They Came from Virginia: A Case Study in African American Research and Methodology

Overcoming the 1870 brick wall in African American genealogy is challenging, but possible. This session presents a clear, step-by-step roadmap for tracing formerly enslaved ancestors using the Genealogical Proof Method. Learn how to reconstruct the freedmen generation, identify potential enslavers, and mine enslaver records for hidden ancestral clues. We’ll explore records on Ancestry and FamilySearch, including census and vital records, Freedmen’s Bureau files, cohabitation records, and estate records. If you're ready to move beyond 1870 and build a fuller picture of your family’s past, this webinar will equip you with the tools and confidence to begin.

The Antebellum Southern Plantation Records can offer multifaceted views into many white and African American Southern families. This resource documents families' personal and business correspondence, conditions of plantation life (including the elusive names of slaves and descriptions of slave relationships), and much more. Learn about the genealogical value of the Southern Antebellum Plantation Records - how they are organized, how to search the collection, and apply it towards your genealogical research. The case studies will highlight the personal documents of a white Southern family and the indirect documentation of an African American family.

The history of slavery in America left families divided but also deeply connected through records, land, and often bloodlines. Today, descendants of both the enslaved and the enslavers are uncovering those connections through genealogy and asking what they mean for the present. This panel brings together genealogists and descendants to share how these discoveries were made, what it looks like to begin a conversation across that divide, and how stories can be told with honesty, respect, and care. Attendees will learn how to: 1-Identify the record groups that connect enslaved and enslaver families, 2-Understand the challenges and opportunities of descendant dialogue, 3-Approach this history with sensitivity while documenting it accurately.

One of the most challenging issues that presents itself when researching Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean families is the lack of information about their migration history. This may involve the movement of one family member, an entire family, or groups of emigrants. Being aware of the major migrations that have occurred over time in the Black Diaspora is crucial, as it can help break down a family's genealogical brick wall. This presentation will identify ten significant migrations that researchers should be aware of when studying the Black experience worldwide.

Learn the particulars of the Civil War pension approval process and what a pension application file for your Union Army veteran may contain. This lecture will review the history and background of military pensions in the United States. It will also cover specific details about the Civil War pension approval process for Union soldiers and their widows. A case study will illustrate the contents of the Civil War Union pension application file for George W. Tillman and his widow, Corabelle.