Blog posts

Genealogy, archives and research technology

Articles on tracing African American and diaspora family lines, reading the records, and using research tools well.

The Krio Griot Research Journal is a resource for African American genealogy, historical records, and ancestral discovery. Explore expert research guides, archival collections, genealogical methods, and emerging technologies to help trace family histories beyond the 1870 Census.

From Freedmen’s Bureau records and slavery-era documents to African diaspora research and digital genealogy tools, discover the records, evidence, and strategies that can help you uncover your family’s story.

Research before 1870. African American genealogy before 1870 is an area of research that Krio Griot can support without claiming to be the definitive authority on it.

Researching enslaved ancestors is exceptionally challenging. Records are fragmented, individuals were frequently unnamed, family relationships can be difficult to establish, and historical documents may contradict one another. Even experienced genealogists cannot guarantee that a particular ancestral connection can be established.

Krio Griot helps family historians, genealogists, and researchers discover, navigate, and interpret historical records relevant to African American ancestry and the African diaspora, emphasizing access to research resources rather than promising successful ancestral identification.