African American Resources for Alabama

Introduction
Resources for African-American research fall into two periods: pre-and post-Civil War. Post-Civil War research consists of consulting the same record types you would use to research non–African-Americans. Pre-Civil War records consist of slave importation declarations, plantation records, emancipation records, apprenticeship bonds for freedmen, Alabama hiring practices, census records, plantation owners’ family records, church and cemetery records, military records, and Alabama court records.

Online Resources

 * U.S., Southeast Coastwise Inward and Outward Slave Manifests, 1790-1860
 * Images only.
 * Alabama Department of Archives and History
 * Alabama Deaths 1908-1974 (Record Search)
 * Researching African American Genealogy in Alabamaby Frazine K. Taylor (Google Books)
 * Birmingham Public Library: Collections and Research
 * Alabama African American Genealogy Research - A list of Alabama genealogy resources, including records and databases.
 * Access Genealogy: Alabama African American Records
 * African American Gateway: Alabama (Allen County Public Library)
 * Samford University: Primary Sources/Websites
 * Alabama African American Genealogy Research-A comprehensive list of genealogy resources for Alabama
 * Larry's Alabama Archive - Larry E. Caver Jr's Collection of Alabama records.
 * African American Genealogy Resources Page - Alabama State University
 * African American Genealogy Resources Page - Alabama State University

Research Strategy
The records for Alabama can be found in the FamilySearch Catalog Subject Search under:

FREEDMEN - ALABAMA


 * Taylor, Frazine K.Researching African American Genealogy in Alabama A Resource Guide.Montgomery, Alabama: New South Books. 2008.
 * Researching African American Genealogy in Alabama by Frazine K. Taylor (Google Books)

History
For a history of slavery in Alabama, see: Sellers, James Benson. Slavery in Alabama. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Press, 1950, 1994. (Family History Library book 976.1 F2s.) This 426 page book includes a bibliography, on pages 399–409.

Reconstruction Era (1868-1877)
 * Reconstruction in Alabama: Alabama's First Lawmakers
 * Reconstruction in Alabama: A Quick Summary

Jim Crow Era (1859-1964)


 * Jim Crow Laws: Alabama
 * Segregation (Jim Crow), Encyclopedia of Alabama
 * Title of Lesson: Jim Crow Lived in Alabama in the late 1800s

Biographies
Several biographical dictionaries, compendia, and histories may contain information you need, for example:

Black Biographical Dictionaries, 1790–1950. Alexandria, Virginia: Chadwyck-Healy, 1980. (On 1070 Family History Library fiche beginning with 6049870.) This publication is sometimes referred to as "The Black Biography Project." Three of the sources included in this collection are:

''Bothe, Charles Octavius. The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Work.'' Birmingham, Alabama: Birmingham Alabama Publishing, 1895. (Family History Library fiche 6078965 [set of 3].) This book contains biographies, birth dates, parents’ names, and sometimes pictures. It also provides information on associations and state conventions.

Mixon, Winfield Henri. History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Alabama, with Biographical Sketches. Selma, Alabama: A.M.E. Church Sunday School Union, 1902. (Family History Library fiche 6079113 [set of 3].) This book provides pictures, church minutes and history, and speeches. There is no index.

Moorman, Joseph H. and E. L. Barrett. Leaders of the Colored Race in Alabama. Mobile, Alabama: News Publishing, [198–?]. (Family History Library fiche 6079115 [set of 2].) This source contains biographical sketches with birth dates, educational information, a history of each minister’s service, and a history of churches. It includes an index.

Census Records
African Americans are identified in the 1866 Census.

Church Records
A few parish registers (see "Church Records") list slaves who attended church with their masters. St.Bartley Primitive Baptist Church [Huntsville] (1808- ) History Dexter Avenue Baptist Church [Montgomery] (1883- )History Booth, Charles Octavius. The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their leaders and their work. Birmingham: Alabama Pub. Co., 1895. - 267 p.: ill. BX6444.A6 B6

Land and Property
Some plantation records mention slaves. The Family History Library has many plantation records on microfilm. These records are described in a series of booklets by Kenneth M. Stampp. Guides for Series A–M are available at the Family History Library:


 * Stampp, Kenneth M., ed.A Guide to Records of Antebellum Southern Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War: Series A–M, Selections from the Manuscript Department, Duke University Library. Frederick, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1986. ( Family History Library book 975 H2sm.) The Family History Library has microfilms of most of the records described in the guide. Alabama plantation records are scattered throughout.

For example, the booklet for Series F describes records of many plantations in Alabama and other states of the Deep South. The records were microfilmed at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina. They are:


 * Records of Ante-bellum Southern Plantations from the Revolution Through the Civil War: Series F, Selections from the Manuscript Department, Duke University Library. Frederick, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1986–1987. (On 84 Family History Library films beginning with 1549774.)

