Genealogy Resources
African American Genealogy Resources
A curated collection of organizations, guides, and tools to support your African American ancestral research.
African American genealogy is sacred, rigorous work. Whether you are just beginning to trace your family history or preparing lineage documentation for a society application, the resources below are trusted starting points — from federal archives and scholarly institutions to community-built databases and DNA tools. As DHF grows, we will continue to expand this library and develop our own research support for members and applicants.
🏛 Organizations & Archives
Organizations & Archives
Institutions and societies dedicated to preserving and sharing African American history and genealogy.
Alex Breanne Corporation
Nonprofit dedicated to preserving African American history and honoring ancestors through research, storytelling, and community engagement.
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS)
National society devoted to the preservation of African-ancestored family history, genealogy, and cultural diversity.
National Archives — African American Records
Federal records including USCT service files, Freedmen's Bureau records, slave manifests, and pension files.
Library of Congress — African American Heritage
Digital collections, manuscripts, and historical newspapers documenting Black life in America.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
One of the world's leading research libraries devoted to the history of the African diaspora.
International African American Museum — Center for Family History
Charleston-based research center focused on tracing African American families and their stories.
📚 Guides & Learning
Guides & Learning
Beginner-friendly walkthroughs and scholarly guides to help you start — or strengthen — your research.
FamilySearch Wiki — African American Genealogy
Comprehensive, free wiki covering record types, research strategies, and pre- and post-1870 research.
NARA — Beginning Your African American Research
Step-by-step beginner's guide from the National Archives to launch your family history search.
BlackProGen LIVE
YouTube series featuring professional genealogists discussing African ancestored research methods and challenges.
Lowcountry Africana
Free site dedicated to African American genealogy in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Slave Voyages
Searchable database of trans-Atlantic and intra-American slave trade records, voyages, and African names.
🔎 Research Tools & Databases
Research Tools & Databases
Search engines, record databases, and DNA tools that genealogists rely on most.
FamilySearch
Massive free genealogy database with global records, family trees, and digitized documents.
Ancestry.com
Subscription database with extensive U.S. census, military, and vital records, plus DNA testing.
Freedmen's Bureau Search Portal
Free, fully indexed search of Freedmen's Bureau records — essential for post-Civil War African American research.
Fold3 — Military Records
Detailed military records including USCT (United States Colored Troops) service and pension files.
Chronicling America — Historic Newspapers
Library of Congress archive of digitized historic American newspapers — great for obituaries and local history.
AfriGeneas
Long-standing community resource with surname databases, message boards, and research guides.
23andMe / AncestryDNA
Consumer DNA testing services that can help confirm relationships and reveal ethnic origins.
Have a resource to share?
Help us grow this library.
If you know of an organization, guide, or tool that has supported your research, we'd love to consider adding it to this page.