Family history research has become one of the most popular interests for Americans. This look back into history is more than hobby for most as they seek to find the path that brought them to where they are today. For some, that task is more difficult. A nationwide effort and joint project of FamilySearch, a family history nonprofit operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, are working to make records of freed slaves after the Civil War more accessible for black people seeking to research their family history. The Topeka Capital Journal brought this interesting news to us in their article, “Volunteers sought for indexing records of freed slaves.”
Sherri Camp, national president of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and the family history librarian at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library is looking for volunteers to index records of the Freedmen’s Bureau. The project seeks to have all records indexed before the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opens in Washington, D.C., in the fall.
Melody K. Smith
Sponsored by Data Harmony, a unit of Access Innovations, the world leader in indexing and making content findable.
