Descendant Research & Outreach
Genealogy 101
Research of those interred, their descendants, and local community members can be found in a variety of sources, from local churches and newspapers to the United States Census (1790-1950) and military records. Some of these records can be found online; however, most individual databases, such as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, charge a subscription fee for unlimited access. Check with your local public library to access their digital offerings. The University System of Georgia offers GALILEO, a collection of resources for a variety of subjects, through all Georgia state public libraries, schools, colleges, and universities. There you will find Ancestry.com: Library Edition and Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, as well as over twenty other genealogy-related collections. Access requires an active library card or student credentials. Visit local churches, historical societies, or genealogy organizations for local documents or family histories that may not be digitized. If you require more specialized assistance, please email: historicblackcemeteries@gmail.com for more information, or join our Facebook Group and reach out to the community!
State and County Public Libraries
Georgia Public Library Service operates a statewide library system consisting of 51 of the 60 existing library systems. ALL Georgia residents can access PINES. The others operate independently, and are available for free for county residents, but may charge for out-of-county. Visit these branches in-person for resources such as city directories, family histories, or microfilm/microfiche holdings, which may not be digitized.
Chattahoochee Valley Public Libraries (includes
Chattahoochee, Marion, Muscogee, and Stewart Counties)
Sequoyah Regional Library System (includes Cherokee,
Gilmer, and Pickens Counties)
Other Helpful Sites…
Cyndi’s List (free genealogy search engine)
African American Cemeteries and Obituaries (90,000 family histories through cemetery/obituary records. Most are records of persons who lived in Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Schley, and Sumter counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama.)
**It's important to remember privacy and ethics concerns regarding the release of personal information for the deceased and their descendants. Please do not publish personal information of descendants on public platforms or domains.**
Federal, State, & County Archives & Historical Societies
You can also find a listing of historical societies and genealogical organizations throughout the state, that may have more local historical documents that have not been digitized. See below. The Georgia State Archives, located in Morrow, GA can be an extremely helpful resource for genealogy research. They have a “Family Research” informational page, as well as digital finding aids. Take your search nationwide! Start with Library of Congress and National Archives genealogical research pages.
Historical Research 101
A central part of any cemetery preservation plan is documenting the history of the site. Research locally first, beginning with conversations or oral histories of local residents or family members. Check your local tax assessor’s office for ownership information. Local libraries, churches, historical societies and genealogical organizations are also helpful in providing context and setting for a time period, as well as books and other documents on local history. GALILEO is a good place to start local online research, and easily accessible databases such as the Digital Library of Georgia and New Georgia Encyclopedia provide archived, digitized images, maps, and newspapers categorized by county for free.
Have you found a database or website helpful in your research journey? Let us know! Contact us or join our FB Group to chat.
Useful GALILEO Databases for Black History Research
Access GALILEO for free using your local public/school library card. Here is a list of databases that are typically helpful for African American research purposes:
Ancestry Library Edition
HeritageQuest
African American Funeral Programs from the East Central Georgia Regional Library
Georgia Department of Archives and History
Georgia Library Catalogs
Voyages: The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database
Vanishing Georgia
More comprehensive databases, such as:
EbscoHost (Ebooks; MAS Complete; Ethnic Diversity Source; Newspaper Source Plus)
ProQuest (Ebooks; Atlanta Journal Constitution and other major, national newspapers)