Resea Rching African American - Maryland
Rese archingAfrican Americana t t h e M a r y l a n d S t a t e Ar c h i v e sby p h e b e r . j ac o b s e n & M a ry l a n d s tat e a rc h i v e s
How to BeginThe genealogy of an African American familybegins in the same manner as with a familyof any race. Start with your immediate familyand go backwards in your search, generation bygeneration, being certain at every step to document all written proof of family rela tionshipsdiscovered. Write down or record remembrancesof older relatives. Even if no written recordexists, oral tradition may provide valuable cluesfor continuing your search. Be sure, specifically,to document the source of all of your information as you find it.Manumission of Molly Gibbs, formerly called Poll,slave of Elizabeth Bordley, Anne Arundel County,1789 [MSA C111-1-2].NamesAfrican Americans, for the most part, will usethe same records as anyone else searching theirfamily history. These records in clude probate(estate settlement) records, land records,mili tary records, court records, federal rec ords,and church records. Most people have ac ceptedthe tradition that enslaved people, when freed,took the surname of their former owner. Butan examination of Maryland slave statistics,manumissions, and other records shows thatblacks took surnames the same way whiteshad in earlier generations. Some freed slavesassumed the name of a respected white family,a beloved clergyman, or an admired blackleader; others took a name from their trade,from a physical trait, or from a geograph icaleople researching African American historyare particularly fortunate if their families livedin Maryland. A strong tradition of record keeping from theearliest days of settlement has resulted in the preservationof a vast amount of material relevant to African Americanhistory. This material can be found primarily at the MarylandState Archives in Annapolis, where the permanent publicrecords of state, county, and local agen cies are convenientlycentralized. Rec ords concerning African Americans, onceneglected by professional historians and gen ealogists alike,provide new insights into the Maryland experience forpeople of color.Cover: Dawson-Curtis-Spriggs family,1900 [MSA SC 1612-1-1].Background: Shell pliers, Baltimore City OysterHouse, before 1906. [MSA SC 1477-1-4741].1
How to BeginThe genealogy of an African American familybegins in the same manner as with a familyof any race. Start with your immediate familyand go backwards in your search, generation bygeneration, being certain at every step to document all written proof of family rela tionshipsdiscovered. Write down or record remembrancesof older relatives. Even if no written recordexists, oral tradition may provide valuable cluesfor continuing your search. Be sure, specifically,to document the source of all of your information as you find it.Manumission of Molly Gibbs, formerly called Poll,slave of Elizabeth Bordley, Anne Arundel County,1789 [MSA C111-1-2].NamesAfrican Americans, for the most part, will usethe same records as anyone else searching theirfamily history. These records in clude probate(estate settlement) records, land records,mili tary records, court records, federal rec ords,and church records. Most people have ac ceptedthe tradition that enslaved people, when freed,took the surname of their former owner. Butan examination of Maryland slave statistics,manumissions, and other records shows thatblacks took surnames the same way whiteshad in earlier generations. Some freed slavesassumed the name of a respected white family,a beloved clergyman, or an admired blackleader; others took a name from their trade,from a physical trait, or from a geograph icaleople researching African American historyare particularly fortunate if their families livedin Maryland. A strong tradition of record keeping from theearliest days of settlement has resulted in the preservationof a vast amount of material relevant to African Americanhistory. This material can be found primarily at the MarylandState Archives in Annapolis, where the permanent publicrecords of state, county, and local agen cies are convenientlycentralized. Rec ords concerning African Americans, onceneglected by professional historians and gen ealogists alike,provide new insights into the Maryland experience forpeople of color.Cover: Dawson-Curtis-Spriggs family,1900 [MSA SC 1612-1-1].Background: Shell pliers, Baltimore City OysterHouse, before 1906. [MSA SC 1477-1-4741].1
feature where they lived. At times, you also seenames derived from Ancient Greek and Romanworks, or those found in the Bible. Only in rareinstances are names of African origin found.Sometimes, if a white owner ac knowledgeda relationship to the person freed or if a freeblack man purchased his enslaved wife andchildren so that he could manumit them, thesurname of the father, either white or black,was retained. It is important, however, that theresearcher not assume that a white family bearing the same surname as a free black one wasthe family that had formerly held that person,or his ancestor, in bondage. This ambiguity,unfortunately, makes the search for enslavedancestors far more difficult. But, in many cases,information can be gathered with pa tience,time, and disciplined effort.Records Relating Exclusivelyto African AmericansThere are some records that relate specifi cally toAfrican American Marylanders that will be ofparticular interest and value. Six series, or types,of records bear specifically on the