COVID-19 mitigation caused a lot of re-evaluation of service delivery. Before the shutdown, ALE could only be used inside our Library buildings on the Library's computers. Because of COVID-19, Proquest has allowed public libraries to provide home access to Ancestry Library Edition for our library card holders. All we know for sure is that ALE will continue to be accessible from our library cardholder's home until the end of 2021. We do not know if it will continue beyond New Year's Eve, 2021. We hope that it does, but that decision is left up to the vendor, ProQuest. In other words, don't delay too long before getting started.
I emphasize that access to ALE is available for "Beaufort County Library cardholders." All you need is a valid Beaufort County Library card and the password to access the Ancestry Library Edition database for free. If you had a Beaufort County Library card some time ago but haven't used it in the past two years, you will likely have to get a new library card. You can sign up for a temporary Beaufort County Library card online, get the ALE password from staff at your favorite Branch Library, and start searching. But please take the time to read the introductory information first.
Genealogical research isn't as easy as the family history television shows make it out to be. If you watch and think about it, Professor Gates cherry-picks which of the celebrity's ancestors he highlights. The whole point is to provide engaging drama for public consumption. That's not how genealogical research is done. Each person on every branch needs to be researched before the most interesting stories emerge. If you're willing to take some advice from me: It would be in your best interest to take 10 to 15 minutes to absorb how the records are arranged and research tips provided before you plug in your ancestors' name. Doing so will without a doubt in my mind, be more efficient and ultimately more likely to lead to success.
The following information comes directly from the Ancestry Library Edition website's landing page about the recently released "Freedmen's Bureau Records" as held by the United States National Archives and reproduced by NARA on microfilm. -gmc
This collection contains records from the Freedmen’s Bureau between 1865 and 1878. This collection offers a wealth of information. Because enslaved people didn’t have legal rights prior to 1865, it can be difficult to track them through censuses or birth, marriage, and death records. For many African Americans, records from the Freedmen’s Bureau may be the first time their ancestor’s name appears outside of inventory lists included in wills and probate records. Records from this collection may provide vital information, such as age or birthplace, in addition to a number of unique details such as military service and school attendance.
Included within this database are:
Records from this time period are unstandardized. The collection contains records from the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Using this Collection
The registry may include the following information:
Because there are many different types of records in this collection, individuals may be found in multiple records. For example, a teenager may be listed on school records, in an employment record upon gaining an apprenticeship, and then in a bank record if they opened a bank account.
When searching the Freedmen’s Bureau records, there are a few things to consider to aid your search. First, try and trace your history back to the 1870 census. Having traceable records close to the date of the Freedmen’s Bureau records will help you ensure you’ve found the right person. If you’re unsure where to begin, Ancestry’s African American Research guide can help you get started: https://www.ancestrycdn.com/mars/landing/africanamerican/africanamerican_guide_2015.pdf
Consider the status of your family members. If they were enslaved, when were they emancipated? For many, freedom didn’t come until two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. If you aren’t sure, there are a few clues to look for. If a mother was legally freed, any children born afterwards would also be free.
Names are also a useful place to look. A common misconception is that enslaved people didn’t have last names prior to emancipation. Though many enslaved people adopted (or were assigned) the name of their former enslaver or plantation, some did in fact have their own last names passed down from a parent—though they typically weren’t acknowledged by their enslaver and aren’t noted in records from before emancipation. It wasn’t uncommon for people to revert to their family surname or choose a new one to distance themselves from their former enslaver.
In the aftermath of the war, many Black people migrated to different parts of the country. This can make tracing your ancestors difficult. If you can, talk to family members to get an idea of where your ancestors may have traveled to. It’s a good practice to also check bordering states, especially if your ancestors may have lived near the juncture of multiple states. Records from West Virginia will be listed under Virginia, because West Virginia didn’t become a state until 1863.
Collection in Context
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen’s Bureau, was established in 1865 as a means to provide aid to newly emancipated people transitioning from slavery to freedom. It supported more than 4 million people, which included some impoverished white people and veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops.
Aid was provided on a large scope; everything needed to reconstruct a new economy was included. Perhaps the most well-known legacy of the Freedmen’s Bureau was the founding of Freedmen’s Schools, which provided a free education to many formerly enslaved people; however, the Freedmen’s Bureau also offered employment, banks, hospitals, and rations to those in need. Transportation to work sites was even available. Congress voted to extend the Freedmen's Bureau twice, in 1865 and 1866; however the Freedmen’s Bureau ended abruptly in 1872.
Bibliography
Everly, Elaine C. “Marriage Registers of Freedmen.” Genealogy Notes. Published Fall 1973. https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1973/fall/freedmens-marriage-registers.html
Facinghistory.org. “Changing Names.” Last Modified 2020. https://www.facinghistory.org/reconstruction-era/changing-names
History.com “Freedmen’s Bureau.” Last Modified October 3, 2018. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedmens-bureau
National Archives. “African American Records: Freedmen’s Bureau.” Last Modified June 4, 2021. https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/freedmens-bureau
PBS.org. “Schools and Education During Reconstruction.” Last Modified 2021. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/reconstruction-schools-and-education-during-reconstruction/
Reclaiming Kin. “The Complexity of Slave Surnames.” Last Modified March 14, 2017. https://reclaimingkin.com/the-complexity-of-slave-surnames/
To give you an idea of just how big a project this was, the folks at Ancestry.com digitized records found in the following series at the National Archives to create the database.
Selected Series of Records Issued by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M742. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Registers and Letters Received by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M752. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Georgia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869. Publication Number M798. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Georgia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M799. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Education Division of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1871. Publication Number M803. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Alabama, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M809. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Alabama, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M810. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Texas, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869. Publication Number M821. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Texas, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M822. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Mississippi, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869. Publication Number M826. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M843. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M844. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of South Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M869. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Arkansas, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1871. Publication Number M979. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Arkansas, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M980. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Tennessee, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869. Publication Number M999. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Tennessee, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M1000. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Louisiana, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1864-1869. Publication Number M1026. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Louisiana, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869. Publication Number M1027. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Virginia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869. Publication Number M1048. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Virginia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M1053. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the District of Columbia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869. Publication Number M1055. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1056. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the New Orleans Field Offices, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1869. Publication Number M1483. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Assistant Commissioner and Subordinate Field Offices for the State of Florida, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1869. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Alabama, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1900. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Arkansas, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1901. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the District of Columbia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M1902. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1903. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Kentucky, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1904. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Louisiana, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1863-1872. Publication Number M1905. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the States of Maryland and Delaware, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1906. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Mississippi, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1907. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Missouri, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1908. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1909. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of South Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1910. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Tennessee, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1911. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Texas, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. Publication Number M1912. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Virginia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number M1913. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Mississippi Freedmen's Department ("Pre-Bureau Records"), Office of the Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1863-1865. Publication Number M1914. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Records of the Field Offices of the Freedmen's Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1872-1878. Publication Number M2029. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
Selected Records of the Tennessee Field Office of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872. Publication Number T142. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Record Group 105. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.
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