Pitfalls and Best Practices in African American Genealogical Research – Leslie Anderson

SESSION: NGS2104-AA-02 TRACK: African American

Interest in the topic has exploded and the reasons are many: African Americans’ determination and commitment. Digitization. DNA testing. The proliferation of social media. An increase in the number of interracial families. The efforts of historic and cultural sites and organizations to be more inclusive. And, finally, what many people quietly acknowledge–there’s money to be made.

This session explores how you can become a more effective and efficient researcher by re-assessing current strategies and resources. It examines the intersection of geography, history, law, and material culture relevant to African American genealogy. You will learn how to debunk common myths that hinder productive research and replace them with key facts and sources that lead to good results.

The four-page syllabus includes an interactive timeline and maps, a list of essential references, and links to libraries, museums, and research centers.

BIO: Leslie Anderson is a librarian and a Virginian with free and enslaved ancestors. She was the Project Editor for Virginia Slave Births Index, 1853-1865. She won the NGS Family History Writing Contest in 2013. Her blog “1^st U.S. Colored Cavalry: Private Lives, Public Records” has been well received by genealogists and historians.

Video sessions are closed captioned.

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