African-American genealogy online

To commemorate Black History Month, genealogists have just released the world’s largest collection of African-American family history records. The online, searchable collection, which consists of more than 55 million documents, have helped some trace their ancestors and, in at least one case, their ancestors' owners.

The records include U.S. Colored Troops service records, marriage records, World War I draft cards, slave narratives from 3,500 former slaves, photographs, Freedman’s Bank records documenting accounts held by slaves freed after the Civil War, Southern Claims Commission records and Freedmen’s Bureau records chronicling relief administered by the U.S. Department of War during the reconstruction period in 1865.

Full story at Discovery News. Note, however, that free access to the records is available this month only, and for only three days (after that you pay, though speaking personally, it's well worth the price). Click here for full details.

Posted by David on February 15, 2007 9:34 PM