The IAAM's Center for Family History's growing digital African American archive collection features primary source material by, from, and about the African American community spanning the colonial era of the Americas through the 20th Century. The digital resources below contain a variety of unique and previously unpublished artifacts such as African American military records, family photographs, and funeral programs. While the following list is not exhaustive, archival additions in the near future will include oral histories, slavery-era documents, as well as marriage, death, and birth records.
African American Family & Historical Photographs
Our collection of donated private family photographs documents African American ancestors, family life, Black neighborhoods and businesses.
African American Funeral Programs & Obituaries
Our collection of donated African American funeral programs and obituaries provides a treasure trove of genealogical information for family history researchers and genealogists.
Centenarian Stories
Our Centenarian Stories archive is a public history archive that captures the living history of African American men and women aged 90+ years old.
Family Bible Records
Before the early 1900s, vital records were rarely kept at the state level. Cities and counties had some records, but often private events were noted in family Bibles, which are valuable for genealogists.
Slavery-Related Records
Our Slavery-related documents database preserves extensive records on African families and history in the western Atlantic World, focusing on endangered records for studying enslaved lineages. Public and scholar donations enrich our archive.
USCT Pension Applications
The USCT pension records from the Civil War offer valuable information for researchers tracing African American ancestry, helping extend family histories to the 1860s or earlier.
Vital Records Database
Vital records document births, deaths, and marriages, serving as key building blocks for family historians. They help confirm ancestors and reveal personal details, enriching family history with valuable clues.
Story Booth Oral History
This is a collection of video and audio recordings from our Story Booth in the IAAM.