Researching Enslaved Ancestors Before 1870
How to work past the 1870 census, identify a likely enslaver, and find enslaved people named in probate, tax, Freedmen's Bureau and military records.
African American Research
Strategies and records for tracing African American families, including before 1870.
The "Cherokee Princess" and Other Family Legends: How to Test a Family Story
Royal ancestors, three brothers who came over, a famous relative, a Native American great-grandmother. How to respectfully test family legends, and what the records usually show.
Find the records
Websites and archives for this topic are in our Resource Directory under Heritage-Specific Research.
Other topics
Getting Started 21Census Records 16Birth, Marriage & Death Records 15Church Records 12Cemeteries & Burials 2Newspapers & Obituaries 3Land & Property Records 7Wills, Probate & Court Records 13Tax Records 3Military Records 5Immigration & Naturalization 12DNA & Genetic Genealogy 9Libraries & Archives 8Research in the Old Country 10African American Research 2Research Methods & Evidence 31Brick Walls 11Organizing Your Research 7Online Sites & Family Trees 11