Using Freedmen’s Bureau Records Records in Genealogy Research

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands is often simply referred to as the Freedmen’s Bureau. Often as genealogists, we are aware of the Freedmen’s Bureau, but do not fully realize the potential it holds for our genealogy research. Let’s take a closer look.

What is the Freedmen’s Bureau?

The Freedmen’s Bureau was formed on March 3, 1865 by the War Department for the purpose of negotiating relief efforts for freed black slaves and poor whites after the Civil War. Services included providing food, housing, medical care, legal aid and even the establishment of schools and colleges.

While successful in many areas, the Freedmen’s Bureau was hampered frequently by a shortage of funds and many political conflicts. Eventually, amid political pressure Southern politicians the bureau was closed in 1872.

Types of Records to Find

The Freedmen’s Bureau created a number of types of records.  I was quite surprised when I started looking into them. Note: Click through the links to find examples of each type of Freedman record.

•  Labor Contracts – An example can be found here for a list of labor contracts of freed persons being transported to Tennessee to work under contract for James Bond, Jr.
• Register of Indentures – These were often under aged children who were orphans or whose parents were unable to provide for them. These children were apprenticed to individuals who could support them.
• Reports on Outrages Against Blacks – Outrages by whites against blacks in the time after the Civil War.  This example is from North Carolina.  [I confess I found these disturbing to read.]
• Marriages – Lists of marriages legalized by the Freedmen’s Bureau. Prior to emancipation of slaves, many marriages were “informal” in the sense that most slave marriages were not legally recognized.

School Reports – The Freemen’s Bureau started many schools for former slave children.  The school reports provide interesting social history and the make-up of the schools.

Ration Reports – Lists of names for those who received food rations.

Hospital and Medical Records – Lists names, gender, race and ailment of people receiving medical care through the bureau.

Locating Freedmen’s Records

Researchers of the Freedmen’s Bureau records can them at:

• FamilySearch.org
• Ancestry.com
• Mapping the Freedmen’s Bureau
• NARA  – A sample of records are online. NARA provides a good background on the records.
• The Freedmen’s Bureau Online

Researching the Freedmen’s Bureau records presents challenges for the researcher. Not all records are indexed in the original records.  Time and patience (and persistence) are required for searching these records. Persons may have changed their names. Many records are not yet available online to the researcher. Many records did not survive. Lastly, there was a lack of consistency state to state, so variation of record types exists.

 Have you had success researching the Freedmen’s Bureau’s records?  Share you story in the comments below or on the Facebook page!