The State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library

Madison, Wisconsin

• Guidelines for researching ethnic family histories.
1. Go from present to past. Lack of records before 1865 makes it essential that you go back in time. You may find that your most valuable information comes from a family member alive today or a diary hiding in your family archives. Check home sources first!
2. Organize as you research. Use family group forms and pedigree charts. This will allow you to make the most of the time you spend in records repositories. Again, because of the lack of records that were kept on ethnic groups, you will need all of the time and concentration that you can create to answer very difficult questions. Document everything that you find. You may need to look at records over and over again for small hints to history.
3. Consider indifference, bias. and omission of record keeping when doing research on ethnic genealogies. Study the racial elements of the community. You may have to find alternative ways to locate your ancestors. An example of this is found in pre-1865 America. Names of slaves were not written in censuses but can sometimes be found in slave owners probate records (wills, etc.).
• Federal Censuses: We own all censuses that have been released to the public.
1. 1870-1920 enumerated all African-Americans.
2. 1790-1860 enumerated free blacks. Slaves were tallied by sex and age under the name of the slave owner.
3. Do a complete census check on your ancestors before going further. They can give you more information than you might realize at first glance.
• Post-1865.
• Check the usual genealogical sources. Vital records, church and cemetery records, probate, tax records, land records, family histories, passenger lists, state censuses, county⁄state⁄town histories, newspapers (obits, etc.), PERSI for articles on the family or location, military records, etc... Pre-1908 Wisconsin vital records are found in the Microforms Room. Check the subject catalog for other collections.
• Pre-1865.
1. There are few written records (accounts) because of illiteracy and few artifacts because of mobility, inability to get property and priority of needs.
2. Names changed. New names were given to slaves by owners. African-Americans chose their names at emancipation but may have gone under many names before that point. Land⁄property records and diaries of the slave owners are vital in finding an ancestor who may have gone under many names or was sold many times.
3. Laws did not recognize slave marriages. Births and deaths were not recorded by anyone except the slave owner and this was not guaranteed. Again, the records of the slave owner are very vital in your search.
4. Port of entry. Maryland and Virginia were major ports of entry for slave ships. The Caribbean Islands were used as "seasoning grounds". Slave ships arrived at every port at different points in history. All ports must be considered. You may have to research the history of the different ports and the slave trade as a whole.
• For more specifics, read the books listed below.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN GENEALOGY BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Black Genesis. Rose, James and Eichholz, Alice. CS 21 R57.
• Black Genealogy. Blockson, Charles L. CS 21 B55.
• The Beginner's Guide To Black Genealogy. Smith, Rose and Della.Pam 78-2361.
• Beginning An Afro-American Genealogical Pursuit. Scott, Jean Sampson. Pam 86-3473
• Family History "Starter Kit". Tarharka Publishing Company. Pam 76-2097.
• Journal Of The Afro American Historical And Genealogical Society. Vol. 1-8 (Summer, 1980-present). E 185.96 A46 v.1-8. Ask at Circulation Desk for current issues.
• Afro-American Family History At The Newberry Library. Thackery, David T. Pam 89-4232.
• Researching Black Families At The Maryland Hall Of Records. Jacobsen, Phebe R. Pam 87-3458.
• Black America Retraces A Proud Heritage. New York Black Librarians Caucus - Bicentennial Genealogy And Oral History Institute. Pam 85-1048 and Pam 85-1048 1980.
• Black Society. Major, Gerri. E 185.96 M22.
• Black Courage 1775-1783 Documentation of Black Participation in the American Revolution. Greene, Robert Ewell. Pam 86-2088.
• Somerset Homecoming. Redford, Dorothy Spruill. E 185.96 R42 1988.
• The Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society. Pam 90-2376. Ask at circulation for current issues.
• Rootsearching. Childs, Marleta. Pam 81-1426 v. 1-2.
• Slave Genealogy: A Research Guide With Case Studies. Streets, David H. Pam 86-4348.
• Black Family Tree "Slavery to 1984". Harris, Milton Stephen. Pam 87-168.
• Black Studies-A Select Catalog. National Archives. Microforms Room.
• Generations Past, A Selected List of Sources.. Compiled by Sandra M. Lawson Government Publications LC 1. 12⁄2: Af8⁄4.
• The Source. (ed.) Eakle, Arlene and Cherny, Johni (pp.578-595).Microforms and Reference.