FREEDMEN - ALABAMA Slaves are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see "Land and Property").

Military Records
Civil War: A record was made of men of African descent who served in the Confederate Army: Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Negroes in the Confederate Army, 1860–1907. (Family History Library film 1653243 item 4.) This source lists the name of the soldier and his duty. It may indicate the name of the slave owner, the date of pay, master’s place of residence, where the soldier served in the military, and his military expenses.

Military records of Alabama

1862: Over 10,000 Alabama freedmen served as Union Soldiers World War II (1941-1945)


 * Combat Connected Naval Causalities, World War II, by States. Two Volumes. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946. (Family History Library .) This source is alphabetically arranged by state, then within the state by dead, missing, wounded, Prisoner of War (POW), died or killed while a POW, and POWs released.
 * Tuskegee Airmen tuskegeeairmen.org An estimated 16,000 to 19,000 airmen including mechanics, parachute riggers and support staff were involved.
 * For photos of Tuskegee Airmen americanprofile.com/tuskegee

Probate Records
FREEDMEN - ALABAMA Slaves are sometimes mentioned in wills (see "Probate Records").

Freedman's Bank
An excellent source is the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company. This company was created to assist African-American soldiers of the Civil War and freed slaves. Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company signature cards or registers from 3 March 1865 to 25 July 1874 may list the name of the depositor, date of entry, age, birthplace, residence, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husband’s name, death information, children’s names, name of father and mother, brothers’ and sisters’ names, remarks, and signature. Early books sometimes contained the name of the former master or mistress and the name of the plantation. Copies of death certificates were sometimes attached to the entries. The collection is organized alphabetically by state, then city where the bank was located, then date the account was established, then account number.

Alabama had a branch of the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company in Huntsville and Mobile. In each city depositors are listed by account number. The records are in:


 * Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (Huntsville, Alabama), Registers of Signatures of Depositors, 1865–1874. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0816. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969. (Family History Library film 928571.)
 * Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (Mobile, Alabama). Registers of Signatures of Depositors, 1867–1874. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0816. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969. (Family History Library film 928572.)

Freedmen's Bureau
United States:''Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Records of the Assistant Commissioner for Alabama, 1865–1869.'' National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0809. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969. (Family History Library films 1612338–60.)There is an ongoing effort to index these records. For more information please follow the link to the article about the Bureau. These records do contain the names of slaves and the names of white southerners who were displaced by the war. They are very valuable to African American researchers.

For 1865 and 1866, the section on abandoned and confiscated lands (Family History Library film 1612358 ) includes the names of the owners of the plantations or homes that were abandoned, confiscated, or leased. It gives the county and location, a description of the house, the number of acres owned, and the number of cabins of former slaves. These films do not appear to contain the names of former slaves.

Slavery Records

 * The African-American Mosaic: Ex Slave Narratives

Vital Records
Records of African-Americans may be listed as "colored" in birth, marriage and death records. See Alabama Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for those records

Marriage
Alabama African American Marriages Alabama Genealogy Project Email: tru_black@hotmail.com

Archives and Libraries
Alabama Department of Archives and History P.O. Box 300100 / 624 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36130 (334) 242-4435

J.F. Drake Memorial Learning Resources Center Alabama A &amp; M University Box 489 Normal, AL 35762 Phone: (205) 851-5760

Samford University Library Samford University 800 Lakeshore Drive Birmingham, AL 35229 Questions or Comments: 205-726-2748 Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR)

Birmingham Public Library: Collections and Research Birmingham Public Library Department of Archives &amp; Manuscripts 2100 Park Place Birmingham, Alabama USA 35203 Phone:(205) 226-3631 E-mail: jbaggett@bham.lib.al.us

Societies

 * Online Records of Black Belt African American Genealogical Historical Society, Inc.

Freedman's Bank Records
An excellent source is the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company. This company was created to assist African-American soldiers of the Civil War and freed slaves. Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company signature cards or registers from 3 March 1865 to 25 July 1874 may list the name of the depositor, date of entry, age, birthplace, residence, complexion, name of employer or occupation, wife or husband’s name, death information, children’s names, name of father and mother, brothers’ and sisters’ names, remarks, and signature. Early books sometimes contained the name of the former master or mistress and the name of the plantation. Copies of death certificates were sometimes attached to the entries. The collection is organized alphabetically by state, then city where the bank was located, then date the account was established, then account number.

