Explore these resources for historical context and specific records that reveal details about the lives of African American ancestors.

Most religious records are maintained at the local level. It is important to reach out directly to your ancestors' house of worship. Keep in mind that original records from a particular religious institution may also have been transferred to the custody of an area library, historical society, or denominational archive for preservation and research. See the Library of Congress Research Guide Church and Synagogue Records for Genealogy for research strategies and resources.

The following list provides a selection of the types of records and repositories that you may find for the denominations represented in your family or local history:

Explore these resources for historical context and specific records that reveal details about the lives of Indigenous ancestors.

To understand the time and place in which our ancestors lived, we must understand the laws that governed their community. These laws governed their daily lives and impacted the records they left behind.

These historical map collections may be searched by state or county.

Military records often reveal much more than military service. Search these records for personal details, family ties, and local history context.

Historic newspapers provide important content for historical and genealogical research.

Despite the vast amount of information available online, most genealogy and local history records have not been digitized. Be sure to find the repositories of records in the specific communities where your ancestors lived. Over the years, some records have been shifted to nearby academic libraries or to state archives. Reach out to these institutions directly to discover what collections they hold and how you can access them.