Finding the Hidden Legacies of African American (and Other) Families

Documenting and finding lost family history proves as daunting as locating vital statistics, but the effort to perform such a genealogical feat should be undertaken, for good reason, as the resulting information can prove rewarding. This commentary discusses research methods, effective methods, and materials for finding documentation of family history with a special emphasis on African American genealogy. Commonly used strategies are listed with successful examples and recommended sources. The article concludes with an affirmation of the value of research on ancestors beyond just vital records.