Finding your African-American roots
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 Tragically, the lives and deaths of many African-Americans were only recorded in terms of their economic value to those who enslaved them.  Thus, it is incredibly difficult to find genealogical records for a great number of African-American families. 

However, there are websites that are extremely useful in researching African-American genealogy and history.  Chief among them are Afrigeneas and the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society.

In Search of Our Roots by Louis B. Gates, Jr.

Researchers may also wish to contact members of a large genealogical society for the state where their forebears are believed to have lived. 

The Alachua County Library District also has a number of books researching your African-American heritage.  Furthermore, we have access to both HeritageQuest and Ancestry Library Edition.  If you wish to access HeritageQuest, you may do so at any time by using your library card; however, Ancestry Library Edition is available exclusively with the walls of the Alachua County Library District facilities.

Images courtesy Florida Memory Project.

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System status

A new library system and online catalog will debut on May 30. Here's the current status of:

  • Checkouts: May 24-29 you must have your physical library card in hand to check out materials.
  • Due dates: All checkouts will have a due date of June 22, except DVDs and GRU watt meters, which still have 7-day limit.
  • Holds and requests: New holds and purchase requests cannot be placed until May 30, but those placed previously will continue to be processed.
  • Returns: Please "Babysit Our Books" — keep them until the new system is running smoothly (mid-June).
  • Registration: Continues as usual today, but cannot be done May 24-29, as our entire system will be down.
  • Interlibrary loan: Continues as usual throughout the transition.
  • Digital checkouts: OverDrive checkouts and holds will work normally throughout the transition.
  • My Discoveries: Will be retired with the AquaBrowser catalog on May 24. Please retrieve any saved book lists before then.
  • Website: The Library District website (www.aclib.us) will be up as normal throughout the transition.
  • My Account: Account info will be available through May 24. Your account will appear on the new system on May 30.
  • Bill payment: All payments including PayPal are working today. No payments can be accepted May 24-29
  • New catalog: Watch for its debut on May 30, with new features.

More about the transition.
More about the new online catalog.

Have any questions? Please Ask Us!

Research Categories

Beyond Google