Home / Find Your Roots / African-American Ancestry Research

African-American Ancestry Research

The Library’s collections are excellent for researching the origins of African-American families in this country from before the Civil War era through present time. They encompass both historical and genealogical data, with the richest material information on South Carolina and our Lowcountry region.

Much of the African-American population in America traces its roots back to the Lowcountry. Search our catalog for a comprehensive list of the resources available in the library. These links will take you to a listing of the Heritage Library online resources that are helpful in doing local research:

The Old Plantation (Slaves Dancing on a South Carolina Plantation), ca. 1785-1795. watercolor on paper, attributed to John Rose, Beaufort County, South Carolina. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA.

Join The Library

As a Member, you will have full access to the library facilities, publications, classes and our online resources as well as the talents and expertise of our volunteers who will help with your research project.

More Info

Useful Links

THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MOSAIC

Selections from the Library of Congress’ resource guide for the study of black history and culture, covering colonialization, abolition, migrations and the 1930’s Works Progress Administration.

LOWCOUNTRY AFRICANA

Lowcountry Africana, sponsored by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation of Charleston, South Carolina, is a free website dedicated to African American genealogy and history in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, home to the rich Gullah-Geechee cultural heritage.

OUR BLACK ANCESTRY

Our Black Ancestry (OBA) helps people explore and appreciate African American family history and culture. Believing that we “empower our future by honoring our past,” OBA contributes to a genealogical legacy that goes beyond the recording of names, dates and places into the realm of elevating genealogy to promote positive community and family values.

MAPPING THE FREEDMEN’S BUREAU

Mapping the Freedman’s Bureau is devoted to helping researchers put their ancestors back on the historical landscape where they lived.