The Freedmen's Bureau records, covering 1865 to 1872, are now digitized and available on familysearch.org, covering the 15 Southern and border states and the District of Columbia.
While it’s great to have these records accessible, the vast amount of material is not easily used because there is no index.
Now, a nationwide volunteer project has been launched to create an index so that genealogists and historians can have better access to these records.
The Freedmen’s Bureau was created to operate refugee camps; start schools; operate hospitals; provide food, clothing and legal representation; manage property that had been abandoned; and to help the former slaves with labor contracts.
After microfilming, the records collection included 1,882 rolls, covering 1.5 million documents, a total of nearly 4 million searchable records. Currently, only 10 percent is indexed.
The new project’s goal is to index the remaining records by late 2016, in conjunction with the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (part of the Smithsonian) on the Mall in Washington.
The bureau's records at familysearch.org are arranged by states. To join the indexing project, go to discoverfreedmen.org. Co-sponsors, besides FamilySearch and the Smithsonian, are the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society and the California African American Museum.
Atlanta newspapers enhanced online
The Atlanta Historic Newspapers Archive found on the Digital Library of Georgia site, along with those of other Georgia cities, has now been enhanced. Now, you can view Atlanta newspapers dating from 1847 to 1922 without any plug-ins or other distractions. You can search full-text or browse. While these have been available for a few years, this new "edition" enhances the experience. The Weekly Constitution (1869-1882) is the only version of our current newspaper included. Go to dlg.galileo.usg.edu/atlnewspapers.
Genetic genealogy standards
Those participating in DNA genealogy research should check the latest effort by genetic genealogists to create standards for using DNA proofs, especially with regard to ethics and how to evaluate and interpret test results. These interim standards no doubt will be revised, so see what you think at geneticgenealogystandards.com. Issues covered include permission to use results and the limitations of what results indicate.
About the Author
