African American Resources Available

African Americans are often frustrated at the difficulty they experience trying to trace their genealogy or learn their family history because there have been few available research resources and references. Happily, that sad fact is changing.

Workshops sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Society on teaching African American research, reported that all genealogists use the same methods to begin their family search, regardless of ethnicity:

1. Talk to family members.

2. Write for certificates.

3. Access state and federal records.

Specific techniques to conduct African American research are the same techniques needed for Norwegian research or Colonial Georgia research. Each area has its own particulars.

Anyone wanting to do effective genealogy must master the discipline involved. Sure, some types of research are more difficult than others, but the bottom line is all genealogists can find some or all of their ancestors if they work diligently enough.

African Americans wanting to trace their genealogy should read a general beginner’s book or take a beginner’s genealogy class.

(Community Colleges of Spokane and Institute for Extended Learning will again offer genealogy classes next September.)

Beginning principles apply to all wannabe genealogists, regardless of color.

Another tip is to visit the Genealogy Section of the downtown Spokane Public Library. While there, look up “African American Genealogical Sourcebook,” edited by Paula K. Byers, published in 1995 by Gale Research, Inc.

This book begins by outlining “Things You Need To Know,” and continues with “Basic Genealogical Research Methods and Their Application to African Americans.”

The book’s final section is “Records Specific to African Americans,” edited by Tony Burroughs, a nationally known African American author and lecturer.

AAGRI - African American Genealogical Research Institute - is a library, archives and repository dedicated to African American genealogy. The institute offers searches of a dozen databases, a file card surname exchange service (putting cousins in touch with one another) and a five-generation chart collection.

One unique database of AAGRI is its Funeral Program Collection. Lori Husband, founder and executive director, said Volume I has 4,000-plus African American funeral programs, collected from across the nation. The funeral programs continued in Volume II are fast approaching the 1,000 mark.

Contact AAGRI at P.O. Box 637, Matteson, IL 60443-6370.

Another group of interest to African American genealogy is the International Society of Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry. Membership into the ISDSA is open to anyone who can prove slave ancestry without regard to sex, race, color, creed or national origin.

Contact the group at P.O. Box 436937, Chicago, IL 60643-6937

If there’s enough interest, I would be happy to create a special class that would continue from where the beginners’ books end, and teach the specifics of the more specialized, in-depth African American research. Write me at the address below if you’d be interested in such a class.