".'^7,-e....." DOCUMENT RESUME ED 326 461 SO 030 060 AUTHOR Lawson, Sandra M., Comp. TITLE Generations Past: A Selected List of Sources for Afro-American Genealogical Research. INSTITUTION Library of Congress, Washington, DC. General Read:ng Rooms Div. REPORT NO ISBN-0-8444-0604-X PUB DATE 88 NOTE 108p. AVAILABLE FROMSuperintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. PUB TYPE Reference Materials - Bi))liographies (131) EDRS PRICE 11F01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *African History; Annotated Bibliographies; *Black History; *Blacks; *Black Studies; *Genealogy; Higher Education; Secondary Education IDENTIFIERS *Afro American Genealogy ABSTRACT Genealogy is the study of the descent of a family from an ancestor or ancestors. This selected list of books in the collections of the Library of Congress was compiled primarily for -esearchers of Afro-American lineages. The bibliography includes guidebooks, bibliographies, genealogies, collective biographies, U.S. local histories, directories, and other works pertaining specifically to Afro-Americans. The sources are listed geographically with citations to histories of Afro-Americans in U.S. cities, towns, counties, and states. Printed family histories and genealogies are major sources for this research, and 56 references by specific family names are included. (NL) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. GENERATIONS PAST c.'lectc(1 bst I)/ Noloco .1(n. Afro-Amok-an (.;olcalo,twal Roca)ch U S OEPARMENT OF EOUCATION 7-, ar ve,1 ES INFORMATION FF. NtiAni( tAer as vgan.Z.1110P 4 A olprove gt tv we^ ev. ,OS s' at +d tp,SOCCLI nel essarav ,ep sent)11,0a1 Of r ''';s*-V Cr; t GENERATIONS PAST A Selected List of Sources for Afro-American Geneah)gical Research Compiled by Sandra M. Lawson General Reading Roonb Divisuni ompeN, Wa,11ington 1988 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lawson, Sandra M Generations past Includes Index Supt of Docs no . LC 1.64 G28 1 Afro-AmericansGenealogyBibliography 1 Title Z1361.N39L341988 016 929 1 08996073 88-600100 1E185.961 ISBN 0-8444-0604-X Cover: The Bible Student Pencil drawing by John Nelson (Cultural Associates, Suit land, Md., used with permission) For sale by tne Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 4 Contents Introduction 1 Guides to Genealogical Research 3 Family Histories and Genealogies 5 Information Sources by State 20 Alabama 20 Arizona 21 Arkansas 21 California 21 Colorado 23 Connecticut 23 Delaware 24 District of Columbia 24 Floi ida 26 Georgia 26 Hawaii 29 Illinois 29 Indiana 30 Iowa 31 Kansas 31 Kentucky 31 Louisiana 33 Maine 34 Maryland 34 Massachusetts 36 Michigan 37 Minnesota 38 Mississippi 39 Missouri 40 Montana 41 Nebraska 41 Nevada 42 New Hampshire 42 New Jersey 42 New Mexico 44 New York 44 North Carolina 45 North Dakota 46 Ohio 47 Oklahoma 49 Oregon 50 Pennsylvania 50 Rhode Island 53 5 South Carolina 53 South Dakota 56 Tennessee 57 Texa', 57 Utah 60 Vermont 60 Virginia 61 Washington 64 West Virginia 65 Wisconsin 65 Genealogical Periodicals 66 Collective Biographies, Directories, Lists 67 Biographical Indexes 75 Bibliographies 76 Catalogs and Guides to Major Afro-AmericanCollections 78 Newspaper Resources 80 Genealogical Organizations (Names andaddresses) 81 Author and Title Index 82 Introduction a nealogy is the study of the descent of a person or family from an ancestor or ancestors, and research in this fascinating field begins with a deshe to learn about one's origins. Interest in genealogical research among Afro-Americans has grown enormously in recent years. This fact is evidenced by the myriad of Afro-Americans who are actively researching their ancestry; the growing number of Afro-American family genealogies that are being published; the many Afro-American genealogical societies and interest groups that are forming; and the wide choice of workshops, conferences, and classroom lectures in Afro-American genealogy that are offered each year. Despite this obvious interest in Afro-American genealogy, there are i ery few bibliographies of published sources specifically on this topic, and those tend to be limited in scope. The purpose of Generations Past Is to fill the need for such a compilation. James Rose lists some pub- lished sources in Black Genesis, but his principal focus is on manuscript and other primary sources. Generations Past is a selected list of books in the collections of the Library of Congress compiled primarily for researchers of Afro- American lineages. Included in this bibliography are guidebooks, bibliographies, genealogies, collective biographies, United States local histories, directories, and other works pertaining specifically to Afro-Americans. Emphasis is on books that contain information about lesser-known individuals of the nineteeth century and earlier, although Afro-American business and city directories published through 1959 are listed. In general, the books selected contain genealogical information: names, dates, places, and often relationships. Other books provide historical or background