African American genealogy research can begin with the people and records you already know. Family stories, census entries, death certificates, and local records can help you work backward, one generation at a time.
Research before emancipation can be difficult, but 1870 is a starting point for an earlier search, rather than an automatic stopping point. Free African Americans also appear in records from before the Civil War. The records available will depend on your family’s location and circumstances.
Getting Started With African American Genealogy Research
Begin with relatives whose identities you can establish. Ask family members about names, places, photographs, churches, and family papers. Record who supplied each story, and keep a copy of every document you use.
Look for death certificates that may name parents or birthplaces. Compare that information with census records, marriage records, and other evidence. A death certificate’s family details may have come from an informant who did not know every answer.
Follow the family through each available census. Search spelling variants, and compare ages, occupations, locations, and other household members. When a possible match appears, ask what connects that household to the person you already know.
Using the 1870 Census in African American Genealogy
The 1870 federal census is especially useful because it is the first federal population census after nationwide emancipation. It generally names formerly enslaved people alongside the rest of the population. Free African Americans can appear by name in earlier population schedules, so do not assume that every African American ancestor first appears in 1870.
Record the whole household and examine nearby entries. Relatives, neighbors, and associates may help you distinguish people with similar names or follow a family that moved. Keep the page and location details so you can return to the original image.
A shared surname with a nearby white household can suggest a question to investigate. It does not prove a relationship to an enslaver. Formerly enslaved people used surnames for many reasons, and a name may differ from that of the last enslaver. Compare several kinds of evidence before drawing that connection.
Using Slave Schedules and Old Newspaper Records
The 1850 and 1860 censuses included separate slave schedules. These usually name the enslaver and describe enslaved people by details such as age and sex, rather than naming each person. An apparent age match is a lead to investigate, not proof of identity.
Old newspaper records may contain sale notices, advertisements seeking people who escaped slavery, family reunion notices, and other references. Read them in context: their wording often reflects the perspective of the person who placed the notice.
Newspapers are one source among many. Search local court, probate, deed, church, and plantation collections where they survive. The National Archives’ guide to civilian records relating to slavery offers additional routes into federal records.
Explore Freedmen’s Bureau Records
The Freedmen’s Bureau records can help bridge slavery and Reconstruction. Depending on the place and record, you may find labor contracts, marriage information, complaints, school records, or efforts to reunite families. Search the office serving your ancestor’s location, and review its coverage and access instructions.
Compare Evidence and Keep Exploring
DNA may help identify relatives and suggest connections when used alongside documented family trees. A match or ethnicity estimate alone does not identify a particular ancestor. Consider consent and privacy before testing or sharing another person’s information.
As your African American genealogy research develops, you may find cousins working on the same family. Share sources as well as conclusions. A clear record of what you found, what it supports, and what remains uncertain will make the next step easier.
1870 African Americans Census Index (Free Lookups)
