freedmen’s bureau records
-
Tracing Your Roots: Were My Married Slave Ancestors Forced to Live Apart?
A historical document that appears to legalize a marriage formed under bondage in 1858 suggests a heartbreaking scenario for one woman’s ancestors. Professor Gates and his team of genealogy researchers address the answers she seeks. Dear Professor Gates: I am trying to learn more about my enslaved ancestors Sandy Butner and Mary Jane Powe in…
-
Tracing Your Roots: Finding Emancipated Black Ancestors Just Got Easier
If you’ve heard anything about the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, it’s probably that the museum is the hottest ticket in Washington, D.C., resulting in long lines and the need to purchase passes three months in advance. Genealogy buffs ought to know that the museum has a hot ticket, of…