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.
Featured Works by DHF Board Members
Scholarship from Our Board of Directors
Scholarship is central to the mission of Descendants of Heritage and Freedom. We are honored to have distinguished historians and researchers serving on our Board of Directors whose published works contribute to the understanding and preservation of African American history, genealogy, military service, and cultural heritage.
The Narrative of Primus: A Lineage Woven into American History
John Mills
An extraordinary historical narrative that follows the life of Primus, a young African boy taken during the transatlantic slave trade who survived enslavement in colonial Connecticut. Drawing upon extensive historical research and rarely cited primary sources, the book restores Primus's voice and traces the remarkable legacy of one family across generations of American history.
Black Indians and Freedmen: The African Methodist Episcopal Church and Indigenous Americans, 1816–1916
Dr. Christina Dickerson-Cousin
Seminal scholarly study examining the relationship between the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Indigenous communities during the nineteenth century. Through extensive archival research, Dr. Dickerson-Cousin explores the experiences of Black Indians, Freedmen, and the AME Church's role in the evolving history of race, religion, and identity in America.
Recommended Reading
A Digital Library
These books and research resources are provided for education, genealogy, and historical preservation — spanning Black Revolutionary War soldiers, Black Loyalists, the United States Colored Troops, and African American military history. Use the filters below to explore by subject.
Revolutionary War: Black Patriots
Black Patriots and Loyalists: Fighting for Emancipation in the War for Independence
Alan Gilbert
A scholarly work examining African Americans who fought for both the Patriot and British causes during the Revolutionary War, with a strong focus on freedom, emancipation, and military service.
Learn MoreRevolutionary War: Black Patriots
The Black Heroes of the American Revolution
Burke Davis
An accessible introduction to Black Patriots of the American Revolution, including figures such as Crispus Attucks, Peter Salem, Salem Poor, and James Armistead Lafayette.
Learn MoreRevolutionary War: Black Patriots
African Americans in the Revolutionary War
Michael L. Lanning
A clear overview of African American military service during the Revolutionary War and the role Black soldiers played in the struggle for independence.
Learn MoreRevolutionary War: Black Loyalists
Black Loyalists: Southern Settlers of Nova Scotia's First Free Black Communities
Ruth Holmes Whitehead
A key work on Black Loyalists who accepted Britain's promise of freedom and later helped form free Black communities in Nova Scotia.
Learn MoreRevolutionary War: Black Loyalists
From Slavery to Freetown: Black Loyalists After the American Revolution
Mary Louise Clifford
Traces the journey of Black Loyalists from the American colonies to Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone after the Revolutionary War.
Learn MoreRevolutionary War: Black Loyalists
The Black Loyalist Directory
A valuable genealogical and historical reference documenting Black Loyalists evacuated by the British after the Revolutionary War.
Learn MoreRevolutionary War: Black Loyalists
Rough Crossings
Simon Schama
A narrative history following Black Loyalists from the American Revolution to Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone.
Learn MoreRevolutionary War: Both Sides
Don Troiani's Black Soldiers in America's Wars: 1754–1865
John U. Rees and Don Troiani
An illustrated military history highlighting Black soldiers from the French and Indian War through the Civil War.
Learn MoreRevolutionary War: Both Sides
The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution
William C. Nell
One of the earliest works devoted to Black Patriots of the American Revolution and an important historical source for African American Revolutionary War service.
Learn MoreCivil War: United States Colored Troops
Like Men of War: Black Troops in the Civil War, 1862–1865
Noah Andre Trudeau
A major history of Black troops in the Civil War, covering the organization, service, combat experience, and sacrifices of the United States Colored Troops.
Learn MoreCivil War: United States Colored Troops
Forged in Battle: The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldiers and White Officers
Joseph T. Glatthaar
A detailed study of the United States Colored Troops, their officers, recruitment, and battlefield service.
Learn MoreCivil War: United States Colored Troops
After the Glory: The Struggles of Black Civil War Veterans
Donald R. Shaffer
Explores the postwar experiences of Black Civil War veterans, including pensions, recognition, and the struggle for full citizenship.
Learn MoreCivil War: United States Colored Troops
Campfires of Freedom: The Camp Life of Black Soldiers During the Civil War
Keith P. Wilson
Focuses on the daily lives, culture, military service, and experiences of Black soldiers in Union camps.
Learn MoreCivil War: United States Colored Troops
Voices from the Past: 104th Infantry Regiment, USCT
A genealogical and military history resource centered on the 104th Infantry Regiment of the United States Colored Troops.
Learn MoreCivil War: United States Colored Troops
A History of the Negro Troops in the War of the Rebellion, 1861–1865
George Washington Williams
A foundational 19th-century history of Black Civil War soldiers written by a pioneering African American historian and veteran.
Learn MoreFree Research Resources
Forgotten Patriots
A free research guide identifying African American and American Indian participants in the Revolutionary War, useful for lineage and genealogy research.
Learn MoreFree Research Resources
The Book of Negroes
The 1783 register documenting Black Loyalists evacuated by the British after the Revolutionary War; an important source for Black Loyalist research.
Learn MoreDescendants of Heritage and Freedom™ provides these resources for educational, genealogical, and historical preservation purposes only. DHF does not sell books or endorse any specific retailer, author, or publisher.
Historical Collections
Living Historical Archives
Beyond books and databases, DHF maintains growing archives that honor the people behind our shared history. These collections expand over time as new research and stories are added.
Honor Roll
In Tribute to Every Soldier of Color
The African American patriots of the Revolutionary War and the soldiers of the United States Colored Troops.
Women of Heritage & Freedom
The Women Who Stood Beside Freedom
A living archive honoring the African American women whose courage and service sustained the fight for liberty.
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.