Alabama Freedman Bank Records


 * Alabama had a branch of the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company in Huntsville and Mobile. In each city depositors are listed by account number. The records are on line at Familysearch.org


 * The Freedman Bank Records are also on microfilm at the Family History Library:


 * Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (Huntsville, Alabama), Registers of Signatures of Depositors, 1865–1874. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0816. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969.


 * Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company (Mobile, Alabama). Registers of Signatures of Depositors, 1867–1874. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0816. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969.

Freedman’s Bureau. Additional government records


 * United States: Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Records of the Assistant Commissioner for Alabama, 1865–1869. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0809. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969. These reports primarily contain statistical and historical information. For 1865 and 1866, the section on abandoned and confiscated lands  includes the names of the owners of the plantations or homes that were abandoned, confiscated, or leased. It gives the county and location, a description of the house, the number of acres owned, and the number of cabins of former slaves. These films do not appear to contain the names of former slaves.


 * The separate Freedman’s Bureau records do not usually name relatives or give genealogical information. They can be found in the FamilySearch Catalog Subject Search under:


 * FREEDMEN - ALABAMA

Plantation and Land Records
Slaves are sometimes mentioned in deeds (see "Land and Property"), wills (see "Probate Records"), tax records (see "Taxation"), and court order books (see "Court Records") under their owner’s name. A few parish registers (see "Church Records") list slaves who attended church with their masters.

Plantation Records


 * Some plantation records mention slaves. The Family History Library has many plantation records on microfilm. These records are described in a series of booklets by Kenneth M. Stampp. Guides for Series A–M are available at the Family History Library:


 * Stampp, Kenneth M., ed. A Guide to Records of Antebellum Southern Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War: Series A–M, Selections from the Manuscript Department, Duke University Library. Frederick, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1986. The Family History Library has microfilms of most of the records described in the guide. Alabama plantation records are scattered throughout.


 * For example, the booklet for Series F describes records of many plantations in Alabama and other states of the Deep South. The records were microfilmed at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina.


 * Records of Ante-bellum Southern Plantations from the Revolution Through the Civil War: Series F, Selections from the Manuscript Department, Duke University Library. Frederick, Maryland: University Publications of America, 1986–1987.

Biographies
Several biographical dictionaries, compendia, and histories may contain information you need, for example:


 * Black Biographical Dictionaries, 1790–1950. Alexandria, Virginia: Chadwyck-Healy, 1980. This publication is sometimes referred to as "The Black Biography Project." Three of the sources included in this collection are:


 * Bothe, Charles Octavius. The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Work. Birmingham, Alabama: Birmingham Alabama Publishing, 1895. [set of 3]. This book contains biographies, birth dates, parents’ names, and sometimes pictures. It also provides information on associations and state conventions.


 * Mixon, Winfield Henri. History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Alabama, with Biographical Sketches. Selma, Alabama: A.M.E. Church Sunday School Union, 1902. (Family History Library [set of 3]. This book provides pictures, church minutes and history, and speeches. There is no index.


 * Moorman, Joseph H. and E. L. Barrett. Leaders of the Colored Race in Alabama. Mobile, Alabama: News Publishing, [198–?]. [set of 2]. This source contains biographical sketches with birth dates, educational information, a history of each minister’s service, and a history of churches. It includes an index.

History of Slavery in Alabama


 * Sellers, James Benson. Slavery in Alabama. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Press, 1950, 1994. (Family History Library . This 426 page book includes a bibliography, on pages 399–409.
 * United States. Congress. House. Slave Ships in Alabama. Nineteenth Congresss, First Session, 1826.

Military
Military records of Alabama

Civil War

Over 10,000 Alabama freedmen served as Union Soldiers as well as in the Confederate Army.


 * Alabama. Department of Archives and History. Negroes in the Confederate Army, 1860–1907. (Family History Library This source lists the name of the soldier and his duty. It may indicate the name of the slave owner, the date of pay, master’s place of residence, where the soldier served in the military, and his military expenses.

World War II (1941-1945)


 * Combat Connected Naval Causalities, World War II, by States. Two Volumes. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946. This source is alphabetically arranged by state, then within the state by dead, missing, wounded, Prisoner of War (POW), died or killed while a POW, and POWs released.
 * Tuskegee Airmen Tuskegeeairmen.orgAn estimated 16,000 to 19,000 airmen including mechanics, parachute riggers and support staff were involved.
 * For photos of Tuskegee Airmen American Profile - Tuskegee Airmen

Vital Records
Records of African-Americans may be listed as "colored" in birth, marriage and death records. See Alabama Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for those records.

FamilySearch has begun to digitize colored Alabama marriage books:. As of 6 August 2012, some books from Baldwin, Bullock, Crenshaw, Dallas, Jefferson, Madison, Mobile, Morgan, Pike, and St. Clair counties have been digitized and indexed.