Databases & Resources for African American Ancestry
*Please note that this is not a comprehensive list.
Freedmen's Bureau Records – Essential post-Emancipation records including labor contracts, education, marriage, and aid to formerly enslaved individuals (Free, Online)
AfriGeneas – A leading online community for African American genealogy, offering forums, records, and research guides (Free, Online)
National Archives U.S. Colored Troops Military Records – Service records of African American soldiers in the Civil War (Free, Online, Library Access for full records)
Slave Voyages Database – Interactive database tracking Trans-Atlantic and Intra-American slave trade voyages, names, and statistics (Free, Online)
Ancestry.com African American Collections – Includes Freedmen’s Bureau records, slave schedules, USCT records, and other African American-specific resources (Paid, Library Access)
Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society (AAHGS) – National organization promoting the study and preservation of African American family history (Free for basic info, Membership Paid for full access)
Chronicling America – African American Newspapers – Digitized historical newspapers from African American communities by the Library of Congress (Free, Online)
Black Cemetery Network – Database documenting Black burial grounds and cemeteries across the U.S. (Free, Online)
FamilySearch African American Genealogy Guide – Research tools, collections, and guides for tracing African American ancestry (Free, Online)
Indiana African American Genealogy Group (IAAGG) – Provides education, resources, and support for researching African American genealogy in Indiana (Free for basic access, Membership Paid for some resources & events)
BlackPast.org – Online resource providing thousands of articles, primary documents, biographies, and timelines focused on African American history (Free, Online)
Find A Grave – African American Cemeteries & Burial Grounds – Community-driven records of African American cemeteries and burial sites (Free, Online)
Databases & Resources for Asian & Pacific Genealogy
*Please note that this is not a comprehensive list.
National Archives Asian Pacific American Heritage Resources – Includes Chinese Exclusion Act case files, immigration records, naturalization papers, and internment camp records (Free, Online)
Ancestry.com Asian & Pacific Islander Collections – Vital records, immigration lists, and family trees for Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Indian, Korean, and Pacific Islander ancestry (Paid, Library Access)
Densho Digital Repository – Comprehensive resource documenting Japanese American incarceration during WWII, with family histories, oral histories, and digitized documents (Free, Online)
Chinese American Family History Resources – Guides and tools for tracing Chinese ancestry in the U.S., including immigration records and surname research (Free, Online)
Manilatown Heritage Foundation Archives – Focused on preserving Filipino American history, offers genealogical resources and community archives (Free, Online)
Cyndi’s List – Asian & Pacific Genealogy – Extensive list of links and resources organized by country and heritage group (Free, Online)
Hawaii State Archives – Genealogy Resources – Vital records, naturalization records, land ownership documents, and immigration lists relevant to Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ancestry (Free, Online)
University of Hawaii’s Ulukau – Hawaiian Electronic Library – Digitized Hawaiian language newspapers, genealogy books, and family histories (Free, Online)
Korean American Digital Archive (USC) – Documents, photos, and oral histories of Korean immigrants and communities in the U.S. (Free, Online)
Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) – Offers educational materials, community archives, and resources for Filipino American genealogy research (Free for basic info, Membership Paid for full access)
Databases & Resources for Hispanic & Latino Ancestry
*Please note that this is not a comprehensive list.
FamilySearch Hispanic Genealogy Research Guide – Offers guides, records, and collections for researching Hispanic ancestry from Latin America, and Spain (Free, Online)
Hispanic Genealogy Resources from the National Archives – Includes immigration records, naturalization documents, census, and border crossing records relevant to Hispanic heritage (Free, Online)
Ancestry.com Hispanic and Latino Collections – Access to Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central & South American records including vital, church, and immigration records (Paid, Library Access)
PARES (Portal de Archivos Españoles) – Digital portal to Spanish archives, including colonial records, emigration documents, and military records from Spain (Free, Online)
Cyndi’s List - Hispanic & Latino Genealogy – Curated links to Hispanic and Latino genealogy resources worldwide, including country-specific archives and guides (Free, Online)
Hispanic Genealogical Society of New York (HGSNY) – Promotes research into Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban, and other Hispanic heritage with educational resources (Free for basic info, Membership Paid for full access)
Los Ancestros: Hispanic Genealogy Resource – Focused on Mexican, Spanish, and Southwestern U.S. ancestry with records, maps, and research guides (Free, Online)
The Genealogy Society of Hispanic America (GSHA) – Supports genealogical and historical research of Hispanic origins in the Americas (Membership Organization, some resources Free)
Borderlands Ancestry (Library of Congress) – Collections of historical records from U.S.-Mexico border regions, including maps, oral histories, and family records (Free, Online)
Catholic Church Records (Diocesan Archives & FamilySearch) – Essential for Hispanic genealogy, includes baptism, marriage, and burial records from parishes in Latin America, the Caribbean, and U.S. Hispanic communities (Free via FamilySearch, some Paid Diocesan access)
Hispanic American Newspapers (Chronicling America) – Historic newspapers from Hispanic communities in the U.S. digitized by the Library of Congress (Free, Online)
Find A Grave Hispanic Cemeteries & Burial Grounds – Community-driven records of cemeteries and burials from Hispanic and Latino communities worldwide (Free, Online)
Databases & Resources for Multicultural & Caribbean Genealogy
*Please note that this is not a comprehensive list.
FamilySearch Caribbean Genealogy Research Guides – Includes research wikis and records for the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other Caribbean nations (Free, Online)
National Archives Caribbean Immigration & Records Resources – Focuses on U.S. immigration records, naturalization files, and maritime records relevant to Caribbean ancestry (Free, Online)
Cyndi’s List – Caribbean Genealogy Resources – Curated list of Caribbean genealogy websites and resources for multiple islands and territories (Free, Online)
Slave Voyages Database – Tracks voyages, names, and statistics of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, including Caribbean ports and islands (Free, Online)
The British National Archives – Caribbean migration records for British Caribbean territories (Free, Online)
Databases & Resources for Native American & Indigenous Ancestry
*Please note that this is not a comprehensive list.
National Archives Native American Records – Includes Indian Census Rolls, Dawes Rolls, and other tribal records essential for Native American genealogy research (Free, Online)
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Records – Documents related to tribal enrollment, land allotments, and other federal interactions with Native tribes (Free, Online)
Fold3 Native American Records – Digitized military and historical documents including Indian Wars records, treaties, and tribal rolls (Paid, Library Access)
Native American Heritage Project – A volunteer-driven site documenting Native American lineages and family histories (Free, Online)
Access Genealogy Native American Records – Comprehensive collection of tribal records, rolls, biographies, and histories (Free, Online)
Ancestry.com Native American Collections – Includes tribal rolls, census records, and BIA records specific to Native American ancestry (Paid, Library Access)
FamilySearch Native American Genealogy Guide – A research guide and database for Native American ancestry (Free, Online)
Oklahoma Historical Society Native American Records – Focused on tribes from Oklahoma, including the Five Civilized Tribes (Free, Online)
National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Resources – Offers research tools, collections, and guidance for tracing Native heritage (Free, Online)
Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission (INAIAC) – Provides resources for Native American heritage, history, and community in Indiana (Free, Online)
American Indian & Alaska Native Newspapers (Chronicling America) – Digitized historic newspapers from Native communities (Free, Online)
