1Tracing one's African-American ancestry can be uniquely challenging. This guide helps overcome the obstacles and pitfalls of specialized research by offering a proven, three-part approach.

Part One covers post-Civil War era to present, showing readers how to access and utilize sources ranging from census records and vital documents to oral histories. Part Two provides comprehensive coverage of pre-Civil War experience research. Since this is where many genealogists find the most difficulty, the authors carefully demonstrate how to use information compiled in part one to find pre-Civil War documents, such as slave records.

Part Three offers detailed case studies of three African-American families and how these research tactics helped them trace their ancestors. Throughout, readers will find forms, examples, outlines, maps and other aids that will help them save time and document their research accurately.