Strategies & Techniques Into African American Genealogical Research

The most difficult part of genealogical research for African Americans is finding and identifying slave ancestors and their enslavers. The importance of understanding the history of the area where one is researching and the need to carefully analyze various documents, i.e., vital records, newspapers, etc., will be emphasized. This presentation will help researchers learn the strategies and organizational skills needed throughout the research process. The importance of using collateral and cluster genealogy in solving brick walls will also be demonstrated. Starting with the 1950 U.S. Federal Census and using basic genealogy processes, a case study will be used to follow an African American family from freedom to slavery.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87567037846

In person space available at the Ashtabula Public Library

Presenter Deborah Abbott, PhD, is a professional genealogist specializing in genealogical methodology, manuscript collections, and African American family research. She is a member of the Cuyahoga County (OH) Archives Commission, the Lakeview Cemetery Community Outreach Committee (Cleveland, OH), past president of the African American Genealogical Society, Cleveland, Ohio, and a retired professor of Counseling from Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. She holds both the BS and MEd degrees from Tuskegee University and the PhD degree from Kent State University. Dr. Abbott is coordinator of the African American Track at both the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Athens, Georgia, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). She teaches at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR). Dr. Abbott has articles published in the Ohio Genealogy News and FamilyTree magazines. She can be found teaching African American genealogy in a segment entitled “Needles & Threads” on Ancestry Academy, an educational video course for Ancestry.com. Dr. Abbott also coordinates the “Genealogy and Family History Clinic” for the Cleveland Public Library. She is a member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Association of Professional Genealogist (APG) and the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG). A Cleveland, Ohio native, Dr. Abbott is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Tuskegee University National Alumni Association, and Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland.