AAHGS Freedman's Bureau Project Information

The Freedman's Bureau was a U.S. federal government agency that aided distressed refugees of the American Civil War. At the end of the war, the Bureau's main role was providing emergency food, housing, and medical aid to refugees. It also helped reunite families. The records left by the Freedman's Bureau through its work from 1865–1872 constitute the richest and most extensive documentary source available for investigation of the African-American experience in the post-Civil War and Reconstruction period. These records present a wealth of information. Documents such as local census, marriage records, and medical records provide full names, residences, and often former masters and plantations, which all help researchers continue their family stories. The National Archives and Family History Library have entered into an agreement with the national Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society to provide volunteers to index the marriage records. At the AAGHS chapter meeting on Saturday, September 12, there will be a demonstration on how to index these records an the opportunity to sign up to assist. The records have been broken into small groups called batches. Each batch can be indexed in about 30 minutes. Participation is free and open to all AAHGS members and anyone else interested in assisting. It is fun, easy to do, and very satisfying to know you are making an historical difference. These records are an important part of the African-American experience, and having an index to these records will make them easier to access and search. In this time of the spirit of volunteering, this is something that everyone who has access to the Internet can do either from home, a public library, or even the Family History Library. We look forward to sharing this tremendous resource and historical opportunity with you!