Indiana Cultural Groups

Introduction
Learn the history of the ethnic, racial, and religious groups of your ancestors. The background of these groups often reveals clues about where they originated, why they moved, and where they settled. Their stories also add depth and richness to your family history.

You can find members of minority groups in most of the same records as all other Americans, so start in the same places you would search for everyone else. You may also find a few records created especially about a particular group.

Some records and histories of African Americans, Belgians, Dutch, German Americans, Mennonites and other minorities of Indiana are at the Family History Library.

People of African Descent

 * See African American Resources for Indiana

Other Minorities
Taylor, Robert M. Jr. and Connie A. McBirney, eds. Peopling Indiana: The Ethnic Experience. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society, 1996. . This 703-page book gives the background history of 30 ethnic groups.

For a listing of books about minorities, such as the African Americans, Belgians, Dutch, German Americans, and Mennonites, see the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

INDIANA-MINORITIES

Online Resources

 * African American Gateway: Indiana section Posted by the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library. Includes links to online resources, complemented by a bibliographic section for materials housed in the Genealogy Center.
 * The Frederick Douglas Papers, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
 * Individuals Associated with Indiana's African-American Settlements, 1817-1930 Statewide database
 * Register of Negroes and MulattoesJefferson County, Indiana 1853-1860
 * The Archives of African American Music and Culture, Indiana University