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International African American Museum will open its doors to the public on Tuesday, June 27.

FAQs

Resource
Center

Welcome to the Center for Family History’s online information center. Here, you’ll find a trove of resources that can help you get started on your genealogy journey and streamline efforts already underway.

GENEALOGY
101

The world of genealogy contains countless stories that deserve to be shared. But it can be daunting for novices to navigate. Learn how to get started with the help of these tutorials.

Family and Home Information Sources Checklist

Center for Family History

Gather Records in Your Home or a Relative’s Home

Jun 19, 2020
Blog 132 Image 1

Center for Family History

Family History: Starting Easy

Jun 19, 2020
Blog 122 Image 1

Center for Family History

Louisiana, Orleans Parish, Birth Records, 1819–1906

Feb 25, 2020
Florida 1885 Census Handy Thompson

Center for Family History

Florida State Census, 1885

Feb 3, 2020
Detail From 1869 South Carolina State Census

Center for Family History

South Carolina, State and Territorial Censuses, 1753–1920

Feb 3, 2020
Foy Green in North Carolina Voter Registrations

Center for Family History

North Carolina, Voter Registration, 1868–1898

Feb 3, 2020
"Florida, County Voter Registration Records, 1867-1905", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WPZ7-WGN2 : 13 November 2019), Leon county, Box 1 Hernando & Leon counties 1867-1868, Leon county, Film # 008620845, Edward Stidum, image 395 of 753.

Center for Family History

US, Florida — Voter Registration Records, 1867–1905

Feb 3, 2020
Detail fromTexas Voter Registration Woodley Cook, Brazoria, TX 1867

Center for Family History

US, Texas–Voter Registration, 1867-1869

Feb 3, 2020
Beyond the Basics

When you’re ready to dig deeper, learn how to pinpoint the records you seek with greater precision and glean the most information from the documents you uncover.

Resources for Documenting the Atlantic Slave Trade in Charleston
Unidentified United States Colored Troops Soldier

Resources for Documenting United States Colored Troops Veterans
Beaufort County, SC Online Obituary Index: Singleton

African American Genealogy: Look up Obituaries at Beaufort County, South Carolina Library Online
One More Days Journey: The Story of a Family and a People

Revisiting One More Days Journey: The Story of a Family and a People

TIPS, TRICKS,
AND TERMINOLOGY

Recommendations on decoding common transcription errors, understanding legal and medical terminology often found in old documents, and simply reading old handwriting.

February 2022 Black History Month Flyer

Register for Four Free African American Genealogy Seminars in February!
Vance Family in 1870 U.S. Census

African American Genealogy: Finding Out a Little More About the Enslaver, Part 2
John Drayton 1900 Census

African American Genealogy: Will John Drayton of Charleston, SC Please Step Forward?
Charlotte Johnson Headstone

More Substitutes for Birth Records in South Carolina
Dock Arnold Death Notice

African American Genealogy: Substitute Records for Births in South Carolina
Marriage Announcement

African American Genealogy: How to Find the Maiden Name
Old Handwritten Documents Recolored

9 Tips for Reading Old Handwriting
Children in Leon or Jefferson County, FL

Timelines Keep Your Genealogy Research Moving Forward
FamilySearch Wiki Home Page

Has Your Genealogy Research Stalled? Check the FamilySearch Wiki for Fresh Ideas
Obituary Elizabeth Murphy

7 Tips for Finding Maiden Names of Female Ancestors
FS Slavery Research Courses — FamilySearch.org

The FamilySearch Learning Center: Free Research Tutorial Videos
Keep Exploring

From family tree software to genealogy podcasts, there are boundless digital resources to aid in your genealogy search. Our team shares a few favorites.

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Announcing Black History Month Virtual Programming
February 2022 Black History Month Flyer

Register for Four Free African American Genealogy Seminars in February!

Resources for Documenting the Atlantic Slave Trade in Charleston

Video
Gallery

Learn more about the rich Gullah Geechee culture. Ramp up your research skills with video tutorials. Our video gallery has lots to sink your teeth into. View on any of your devices!

