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Browse the full collection of essential historical records for African Americans. 

Sample of collections include:

Federal Census: Find ancestors in the complete set of U.S. Federal Census images from 1790-1950.

• Search US Census
• 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules

Freedman’s Bank: Because enslaved people didn’t have legal rights prior to 1865, it can be difficult to track them through censuses or birth, marriage, and death records. For many African Americans, records from the Freedman’s Bank may be the first time they’re able to find an ancestor’s name.

• U.S., Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1874 

Military Draft and Service Records: This database contains compiled military service records for United States Colored Troops that volunteered to serve with the Union in the American Civil War. The records consist of cards extracted from muster rolls, regimental returns, descriptive books, casualty sheets, enlistment papers, death reports, and correspondence. Information available includes name, age, birthplace, enlistment data, and enlistment location.

• U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865

Registers of Slaves and Free(d) Persons:

• Louisiana, U.S., Records of Enslaved People, 1719-1820

Stories, memories & histories

• Fifty years in chains, or, The life of an American slave
• Narrative of Henry Watson, a fugitive slave
• The Black presence in the era of the American Revolution, 1770-1800
• The Story of the life of John Anderson : the fugitive slave
• Twelve Years a Slave
   

Additional Heritage Quest Collections:

• U.S., African American Newspapers, 1829-1947
  The black press in America traces its roots to the Freedom’s Journal, first published in 1827. Later, papers often were established to serve growing black population centers, where they provided news of interest to the community that was not always reported in the mainstream press. This database contains issues from more than 200 African American newspapers printed in the 19th and early 20th centuries from all across the United States.
  
  
• U.S., African American Photo Collection, 1850-2000
  This database contains collections of public domain photos and prints relating to African Americans. They are from two locations – The National Archives and the Library of Congress.
  
  
• U.S., Interviews with Formerly Enslaved People, 1936-1938
  Compiled by the WPA in the 1930s, this is a collection of over 2300 first-person accounts of slavery, and 500 photos of former slaves. Information may include surnames of interviewees, birthplace, approximate age, and interview location.