10 Million Names
10 Million Names is a collaborative project dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865.
The project seeks to amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans.
Connection / Family History / Race & Ethnicity
Classes
Introducing the 10 Million Names Project
There are at least 44 million descendants of enslaved individuals alive today, but slavery separated families, erased names, and obscured facts. The 10 Million Names Project, recently launched by American Ancestors and its partners, aims to connect the family stories of these descendants to the 10 million men, women, and children of African descents who were enslaved in the U.S. prior to emancipation and to restore their names to history. Join Chief Historian Dr. Kendra Field and Vice President of Research and Library Services Lindsay Fulton as they share the scope of this project, the objectives, and our methodology.
Introducing the GU272
In 1838, Georgetown University sold 272 enslaved men, women, and children to plantations in Louisiana. Thousands of descendants are alive today. American Ancestors has partnered with the GU272 Memory Project, which seeks to document the stories, family history, and legacy of these individuals and their descendants. Join American Ancestors expert, Meaghan Siekman to learn about GU272 genealogical research and our new website that features a searchable database, oral histories of descendants, and research tools for the GU272 descendants and their families.
Researching Enslaved Ancestors
Breaking through the 1870 brick wall to discover more about ancestors prior to the end of slavery can prove challenging. Changing surnames, families ripped apart, and identifying the former enslaver are just a few roadblocks when researching enslaved families. This session will dive deep into creating a research strategy and organizing the records uncovered. Genealogist Meaghan E. H. Siekman will also provide tips for making sense of all the information unearthed in the search and constructing a proof argument when records are limited. Best suited for those with intermediate-advanced genealogical skills.
Researching Black Patriots and Loyalists During the Revolutionary Era
The American War of Independence was not only a fight for freedom from a tyrannical world superpower. For the thousands of Black soldiers who fought for the patriot cause, and even more—tens of thousands—for the Loyalists, emancipation was on the line. In this online lecture, Researcher Danielle Rose will provide a brief history of Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War and their motivations for joining either side; and discuss several resources, records, and strategies for piecing together the service and stories of individuals.