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Nothing will get you going faster in African American genealogical research than this "Genealogy at a Glance" publication. In just four pages, Michael Hait, author of the popular CD The Family History Research Toolkit, lays out the basic elements of African American research, boiling the subject down to its essence and allowing you to grasp the fundamentals of African American research at a glance.

Hait explains that there are three imperatives in African American genealogical research: (1) you must begin with interviews of family members; (2) you must check records of birth, marriage, and death; and (3) you must check federal census records, especially the crucial 1870 census, which was the first census to include information on former slaves.

Beyond this he offers step-by-step guidance on finding and using other records that are crucial in African American research, such as Freedmen’s Bureau records, Freedman’s Bank records, records of the Southern Claims Commission, and voter registration lists. In addition, before ending with a helpful list of websites focusing specifically on African American genealogy, he offers tips and guidance on researching slave ancestors.

In keeping with the "Genealogy at a Glance" theme, the four specially laminated pages of this work are designed to provide as much useful information in the space allotted as you’ll ever need. No research tool in genealogy is as effortless and as convenient.

See also the other publications in our "At a Glance" series:
Genealogy at a Glance: Scottish Genealogy Research, by David Dobson
Genealogy at a Glance: French-Canadian Genealogy Research, by Denise R. Larson
Genealogy at a Glance: German Genealogy Research, by Ernest Thode
Genealogy at a Glance: Irish Genealogy Research, by Brian Mitchell
Genealogy at a Glance: Ellis Island Research, by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
Genealogy at a Glance: Revolutionary War Genealogy Research, by Craig R. Scott
Genealogy at a Glance: Michigan Genealogy Research, by Carol McGinnis
Genealogy at a Glance: Immigration Research, by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
Genealogy at a Glance: English Genealogy Research, by Paul Milner
Genealogy at a Glance: Virginia Genealogy Research, by Carol McGinnis
Genealogy at a Glance: Italian Genealogy Research, by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
Genealogy at a Glance: French Genealogy Research, by Claire Bettag
Genealogy at a Glance: American Cemetery Research, by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack