African American Family History

The stories that live in you live here.

Your ancestors’ journeys are part of history—and part of you. But even if their paths were difficult, retracing them doesn’t have to be. Explore your family’s story
in our African American record collections.
Find new details in our latest additions and
get expert advice for learning more
than you ever thought possible. And look below for help in getting started with
your search and support along the way.

What you can learn

Watch our experts explain African American family history.

Feb 11, 2013

Scroll to see details you can uncover in selected
records from our African American collections.

U.S. Federal Census Collection

Household information gathered every 10 years… Find out more
U.S. Census Slave Schedules

Tally of the numbers of slaves owned by an individual…
Find out more
Mortality Schedules

Special census schedules that collected details about deaths…
Find out more
Military Records

U.S. Colored Troops service records cover approximately 175 regiments… Find out more
Freedman’s Bank Records, 1865-1871

Records from the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company,…
Find out more
State and Other Local Collections

Smaller, unique historical record collections… Find out more
California, African American Who’s Who, 1948

Includes short biographical sketches and memorials… Find out more
U.S., Interviews with Former Slaves, 1936-1938

More than 2,300 personal stories and photographs… Find out more

Find more Ancestry.com videos about African American research

Search

Name
First & Middle Name(s)
Last Name
Event
Birth
Year
Location
Military
Year
Location
Any Event
Year
Location
Keyword
Get Better Matches
×
Look for word matches in books, stories and newspapers, etc.
Use quotation marks around a set of keywords to search for that exact phrase
e.g. pilot or "Flying Tigers"
Gender
Name
First & Middle Name(s)
Last Name
Event
Birth
Year
Location
Military
Year
Location
Any Event
Year
Location
Keyword
Get Better Matches
×
Look for word matches in books, stories and newspapers, etc.
Use quotation marks around a set of keywords to search for that exact phrase
e.g. pilot or "Flying Tigers"
Gender

Featured Collections:

Success stories: A lesson in history.

Learn how one woman discovered her ancestor’s journey from slavery to teacher.

Read Elon’s story

Wondering where to
go next?

Download our free research guide

Share this page:

U.S. Federal Census Collection
- 1
  
  Former slaves may have remained in the same county after emancipation. Look for white property holders of the same last name in the county – they may have been the slave’s owner.
- 2
  
  Property owned by former slaves in 1870 may have been after emancipation, or the land may have been willed or given to them by a former owner. Search for land records in the county to learn more.
- 3
  
  “Color” can help piece together heritage. A person labeled “M” would have likely had mixed-race parents; it’s possible he or she was the child or grandchild of a slave owner.
- 4
  
  A former slave living in Georgia in 1870 but born in South Carolina may have been deeded to someone while still a slave. If so, property records of the transaction may exist in the county.
- 5
  
  Children under 5 in the 1870 census would have been born free; children over 5 may have been born into slavery.
What it is:

Household information gathered every 10 years by the U.S. government. All available U.S. federal censuses from 1790 through 1940 are searchable and viewable on Ancestry.com.

What you’ll find:

Details vary by census year but may include names of household residents, ages, occupations, home addresses, birthplaces, education, military service and marital status, although early censuses (1790–1840) offer fewer details. Look for all African Americans to be listed by name beginning with the 1870 Census—the first after emancipation. Previous censuses will include names of free African Americans, although censuses from 1840 and earlier list only heads of household by name. Households containing enslaved individuals will not include the names of the enslaved.

Going further:

Look for key clues in the most recent census available for a person, including names, ages, addresses and occupations, and use the information to search the previous census. For extra help on research prior to 1870, watch our free online class Making a Breakthrough in Your African American Research.

Tip:

Branch out. Use details you find in the census to help you uncover more about a person in other records including military and vital (birth, marriage, death) records plus yearbooks, city directories and church and local histories. See Follow Your Family Using Census Records to learn more.
U.S. Census Slave Schedules
- 1
  
  If an emancipated slave adopted his or her former owner’s surname, you may be able to determine the owner by looking at the surname of the white slaveholders in the same county.
- 2
  
  Slaves may have been hired out. In some cases, both owner and employer are listed.
- 3
  
  If an estate is mentioned, look for probate records that may include more details about slaves.
- 4
  
  Slave schedules also list the slaves that were serving prison time in the penitentiary.
What it is:

Tally of the number of slaves owned by an individual in 1850 and 1860. Prior to 1850, slaves were tallied on the census form itself.

What you’ll find:

Names of slave owners plus age, gender and color of each slave owned. Typically slaves were not named (there are exceptions). Also noted are the number of fugitive slaves, the number of slaves manumitted and whether a slave was deaf, dumb, blind, insane or idiotic.

Going further:

Since enslaved individuals were not listed by name in the census or on slave schedules, search instead for the possible slave owner. Upon emancipation, a slave adopted a surname, sometimes that of their former owner, which can be a clue to finding the owner in an earlier slave census. Compare a specific owner’s tallies in 1850 and 1860 (and earlier censuses which included slave information on the census form itself) and compare the number of slaves owned by age range/gender. Aside from the 10-year difference in slaves’ ages, changes to the number of slaves owned in the appropriate category could be a clue to look for property transfers in deeds, probates and court records, and mortality schedules and other paperwork.

Tip:

Slaves were considered property. If a slave was bought, sold, or inherited, a record of the transfer should exist, although possibly only within another document, like a probate or a deed. Look for documents associated with the slave owner in his or her county of residence.
Mortality Schedules
- 1
  
  Place of birth outside the state you’re researching may indicate a property record trail for an enslaved person.
- 2
  
  Slaves are listed by name but usually without a surname.
- 3
  
  When you find a slave enumerated on a mortality schedule, look at the surnames of the people listed before and after him. Then check the traditional census form (population schedules) and slave schedules to see which of those households plus any households enumerated between them held slaves to get a list of possible slave owners.
- 4
  
  The proximity of the slave child Henry Barnes to free Adriana Barnes could indicate a connection.
What it is:

Special census schedules that collected details about deaths in a household in the 365 days preceding certain U.S. federal censuses (1850-80 and the 1885 special census). While enslaved Americans were not listed on traditional population census forms, they were listed by name on mortality schedules.

What you’ll find:

Details vary by year and may include name, age, gender, color, marital status, place of birth, month of death, occupation, length of illness and cause of death. Mortality schedules for 1850 and 1860 indicate whether the deceased was free or enslaved.

Going further:

Enslaved individuals are listed by name on mortality schedules, but often only as a first name. However, entries on mortality schedules follow the order in which households were visited by the census taker, which can be a valuable clue to a deceased slave’s former owner. Look at the names of free individuals who are listed before and after a slave and locate their households on the main census form (population schedule). Then check for owned property/estate value to determine which of their households and the households between them may have owned slaves. Use this information to search for possible slave owners on the slave schedule.

Tip:

Look for surnames of owners. On occasion, these will be listed with the slave’s first name. The owner’s surname may be the name the deceased slave’s family adopted after emancipation.
Military Records
- 1
  
  Note rank, military unit, and date and place of enlistment – these can help you determine if you’re following the right person.
- 2
  
  Compare birthplace, age, and occupation to census records.
- 3
  
  Physical descriptions can be rare but are included in certain service records.
- 4
  
  Remarks may be very revealing: here, Lewis Windsor’s former owner’s name is included, which may lead to pre-emancipation answers in census and property records.
What it is:

U.S. Colored Troops service records cover approximately 175 regiments consisting of 178,000 African American troops who served the Union in the final two years of the Civil War. Buffalo Soldiers Returns trace the steps of the first-ever African American peacetime troops.

What you’ll find:

Service records may include name, age, birthplace, physical description, occupation, company and regiment the soldier served in, rank and enlistment date, term and location. Buffalo Soldiers Returns are monthly reports that include the number of men absent, present and on special duty as well as the names of officers and some enlisted men. Look for details regarding a soldier’s absence, including deaths and desertions, too.

Going further:

Use service record details to see if the soldier or his surviving spouse filed for a pension in the Civil War Pension Index. Then search Fold3.com to see if a digitized version of the pension file is available or order the original pension file from the National Archives. Buffalo Soldiers Returns can be used to make a timeline of a soldier’s service. Soldiers may have also served in the Spanish-American War or Indian Wars.

Tip:

Check regiments and locations on military records to help you follow the same soldier throughout military service. If the regiment changes, dig further to see if a record indicates the soldier was moved.
Freedman’s Bank Records, 1865–1871
- 1
  
  Use date of the application as a reference point for a timeline: all information/events on this record happened prior to the date.
- 2
  
  Names of former masters and residences, which will help with research in the 1860 census and property records.
- 3
  
  Physical description
- 4
  
  Husband’s name.
- 5
  
  Names of children and ages are given. Note that Wood could be Susan’s married name.
- 6
  
  Check to see if place of birth is the same as residence of the former owner. If not, there may be property records indicating a transfer or sale.
- 7
  
  Look for names of parents and siblings and whether or not they’re still living.
- 8
  
  This record mentions the 2nd African Baptist Church. Research online to determine if the church still exists or where to inquire about church records.
- 9
  
  Her mark tells us that like many African Americans in this era, Mary could not write her name.
What it is:

Records from the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company, a financial institution created for former slaves and their dependents.

What you’ll find:

Details vary and may include names, physical description, place of birth, residences, occupation, employer and possibly the name of a former slave owner or plantation.

Going further:

Use details to uncover additional records. Research family members in census records, and use occupation and residence information to follow the trail forward through history. Search for more details in the 1860 U.S. Federal Census and property records. If the record includes the name of an owner or details about a plantation, search for more information in the 1860 Census and county records.

Tip:

Research everyone. You may discover more details about your own ancestors through records associated with one of their children or siblings.
State and Other Local Collections
- 1
  
  Select “Search All Records” to locate records from a specific state
- 2
  
  Select the state you’re interested in from the map at the bottom of the Search page.
- 3
  
  From the list of all collections for a state, select the collection you’re interested in so you can search it directly and learn quickly if it contains records about your family.
- 4
  
  Narrow your selection more by selecting a county. Note, however, that only collections from that county – not state collections that contain information about that county – will be included in the list.
What it is:

Smaller, unique historical record collections limited to either a single state or other small area.

What you’ll find:

Slave emancipation records from Washington, D.C., Louisiana freed-slave records, and Wilkinson County, Mississippi, newspaper slave ads each offer one-of-a-kind details and information you may not discover anywhere else. To learn what’s available from the state where your ancestors lived, select the Search tab and scroll down to the map on the bottom of the page. Then select the state you’re researching for a list of all state-specific records.

Going further:

Local historical societies and libraries may house additional record collections that can help. Search the Internet for contact information.

Tip:

Try searching in just one collection at a time. Go directly to a collection by choosing it from the list of all collections associated with a state.
California, African American Who’s Who, 1948
- 1
  
  Names and details about parents provide clues to a previous generation – and more records.
- 2
  
  Note education – and search for a yearbook on Ancestry.com. Contact the school’s library for additional class information.
- 3
  
  If a birth year is included, search for the person in the first census following that year and each available census thereafter.
- 4
  
  Create or add to a timeline of events using the details in the listing for a clearer view of a person’s life and to help you determine where gaps exist in your research.
What it is:

Short biographical sketches and memorials of notable African Americans in California in the 1940s.

What you’ll find:

Details may include name, birth date, birthplace, spouse’s name, marriage date and place, children’s names, parents’ names, occupation, places of residence and more.

Going further:

Use residence and other details to help you search for other time-period records including the 1940 Census, city directories, yearbooks and draft registration cards. Use details in those records to learn more about the person and his or her family.

Tip:

Create a simple timeline showing when and where a person was born, went to school, held a job, got married, had children and appeared in census records. Then keep that timeline handy and add to it whenever you find more information. It can help you determine if you’re looking at a record for the right person.
U.S., Interviews with Former Slaves, 1936-1938
- 1
  
  Search both the 1940 and 1930 U.S. Federal Censuses to learn more about the former slave.
- 2
  
  Select the image to read the interview transcript, where you’ll learn more about the former slave, including information that will help you uncover additional records.
- 3
  
  Search for records associated with siblings and parents: your ancestor may be mentioned.
- 4
  
  Details vary from interview to interview but may provide clues, like a former owner’s name, that can lead to pre-emancipation details.
What it is:

More than 2,300 personal stories and photographs of formerly enslaved individuals collected in the 1930s by the Federal Writers' Project.

What you’ll find:

The contents vary from interview to interview, but most include the name of the interviewees, birthplace, approximate age, interview location and perhaps photographs. Sometimes information is given on parents, siblings, former owners, life as a slave and the Civil War.

Going further:

Read narratives of people who lived near your ancestor to discover more about life in the area and during slavery—even if those people aren’t related to you.

Tip:

First-person accounts can vary greatly and so can people’s memories. Read numerous accounts to get a better idea of what conditions may have been like for your own ancestor.