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Genealogy: African American Research

Genealogy resources.

Books

African American Records Collections

Resources for African American Genealogy

Available through the East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Port of New Orleans Inbound Slave ManifestsThese records are arranged by year of arrival, and first names of slaves are often given.  They are not indexed.

 Selected Antebellum and Postbellum Plantation Records, Louisiana:  Includes some plantation records from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky.  These microfilm records are not indexed, although finding aids are available to assist your research.

 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules of the U. S. CensusNames of slave owners are given in these records, along with the gender and ages of their slaves.  The names of the slaves are not given.  They are arranged by State and County or Parish.  A few indexes exist in book form or on the Internet. 

 Various Records from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned LandIncludes Registers of Signatures of Depositions in Branches of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company, 1865-1874; Indexes to Deposit Ledgers in Branches of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Co., Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the States of Mississippi and Louisiana's Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869; Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Louisiana, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1864-1869.  These records are not indexed.

 U. S. Census Records for 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940A wealth of information about each individual in the household may be found in these census records, including names, ages, state or country of birth, and occupations.   Although censuses are not arranged alphabetically by name, we have indexes with which you can locate records.

 World War I Draft Registration Cards, Louisiana:  Between the years 1917 and 1918, all males aged 18-45 were required to register.  These forms are arranged alphabetically by name within the parish where the individual registered.

Websites for African American Research

Class Presentation on Resources for African American Genealogy

Ancestry Databases (Links only work in-library)

Laws Impacting Louisiana's 19th Century People of Color