information cc hich may help to guide the researcher to find the data elsewhere. Periodical articles are cited only when books on a subject are unavailable. Since this is not a comprehensive bibliography the researcher is ad- \ ised to look for other books by searching catalogs and indexes in libraries under subject headings that begin with AFRO-AMERICAN and AFRO-AMERICANS and/or NEGRO and NEGROES. In addi- tion, individual biographies, military histories, and books on other subjects such as slavery, historic events, professions and occupations, secret .organir.ibins, &Aetnal and benevolent societiesmd churches and other social and religious institutions often provide useful genea- logical information. More suggestions for research possibilities can be found throughout this bibliography. Many of the sources listed herein may be found in public li- braries. Researchers should seek help from their local librarian, if necessary. Generations Pastis intended tor both the beginning and the I pctik. nt cd ,c,enc..thy,t,tIt \\ s.onyilcd tUuiiunUi th1 btoad tangc rubh.hcd matt hal tot\ t I 0- \ milk an ,,;enealogi,aI i. i.it. h ,ind to a,,t,ti c,catt. hctin di,.ox ii ing their pa,t. IX 107ptimmmort-_ Acn ft/I ,,n four album. on w If c /1 iig \ t / lubit ,l,nentan looilhint, ond 111Mo0,411i,, Itk; + II i 1 ) t It., Guides to Genealogical Research Genealogical handhooks, guides, and manuals serve several purposes and can prove t( be invaluable resources to most researchers, regard- less of their !eve. of experience. In general, these books acquaint the researcher with the methodology of genealogical research by address- ing the fundamental procedures; describe the different types of records that provide genealogical information and tell where those records may be found; provide information about major genealogical collections; and suggest sources that are often overlooked. Equipped with this essential information, researchers can make optimum use of their time and may well better their chances for fruitful results. Most of the books listed in this section deal exclusively with Afro- American geneaiogical research. However, those researching Afro- American families may find general guides to genealogical research to be extremely useful, as well. 1 Blockson, Charles L. Black genealogy ' Charles L. Blockson wi'h Ron Fry. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, c1977. 232 p.: facsims. CS21 .B55 Bibliography. p. 220-118 2 Childs, Marleta Rootsearchingby Marieta Childs Lubbock, Tex. : M. Childs, 11980- I. v. (1-2). E135.96 .C455 1980 3 Ethnic genealogy a research guide edited by Jessie Carney Smith ; foreword by Ale\ Haley. 1,Nestport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1983. \\ix, 440 p.: ill. C549 .E83 1983 Includes information on American Indian, Asian-American, and lispamc American genealogical research. 4 Rose, James. Black genesis James Rose', Alice Eichhoiz. Detroit : Gale Research Co., c1978 xiv, 326 p. (Gale genealogy and local his- tory series ; v 1) CS21 .R57 3 5 Scott, Jean Sampson. Beginning an Afro-American genealogical pursuit / Jean Sampson Scott. New York : Eppress Printers, c1985. 26, 11) p.:ill. E185.96 .S36 1985 Bibliography: p. 24-1271. 6 Smith, Gloria L. Black Amer; -, genealogy for beginners / by G. L. Smith. Tucson, Ariz. : G. L. Smith, e1979. 1411 leaves. E185.96 .S653 1979 Includes bibliographies. 7 Streets, David H. Slave genealogy : a research guide with case studies I by David H. Streets. Bowie, Md. : Heritage Books, 1986. iv, 87 p. E185.96 .S817 1986 Bibliography. p. 85-87. 8 Walker, James D. Black genealogy : how to begin by James D. Walker. Athens, Ca: University of Georgia, Center for Continuing Education, c1977 52 p :ill E185.96 .W29 1977 Bibliography: p. 50-52 9 Young, rommie M African-American genealogy. exploring and documenting the black family: by Tommie M. Young. Clarksville, Tenn. : Jostens ; Greensboro, N.0: Distributed by World Associates, 119801. viii, 70 p.:ill E185.96 .Y66 1980 Bibliography p. S4-67. I 9 4 Family Histories and Genealogies One of the bask apprsiaLhes to genealogical research is by family name, and printed fannly histories and genealogies are among the major a% enues to this approach. Published research can contain a great deal of genealogical data, often spanning several generations ot a line ot desLent. Nlany ot these printed i mks are found in libraries with genealogical collections. 1,\ hen looking for intormation in a library researLhers should first L beck to see if that libran has a history or genealogy of the family ot interest in order to a oid duplicating research that has already been doneI loi L.\ er, researchers should keep in mind that primary or original sourLe reLords should ali a% s be e \anmwd to erify the ac- curacy ot the printed work. The tolloi mg is a list ot printed ,Afro-American family histories and genealogies It is art singed by surname or family name. Included are some L ross-reterences indiLating that information about a particular tallith ma\ be tound in a i% ork listed under another surname.