leave no stone unturned

Documenting African-American Ancestors

African American Monument,The State House, Columbia, SC

Leaving No Stone Unturned

Robin FosterHeritage Makers Independent ConsultantColumbia Ethnic Community ExaminerColumbia Social Media ExaminerMy blogs: Saving Stories Sharing the Legacy Strong BranchesFollow me on Twitter: @savingstoriesTwitter page: twitter.com/savingstories

HAVE YOU HEARD? THERE’S A TSUNAMI COMING!

A TSUNAMI OF RECORDS!

Jus with a baby tsunamiBy slingshots+meo remalante

Make sure you havedone your homework.

• Get back to basics• Identify: ancestor time period location• Identify what you want to learn.• Find out what resources exist.• Get comfortable with current technologies.• Find out where to access resources.• Find out where to go for help.

How do you prepare for aTsunami of records?

Getting back to basics…

You must be able to tell where you have been in order to determine where you are going.

Beginning Steps....

1. Gather all you have on your ancestor and put in a box. Organize what you have.

2. Complete a Pedigree Chart

3. Prepare a Family Group Record

4. Start a Research Log to track your findings.

5. Interview your closest living relatives. Transcribe the interview.

6. Create a biographical outline of events in the life of your ancestor.

7. Start a family history database and keep it up to date.

Otis E. Tucker Vance (1905-1996)

For more information:Visit Saving Stories

Identify: ancestor time period

location

What do you know already?

Complete the following forms using information you alreadyknow about your ancestor.

1. Pedigree ChartDates: Day, Month, Year 6 April 1870Places: City, County, State, Country Columbia, Richland, South Carolina, USA

2. Two Family Group Records(one with your ancestor as a child and one as a parent)

3. Biographical Outline

Use a family history database to record information about your family

Download PAF 5.2 free

familysearch.org

Use a family history database to record information about your family

Download PAF 5.2 free

familysearch.org

Use a family history database to record information about your family

Download PAF 5.2 free

familysearch.org

Use a family history database to record information about your family

Download PAF 5.2 free

familysearch.org

Use a family history database to record information about your family

Download PAF 5.2 free

familysearch.org

Use a family history database to record information about your family

Download PAF 5.2 free

familysearch.org

Identify what you wantto learn about your ancestor…

Identify what you want to learn about your ancestor and which record types document that specific information.

1. Your personal knowledge.2. Your personal papers.3. Your photographs.4. Parents, Grandparents, and other relatives.5. Family bible6. Funeral programs, obituaries7. Family papers8. Family photographs9. Birth records10. Marriage records11. Death records

Develop your research declaration: “Beverly Vance was born about 1832,according to the 1870 US Census. He was living in Abbeville District, SC in Cokesbury. I want to know who his parents were.”

Locate different resources to document your ancestor

12. Census records13. Church records14. School records15. Newspapers16. Journals17. Local Histories18. Genealogical societies19. Voter’s records20. Military records21. Probate records22. Land and property records23. Biographies24. Family Histories25. Immigration/emigration26. Tax records27. Directories

Locate different resources to document your ancestor

28. Naturalization/citizenship29. Funeral homes30. Hospitals31. Employers32. Fraternities/sororities33. Slave narratives34. Freedman’s Bureau Records35. Periodicals36. Cohabitation Records37. Manumissions38. Bill of sale

Get comfortable with the current technologies…

Try it today!Beta.FamilySearch.org

beta.familysearch.org will soontake the place of

the current familysearch.org site

Historical Records Collection

SCROLL DOWN

Historical Records Collection

BROWSE BYLOCATION

Historical Records Collection

USA, CANADA, MEXICO

Historical Records Collection

South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1943

Historical Records Collection

Search for:Jane McCoyGreenville County, South Carolinad. 1919

Historical Records Collection

Click here

Jane McCoyGreenville County, South Carolinad. 1919

Historical Records Collection

Click here

Index for Jane McCoyGreenville County, South Carolinad. 1919

Historical Records Collection

Death cert. for Jane McCoyGreenville County, South Carolinad. 1919

Click Full Screen

Death cert. for Jane McCoyGreenville County, South Carolinad. 1919

Exit Full Screen, Rotate, Invert, Save, Print

Zoom in +Zoom out -

Find out what resources exist

& Find out where to

access resources…

FamilySearch Wiki

FamilySearch Wiki

CLICK LEARN

Also wiki.familysearch.org

FamilySearch Wiki

FamilySearch Wiki(Search county/parish/state or topic)

