Discovery Resources- Genealogy & Ancestry
- Nelly Marie
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Genealogy & Ancestry Resources for “indigenous” Self-Discovery
Finding ourselves again starts with knowing exactly where we came from. For so many African American and Indigenous families, that trail has been covered in layers of erasure, mislabeling, and straight-up lies. But the truth is still out there — in archives, oral histories, DNA results, and old records they never wanted us to see.
This guide brings together trusted African American genealogy resources, Black ancestry databases, DNA testing services, and community spaces that make it possible to trace Black family history and reclaim the stories of our people. Whether you’re starting from scratch or deep into the search, these tools are steps toward piecing our legacy back together.
Find Ya Tribe — Reconnect With Your Black & Indigenous Ancestry
A genealogy platform designed specifically for Black and Indigenous families. They offer beginner genealogy classes, one-on-one ancestry searches, and a step-by-step workbook for tracing African American and Native heritage. Perfect if you’ve been struggling with incomplete or mislabeled family records.
Our Black Ancestry — Genealogy Support & Community
One of the best places to start if you want help tracing African American family history. Offers research guides, DNA connection tools, and a community that supports Black ancestry research at every stage.
Our Black Ancestry — Facebook Group (Peer Help)
An active Facebook community where members share tips for searching Freedmen’s Bureau records, finding African American surnames in census records, and navigating slave schedules.
African Ancestry — DNA Testing to Identify Country/Ethnic Group
Unlike most DNA companies, African Ancestry can connect you directly to a specific African country and ethnic group. Their maternal and paternal tests are popular for those wanting to go beyond percentage breakdowns.
Enslaved.org — Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade
A searchable database with over 600,000 person records from the transatlantic slave trade, U.S. slavery, and emancipation. Essential for tracing enslaved ancestors.
FamilySearch — African American Genealogy (Guides & Records)
Free genealogy site with millions of African American historical records, including digitized Freedmen’s Bureau archives and state-by-state research guides.
AfriGeneas — African-Ancestored Genealogy Community
One of the oldest African American genealogy sites, featuring surname searches, slave data collections, and an active forum for researchers.
Freedmen’s Bureau — Search Portals & Indexing Project
Search through Freedmen’s Bureau records, labor contracts, marriage registers, and school reports to find post-Civil War African American ancestors.
IAAM – Center for Family History (International African American Museum)
Digital archives and genealogy workshops with a special focus on Gullah/Geechee heritage and Lowcountry African American history.
AAHGS — Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
National organization with chapters, conferences, and publications to support African American genealogists.
Lowcountry Africana — Gullah/Geechee-Focused Research
Specializing in African American history in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida’s Lowcountry region, with extensive plantation and Freedmen’s Bureau records.
SlaveVoyages — Trans-Atlantic & Intra-American Slave Trade Databases
A powerful research tool to track ships, routes, and the origins of enslaved African people.
Freedom on the Move — Runaway/“Self-Liberator” Ads Database
A database of runaway slave ads from historical newspapers, often including physical descriptions, skills, and last known locations.
Digital Library on American Slavery (UNC Greensboro)
Includes searchable “Slave Deeds” that name enslaved individuals as part of property records, offering rare details for genealogical research.
Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery — “Information Wanted” Ads
A searchable archive of ads placed by formerly enslaved people seeking family members after emancipation.
Library of Congress — African American Genealogical Research Guide
Step-by-step guidance, recommended books, and online resources for researching Black family history.
10 Million Names — National Project Restoring Enslaved Ancestors’ Names
An ongoing effort to recover and preserve the names and stories of the estimated 10 million enslaved African descendants before 1870.
National Archives (NARA) — African American Research
Access to primary source documents, military records, and Reconstruction-era materials relevant to African American genealogy.
WikiTree — Free Global Family Tree (DNA-aware)
Collaborative genealogy platform allowing you to link DNA test results and connect with cousins researching the same ancestors.
WeRelate — Nonprofit Genealogy Wiki
A collaborative family tree and research wiki with over 3 million profiles, including African American ancestry projects.
WCU Research Guide — Black & African American Genealogy
University-curated directory of African American genealogy resources, databases, and research guides.
AccessGenealogy — Black Genealogy Gateway
A free collection of African American genealogy resources, organized by state and type of record.
Your Turn:
Start with one resource and work your way through it. Document what you find, save copies of records, and share new discoveries so we can keep building this collective archive for Black self-discovery.
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