lives ofMaryland African Americans. They are:Manumissions, Certifi cates of Freedom, theCensus of 1832, Slave Statistics, Military Records(includ ing those for the United States ColoredTroops), and Certificates of Slaves. Manumissions and Certificates of Freedom exist for almostevery Maryland county established prior to1864, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore,Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester,Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, PrinceGeorge’s, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, St.Mary’s, and Washington Counties, and BaltimoreCity. Military records encompass sol diers fromall areas of the state. The other record seriesare available for only some Maryland counties.2a) ManumissionsA manumission is the legal document freeingan enslaved person by an act of their owner.Between 1752 and 1796, manumissions couldonly be accom plished by deed, so manumissionswere recorded in the county land records.Some manumissions can be found in courtdocuments called chat tel records. By the endof the eighteenth century, certain counties,like Anne Arundel, Dorchester, and QueenAnne’s, kept manumissions in separate books.Ex cept for the period 1752–1796, manumis sionsalso could be made by will and may be foundin the probate record series.b) Certificates of FreedomCertificates of freedom were first is sued in1806. The legislature passed a law (Chapter66, Laws of Maryland 1805) that required allfree blacks to register at the county court,certifying by what means they were freedand recording physical characteristics such asheight, color of eyes, complexion, and hair sothat each free black person could be identifiedby a certificate with a matching description.These certificates were generally recorded ina separate record series. Some can be foundwith manumissions, however, and a few will befound among the county land records.Please note that, in order to maximize accessibility of these essential records, the MarylandState Archives Legacy of Slavery Program staffhas digitized and inventoried all 111 manumission and certificates of freedom record series.These scanned images can be accessed onlinethrough the Guide to Government aspx), and the searchable online databasefound on the Legacy of Slavery Programwebsite at: . These documents includenames of enslaved and free African Americans,slave holders, counties of residence, and physicaldescriptions of the recipients.2017 forensic artist depiction of Lot Bell, slave of SilbeyBell, created from her 1816 certificate of freedom.Excerpt from Lot Bell’s certificate of freedom[MSA C 478-1-37].c) CensusSince 1790, the federal government has takena census of the popu lation of the United Statesevery ten years. Enslaved and free blacks wereincluded in the census to varying degreesthroughout slavery’s existence. The censusrecords for 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1820 give anumerical figure for the number of enslavedpeople in each household. The censuses for1830 and 1840 only list the head of householdby name. There are numerical values recordedfor the number of individuals who fall underspecific demographic categories (ex. FreeFemale 10-23 years old, Slave Male 36-54 yearsold). The population schedules of the U.S.Census for 1850 and 1860 list the name of eachperson in a given household. The census forthese years also lists personal informationabout the individuals, including but not limitedto: gender, race, value of property, and occupation. The slave schedules of the U.S. Census for1850 and 1860 list the names of slaveholdersand the number of slaves in their possessionin county districts in the state. Most censustakers did not record slaves in a cumulativefashion; rather each slave was counted withthe number (1). The gender, age, and race ofthe slaves were recorded, but the names of theindividual slaves were not. The census of 1870was the first census taken after the Civil Warand was the first to list all African Americans.The Legacy of Slavery Program staff hasabstracted information from federal censusrecords from Maryland for the period 1776through 1880, with particular focus on theperiod 1830 to 1880. These records werestripped to identify all households with freeblacks, enslaved people, and mulatto individuals.The results can be found in a searchableonline database accessible on the Legacy ofSlavery Program website at: .Census of Negroes (1832) and the MarylandColonization SocietyIn 1832, the General Assembly authorized acensus (Chapter 281, Laws of Maryland 1831)to aid in the effort to resettle recently freedslaves and other free blacks in Liberia. TheMaryland State Archives has schedules forthe Census of 1832 for Harford, Talbot, andSomer set counties, while the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore holds microfilm of allother counties except Baltimore and BaltimoreCity. Abstracts of Allegany, Anne Arundel,Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester,Frederick, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s,and St. Mary’s Counties are available inthe Maryland State Archives Library. Theschedules give the name of each free black andthe person’s age, but each county arranged itscensus differently. The Harford County censusgroups free blacks by household and then liststhe name and age of each family member.The Somerset County census is really two lists:3