SEARCH

FamilySearch Wiki

Charleston County, South Carolina

LINKEDOUTLINE

Charleston County, South Carolina

OR SCROLLDOWN

African American Research on FS Wiki

African American Research on FS Wiki

African American Research on FS Wiki

African American Research on FS Wiki

What if you did not see a resource thatwould help you on FamilySearch Wiki?

Find out where to go for help…

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Also forums.familysearch.org

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Also forums.familysearch.org

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Also forums.familysearch.org

Register Here

Check your email immediately after you register.

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Also forums.familysearch.org

Register Here

Check your email immediately after you register.

From now on log in here

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Logged in:

Choose the locality

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Choose the locality

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Choose the locality

Scroll down

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Click New Thread

Ask For Free Research Assistance

1. Select State 2. Enter Title

3. Enter question

4. Tag name and locality

5. Preview6. Click Submit New Thread

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Click New Thread

Question is posted.

Check back periodically for an answer.

Also, look for email.

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Click New Thread

Question is posted.

Check back periodically for an answer.

Also, look for email.Email response

Ask For Free Research Assistance

Click New Thread

Question is posted.

Check back periodically for an answer.

Also, look for email.

Forums response

Join the African-American Social Group at http://forums.familysearch.org/en/group.php?groupid=45

Social Groups

Join the African-American Social Group at http://forums.familysearch.org/en/group.php?groupid=45

Social Groups1. Enter African American2. Click Go

Join the African-American Social Group at http://forums.familysearch.org/en/group.php?groupid=45

Select African-American Resources

Join the African-American Social Group at http://forums.familysearch.org/en/group.php?groupid=45

Look for Join This Group

Slave Narratives

Download .PDF

Download .PDF

Click to download

Download .PDF

Click to download

Slave Narrative

Click to download

Download .PDF

Click to download

Download .PDF

Click to download

Download .PDF

Click to download

Download .PDF

Click to download

Need additional help?

Visit your local Family History Center

support@familysearch.org

(866) 406-1830

Family History Centers in South Carolina, United States Beaufort South Carolina 703 Parris Island GatewayBeaufort, Beaufort, South Carolina, United StatesPhone: 843-525-1823Hours: By appointment only.

Charleston South Carolina 1519 Sam Rittenburg BlvdCharleston, Charleston, South Carolina, United StatesPhone: 843-766-6017Hours: T-Th 10am-9pm; F-Sat 10am-2pmClosed: Jan 1, 2, 30, Apr 3, Jul 1,2,3, Oct 2,23, Nov 23-27, Dec 21-31

Georgetown South Carolina Pringle Ferry RdGeorgetown, Georgetown, South CarolinaPhone: 834-527-2921Attention: Does not have film circulation.

Heritage Library Foundation 32 Office Park Rd, Suite 300Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, South CarolinaPhone: 843-686-6560Hours: Mon, Thur, Fri, Sat 10am-3pmClosed: On Saturday in July and August

Moncks Corner South Carolina 319 West Main StMoncks Corner, Berkeley, South Carolina, United StatesPhone: 843-761-8671Hours: W-Th 6pm-9pm; Sat 10am-2pm

Orangeburg South Carolina 2740 Broughton StOrangeburg, Orangeburg, South Carolina, United StatesPhone: 803-531-5531Hours: By appointment only.Closed: Call listed telephone number for an appointment.

Ridgeland South Carolina Grays HWY (278 West)Ridgeland, Jasper, South Carolina, United StatesPhone: 843-726-8241Hours: Monday - Saturday by appt. Wed. evening 6-8PM

Sumter South Carolina 1770 Highway 15 SSumter, Sumter, South Carolina, United StatesPhone: 803-481-8300Hours: Hours vary. Call ahead.

Gather

Discover

Share

Preserve

Gatherwhat you have on hand.

Discovermore about an ancestor you choose.

Sharewhat you discover with your family.

PreservePhotographs, history and stories for futuregenerations.