African American families were displaced during slavery. This lecture can provide help in locating records. A link and handout for the program will be emailed to attendees one day before the program.
In the wake of Emancipation, African Americans from all of over the country desperately searched for their missing family members, using such resources as the Freedmen’s Bureau and newspapers. Between 1865 and 1872, the Freedmen’s Bureau worked to reunite families by writing letters and inquiring within distant communities. Between 1863-1910, newspapers ran ads and even had specialized columns for former slaves searching for family.
These sources are rich in genealogical detail. They poignantly describe biographical information of the missing relative and applicant, reveal name aliases, offer distinguishing clues such as where and when the relative was last seen, provide a history of slave ownership and identify migration patterns.
This program is available in a Zoom webinar format. A link and handout for the program will be emailed to attendees one day before the program, with a second reminder and handout sent an hour before the event.
TAGS: | Genealogy/History/Culture |
AGE GROUPS: | Adults |