5 Lies About African American Genealogy and Family History Research

Are you new to African American genealogy and family history? Are you having a hard time sifting through all the noise online? Here's a quick video to help you escape some of the most common misconceptions about this line of research and how you can start to more accurately tell our stories.
Play Video

5 Truths About DNA Tests (23andMe, Ancestry DNA, Family Tree DNA, MyHeritage DNA, LivingDNA)

Want to take a DNA test, but you aren't sure what you're getting into? Watch and learn what you can and can't get from DNA tests for genealogy. Need help understanding your results or getting to the bottom of your family history?
Runtime: 5min
Play Video

"Grandma Was... " Why It's Not Showing Up In Your DNA Results

Is something missing from your percentages on your DNA test results? Is what your family says not matching up with what you got back? Watch to learn the top 3 reasons why this happens.
Runtime: 4 min
Play Video

Documenting the Enslaved in Your Family Tree | Ancestry

Join Crista Cowan for a look at how those with ancestors who were slaveholders can assist our African American friends and family by documenting the lives of those enslaved.
Runtime: 36 min
Play Video

The Ultimate Genealogical Brick Wall Buster - James Tanner

Do you feel stuck in your research? See what tips James has for busting through those brick walls.
Runtime: 1 hour
Play Video

How Do I Know I'm Right? Some Genealogy Basics | Ancestry

There is a lot of information out there. But how do you determine if what you have is correct ? How do you prove you are right? Ancestry Anne walks you through the basics.
Runtime: 21 min
Play Video

AF-001: 5 Ways To Tell If Your Genealogy Research Is Accurate | Ancestral Findings Podcast

How do you know your genealogy research is accurate? Use these five tips to be as sure as you can be in the world of genealogy.
Runtime: 30 min
Play Video

Genealogy Brainstorming: I'm Stuck. Now What? | Ancestry

There are times when we could all use a little help with our family history. Join Crista as she explains the best ways to share your research challenges to generate ideas for what to do next to break through those brick walls.
Runtime: 24 min
Play Video

Researching Newspapers for Genealogy for Free

There are an ever increasing number of websites that contain digitized newspapers, which is excellent for genealogy and family history research. There are also an excellent collection of sites that include links that help you find where some of these digital collections can be found. This video helps you find where newspapers can be searched for free and without a subscription.
Runtime: 18 min
Play Video

Same Name - Different Man | Ancestry

Just because your ancestor may have a unique name does not make him the only person in the world with that name. He might not even be the only one in his town with that name. Join Crista Cowan for some quick tips about how to know if the John Smith you are tracking is YOUR John Smith.
Runtime: 28 min
Play Video

Using the Google Goldmine for Genealogy - James Tanner

Learn how to use the all features google has to offer to help you do your family history
Runtime: 1 hour
Play Video

Using the Internet Archive for Genealogy - James Tanner

Learn how the Internet Archives, a huge collection of various records, can help you with your Genealogy research
Runtime: 54 min
Play Video

When You Can't Find a Birth Record | Ancestry

We all know the importance of finding documentation about the facts we put into our family tree. But, what happens when you can't find the records you need? Join Crista Cowan for a look at alternative places to find birth information.
Runtime: 30 min
Play Video

When You Can't Find a Marriage Record | Ancestry

We all know the importance of finding documentation about the facts we put into our family tree. But, what happens when you can't find the marriage records you need?
Runtime: 30 min
Play Video

When You Can't Find A Death Record | Ancestry

We all know the importance of finding documentation about the facts we put into our family tree. But, what happens when you can't find the records you need?
Runtime: 25 min
Play Video

Finding Unindexed Records at FamilySearch

There are millions of digital images at FamilySearch that have not yet been indexed. Learn to find and access them with this quick tutorial. In particular, U.S. probate records are plentiful using this method.
Runtime: 6 min
Play Video

Finding Digitized Microfilm Online at FamilySearch

You may not have to order that microfilm from Salt Lake City after all! Many of the Family History Library's microfilm reels are being digitized and put online at FamilySearch. They are not always indexed, so you need to know how to find them. This short video will show you how!
Runtime: 6 min
Play Video

Finding Missing Children: Genealogy Technique for FamilySearch

Do you suspect there is a missing child or two in the family tree? Use this special technique to locate missing persons. Genealogy and family history research is easy to do with these amazing tips!
Play Video