feature where they lived. At times, you also seenames derived from Ancient Greek and Romanworks, or those found in the Bible. Only in rareinstances are names of African origin found.Sometimes, if a white owner ac knowledgeda relationship to the person freed or if a freeblack man purchased his enslaved wife andchildren so that he could manumit them, thesurname of the father, either white or black,was retained. It is important, however, that theresearcher not assume that a white family bearing the same surname as a free black one wasthe family that had formerly held that person,or his ancestor, in bondage. This ambiguity,unfortunately, makes the search for enslavedancestors far more difficult. But, in many cases,information can be gathered with pa tience,time, and disciplined effort.Records Relating Exclusivelyto African AmericansThere are some records that relate specifi cally toAfrican American Marylanders that will be ofparticular interest and value. Six series, or types,of records bear specifically on the lives ofMaryland African Americans. They are:Manumissions, Certifi cates of Freedom, theCensus of 1832, Slave Statistics, Military Records(includ ing those for the United States ColoredTroops), and Certificates of Slaves. Manumissions and Certificates of Freedom exist for almostevery Maryland county established prior to1864, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore,Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester,Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, PrinceGeorge’s, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, St.Mary’s, and Washington Counties, and BaltimoreCity. Military records encompass sol diers fromall areas of the state. The other record seriesare available for only some Maryland counties.2a) ManumissionsA manumission is the legal document freeingan enslaved person by an act of their owner.Between 1752 and 1796, manumissions couldonly be accom plished by deed, so manumissionswere recorded in the county land records.Some manumissions can be found in courtdocuments called chat tel records. By the endof the eighteenth century, certain counties,like Anne Arundel, Dorchester, and QueenAnne’s, kept manumissions in separate books.Ex cept for the period 1752–1796, manumis sionsalso could be made by will and may be foundin the probate record series.b) Certificates of FreedomCertificates of freedom were first is sued in1806. The legislature passed a law (Chapter66, Laws of Maryland 1805) that required allfree blacks to register at the county court,certifying by what means they were freedand recording physical characteristics such asheight, color of eyes, complexion, and hair sothat each free black person could be identifiedby a certificate with a matching description.These certificates were generally recorded ina separate record series. Some can be foundwith manumissions, however, and a few will befound among the county land records.Please note that, in order to maximize accessibility of these essential records, the MarylandState Archives Legacy of Slavery Program staffhas digitized and inventoried all 111 manumission and certificates of freedom record series.These scanned images can be accessed onlinethrough the Guide to Government aspx), and the searchable online databasefound on the Legacy of Slavery Programwebsite at: . These documents includenames of enslaved and free African Americans,slave holders, counties of residence, and physicaldescriptions of the recipients.2017 forensic artist depiction of Lot Bell, slave of SilbeyBell, created from her 1816 certificate of freedom.Excerpt from Lot Bell’s certificate of freedom[MSA C 478-1-37].c) CensusSince 1790, the federal government has takena census of the popu lation of the United Statesevery ten years. Enslaved and free blacks wereincluded in the census to varying degreesthroughout slavery’s existence. The censusrecords for 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1820 give anumerical figure for the number of enslavedpeople in each household. The censuses for1830 and 1840 only list the head of householdby name. There are numerical values recordedfor the number of individuals who fall underspecific demographic categories (ex. FreeFemale 10-23 years old, Slave Male 36-54 yearsold). The population schedules of the U.S.Census for 1850 and 1860 list the name of eachperson in a given household. The census forthese years also lists personal informationabout the individuals, including but not limitedto: gender, race, value of property, and occupation. The slave schedules of the U.S. Census for1850 and 1860 list the names of slaveholdersand the number of slaves in their possessionin county districts in the state. Most censustakers did not record slaves in a cumulativefashion; rather each slave was counted withthe number (1). The gender, age, and race ofthe slaves were recorded, but the names of theindividual slaves were not. The census of 1870was the first census taken after the Civil Warand was the first to list all African Americans.The Legacy of Slavery Program staff hasabstracted information from federal censusrecords from Maryland for the period 1776through 1880, with particular focus on theperiod 1830 to 1880. These records werestripped to identify all households with freeblacks, enslaved people, and mulatto individuals.The results can be found in a searchableonline database accessible on the Legacy ofSlavery Program website at: .Census of Negroes (1832) and the MarylandColonization SocietyIn 1832, the General Assembly authorized acensus (Chapter 281, Laws of Maryland 1831)to aid in the effort to resettle recently freedslaves and other free blacks in Liberia. TheMaryland State Archives has schedules forthe Census of 1832 for Harford, Talbot, andSomer set counties, while the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore holds microfilm of allother counties except Baltimore and BaltimoreCity. Abstracts of Allegany, Anne Arundel,Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester,Frederick, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s,and St. Mary’s Counties are available inthe Maryland State Archives Library. Theschedules give the name of each free black andthe person’s age, but each county arranged itscensus differently. The Harford County censusgroups free blacks by household and then liststhe name and age of each family member.The Somerset County census is really two lists:3
