Researching African-Americans in PA Your Pennsylvania Ancestors

Genealogist Dean Henry of Family Pearl, LLC shares his expertise in researching African-Americans in Pennsylvania. The genealogy of ancestors of African descendent requires using records beyond the PA’s borders and Dean tells us how to get started.

 We cover:
Misconceptions of African-American research.Important record groups to use at the federal, state, and county level.Key groups to join on your family history journey.Fun finds from Dean’s research. Sources mentioned
Freedman’s Bureau RecordsHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaChester County Archives (each county kept these records so check with your county of interest)Historic Eden Cemetery PA Septennial Census on AncestryTemple University Library, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American CollectionFamilySearch African-American Research GuideBlack Roots, by Tony Burroughs (2001)African American in Pennsylvania: Shifting Historical Perspectives, edited by Joe William Trotter, Jr and Eric Ledel Smith (1997)African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War: A Guide to Service, Sources, and Studies, by Daughters of the American Revolution (2008)Discovering Black Vermont: African American Farmers in Hinesburgh, 1790-1890, by Elise A. Guyette (2020)Links
Dean Henry, Family Pearl, LLC - familypearl.com 
African American Genealogy Group, Philadelphia based - AAGG.org
Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh chapters - AAHGS.org 
Subscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries Newsletter
Make a discovery about your ancestors? I’d love to hear about it!
Have a question on how research in PA? Submit it here for the Research Q & A
Become an Inner Circle Member and get exclusive content while supporting the podcast
Catch-up on all the past episodes
Music: My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free, composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in Philadelphia, www.amclassical.com, Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.
Support the show