Freedmen's Bureau Records on Ancestry 2021 (Free Records) with Nicka Smith

Summary

In this informative video, Connie Knox discusses the newly released Freedmen's Bureau Records on Ancestry, a valuable resource for genealogists. These records, free to access, cover post-Civil War efforts to assist former enslaved individuals and poor whites, offering a unique glimpse into their lives. Expert genealogist Nika Suelle Smith joins to share her insights on the collection's significance and how it can aid in tracing African American and white ancestors. Smith's personal journey through the records highlights the wealth of information available, including education roles, labor contracts, and even apprenticeships, painting a vivid picture of the era's social dynamics.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Freedmen's Bureau Records, including the Friedman Bank Records, are now available on Ancestry and are free to access for everyone, regardless of subscription status.
• 👤 These records are valuable for both African American and white ancestors, as they document the lives of formerly enslaved individuals, free persons of color, poor whites, and more post-Civil War.
• 🗝️ Access to these records requires at least a free guest account on Ancestry to log in and explore.
• 🔍 An Every Name Index is now available, making the records much easier to navigate compared to the previous method of scrolling through every page.
• 🎓 Nika Suelle Smith, an expert in African ancestry genealogy, highlights the importance of these records for deep South researchers, especially for those tracing African American family histories.
• 🏛️ The Freedmen's Bureau was established in 1865, primarily operating from 1865 to 1872, offering social services like food, clothing, labor contracts, education, and medical care to those affected by the Civil War.
• 📊 The collection is vast, with 3.5 million records covering 15 states, primarily in the Southeast, and is comparable in size to the United States Census records.
• 🔗 The records are not limited to the Freedmen's Bureau but also include other documents such as wills, estate inventories, and succession records that can provide crucial information for genealogical research.
• 🌐 The Freedmen's Bureau Records can be accessed on Ancestry by visiting ancestry.com/friedman.
• 💡 Nika Suelle Smith emphasizes the importance of using the state-specific guides available on Ancestry for directed research and finding 'golden ticket' items within each state's records.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Freedmen's Bureau Records?

The Freedmen's Bureau Records are significant because they document the lives of formerly enslaved African Americans, as well as poor whites, after the Civil War. They provide valuable information about the immediate post-war period and the transition from slavery to freedom, including labor contracts, educational efforts, and social services provided to those affected by the war.

When were the Freedmen's Bureau Records created?

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