (birth certificates, marriage licenses, deeds, etc.) from home sources. Ask relatives for records as well. Older relatives will likely have more records and information than others.

Step Three: Interview Your Relatives
Interview relatives, both those who live nearby and those who live faraway. For relatives who live in other states, a phone call and a follow-up letter will work. For nearby relatives, interview them in person at their convenience.

Remember when conducting oral interviews:
 * Set up appointment (by phone for those who live far away and in person for those who live near).
 * Prepare questions beforehand.
 * Record the interview (ask for permission beforehand).
 * Write down notes afterwards.
 * Compare memories between relatives.
 * Fill out family group sheets to organize ancestors according to the information learned.

Topics to cover in interviews:
 * When and where things happened. Location is key in genealogical research.
 * Relationships
 * Names (including maiden names, nicknames, spellings, etc.)

Step Four: Write for Copies of Records

 * Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce
 * Courthouse Information
 * Land/Probate Deeds, Conveyances, Affidavit of Heirship, Guardianship
 * Tax Records (includes slave information)
 * Voter Registration
 * Social Security Administration

Step Five: Follow Up On Death Record Clues

 * Legal name of descendant
 * Marital status
 * Parent(s) Names(s)
 * Date and place of birth and death
 * Who verified death
 * Funeral Home that handled remains
 * Cemetery
 * Verification of social security number

Step Six: Search the Census
Federal Census Records are taken every ten years and are available from 1790 through 1940. Some local and state census records are also available depending upon the venue.

Census records contain: name, age, race, occupation, house number, occupants, literacy, military experience, home/farm ownership, value of property, neighbors and much more.

Begin searching with the name of a person you know who would have been included in the 1940 census.

If you have trouble finding the person, look for siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles. Most families lived only a few doors from each other.

Step Seven: Search at the State and County Level
In many cases, state and local records are the best sources for finding information. For example, many jurisdictions completed census records annually in addition to the 10-year Federal Census

Records also include voter registration cards, tax information (this is important for slavery research), land grants, deeds, wills and probate, some vital records, cemetery listings and transcriptions, criminal and civil proceedings, etc.

Most states have an Archives Office that each county routinely sends information to. This is done to free space at the local level as well as to preserve the history of each locale.

What You Will Find
What you will find in interviewing members of the family is that African Americans often use nicknames instead of proper birth names. Many of us don't know the "real" names of our family members. This tradition is a direct result of slavery. Families in bondage gave each child a "secret" name so that if the family were ever separated and later rejoined, this "secret" name would be the unique identifier for reuniting.

An additional benefit of having a "secret" name was to deter an unsuspecting blood brother and sister from procreation or likewise, father and daughter. Unfortunately, this unique survival technique hundreds of years later creates yet another obstacle for the researcher who uses official records to trace lineage.

As you prepare for the interview, be mindful that there are some very deep, embarrassing, painful family secrets that relatives might not be willing to share right away, so tread lightly. For you, stirring up pain, waking the dead, shaking the leaves and branches of your tree might not be your intention but for the person who hasn't let go and or chooses to forget...it isn't just that simple. Establishing a mutually trusting, caring relationship must come first and hopefully one day you'll learn the real reason of how and why Uncle Joe was your uncle and your grandfather.

Related Articles

 * Char McCargo Bah.  Starting Your African American Research. NGS Magazine 33 #4 (October-December 2007): 20-22.
 * James Petty. Black Slavery Emancipation Research in the Northern States. National Genealogical Society Quarterly 100 #4 (December 2012): 293-304 FHL 973 B2ng

Websites

 * http://www.afrigeneas.com/
 * http://www.accessgenealogy.com/african/
 * http://www.genealinks.com/africanamerican.htm
 * http://caagri.org/
 * http://www.nypl.org/research/sc/sc.html
 * http://genealogy.about.com/cs/africanamerican/
 * http://www.slaverysite.com/Body/genealogy.htm

Resources

 * Thomas, Kenneth H., Jr. "A note on the Pitfalls of Black Genealogy: The Origins of Black Surnames." Georgia Archives 6 (Spring 1978:23-30.