the Maryland General Assembly. Colonizationwas common ground upon which both slaverysupporters and opponents agreed. Many whiteswho felt that slavery was immoral believed thatemigration from the United States was theonly way that free blacks could escape racialprejudice and attain civil rights. During thedecades of the colonization move ment, whilerelatively few Maryland blacks ac tually sailedto Africa, a Maryland District was createdin Liberia. Despite attempts at colonization,Maryland maintained the largest free blackpopulation in the United States during the antebellum period. For more information on theMaryland Colonization Society, please see theLegacy of Slavery Program online at: scscountycs.html which includes briefbiographies of some of the Maryland emigrantsto Liberia, as well as links to the digitizedcollection of the Maryland ColonizationSociety Papers [MSA SC 5977].Census of free blacks in Talbot County, com piled bythe Talbot County sheriff in 1832 [MSA C1841-1-24].one of the names and ages of free males andone of the names and ages of free females.The Anne Arundel census lists the head ofhousehold, the number of family members, thenumber of males and females, their ages, andthe number willing to go to Liberia.The colonization movement in the UnitedStates was en couraged by some abolitionists, aswell as slave owners. In Maryland, colonizationwas seen as a means of curtailing the growingfree black population. The Maryland StateColonization Society was a former auxiliaryof the American Colonization Society (ACS)that recruited free and manumitted blackMarylanders to settle in Liberia. From 1832 to1861, the Maryland State Colonization Societywas largely supported by appropriations from4d) Slave StatisticsBecause Maryland remained in the Union duringthe Civil War, despite the divided loyalties of herpeople, Lincoln’s emancipation proclamationdid not free Maryland slaves. Instead, a newstate constitution, enacted by Unionists in 1864,provided for their freedom on November 1 ofthat year. Hoping that the federal governmentwould repay the state’s loyalty and compensateits citizens for the “chattel” lost, the GeneralAssembly ordered that a listing be made of allslave owners and their slaves as of November 1,1864 (Chapter 189, Laws of Maryland 1867).The federal government never compensatedthe owners, but these records, called slavestatistics, are the only evidence available ofslaves and owners at the time of state emancipation. In addition to the names of owners andslaves, the lists also give the age of each blackand his or her physical condition. Schedulesalso indicate
The genealogy of an African American family begins in the same manner as with a family of any race. Start with your immediate family and go backwards in your search, generation by generation, being certain at every step to docu-ment all written proof of family relationships discovered. Write down or record remembrances of older relatives.
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African-Americans in the Early Twentieth Century 1895-1928 Third Written Paper on African American Writing Assignment due April 9 by 11:50 p.m. Week 11: The African-American Odyssey 17. African Americans and the 1920s 1918-1929 Week 12: The African-American Odyssey 18. Black Protest, the Grea
that student populations across the state are 51.8% Hispanic, 29.4% Anglo, 12.7% African American and 3.7% Asian. Texas has 1,025 school districts, of which 27 are African American superintendents and 7 are female African American. Current Trends Currently, the issues of African American men in school leadership may seem somewhat outdated.
9. Increase attendance and reduce absenteeism rates for African American/Black students 10. Increase the rate of freshman on-track for African American/Black students 11. Increase graduation rates for African American/Black Students 12. Increase the post-secondary enrollment rates of African American/Black students high school
Sep 21, 2015 · AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL UNITY DAY IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FEBRUARY 28, 2015. CONFERENCE SUMMARY. Sponsors African Heritage Family Outreach & Engagement Program African Immigrant . no idea about Africa. Today is the day we begin to learn from each other’s experience. Bla
6 Celebrating African American Inventors & Innovators henry Blair Born in Maryland, 1807 Farmer o ele lant corn an cotton sees muc faster Henry Blair claimed his seed-planting machine could do the work of eight men. H enry Blair was the second African American to be issued a patent, in 1834. He was a farmer in Maryland a long
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