Ancestry Academy  > Education  >  Finding Your Juneteenth Ancestors

 

In this webinar presented by Nika Sewell-Smith, a senior story producer at Ancestry, she discusses finding Juneteenth ancestors on Ancestry. She emphasizes the importance of context in understanding the history of enslaved ancestors and their experiences, particularly around Juneteenth, when General Gordon Granger announced the news of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. Nika delves into various collections, such as the Freeman's Bureau records, US colored troops records, WPA slave narratives, and Virginia Untold collections, as valuable resources for tracing enslaved ancestors and learning more about their lives.

 

Chapters:

- Introduction to Finding Juneteenth Ancestors

- Importance of Context in Genealogy Research

- Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth

- The Role of the Freeman's Bureau in Genealogy

- US Colored Troops and Military Service Records

- WPA Slave Narratives and Audio Recordings

- Accessing the 1870 Census and Additional Collections

- Tracing Ancestors in Specific Locations like British Honduras or California

- Resources for Civil War Pensions and Other Useful Links

 

Learn more about your ancestors experiences during the time of Juneteenth and beyond. Don't hesitate to explore diverse collections, military records, and oral histories to uncover valuable insights into your family history.