{"id":1893,"date":"2023-03-28T03:05:08","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T03:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/?p=1893"},"modified":"2023-04-03T11:22:09","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T11:22:09","slug":"research-freedmens-bureau-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Research The Freedmen&#8217;s Bureau Records"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Freedmen&#8217;s Bureau was established by the U.S. government in 1865 after the end of the Civil War. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was originally called the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Bureau was set up to help the approximately four million newly emancipated African Americans as they transitioned from slavery to freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Freedmen&#8217;s Bureau provided assistance in areas such as education, employment, legal matters, and healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#History_Of_The_Bureau\" title=\"History Of The Bureau\">History Of The Bureau<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Records_Of_The_Freedmens_Bureau\" title=\"Records Of The Freedmen\u2019s Bureau\">Records Of The Freedmen\u2019s Bureau<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Marriage_records\" title=\"Marriage records\">Marriage records<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Labor_records\" title=\"Labor records\">Labor records<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Medical_and_school_records\" title=\"Medical and school records\">Medical and school records<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Court_and_legal_records\" title=\"Court and legal records\">Court and legal records<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Administrative_correspondence\" title=\"Administrative correspondence\">Administrative correspondence<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#How_To_Access_The_Records\" title=\"How To Access The Records\">How To Access The Records<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Online_access\" title=\"Online access\">Online access<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Physical_records_at_NARA\" title=\"Physical records at NARA\">Physical records at NARA<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/#Microfilm_records_at_libraries\" title=\"Microfilm records at libraries\">Microfilm records at libraries<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_Of_The_Bureau\"><\/span>History Of The Bureau<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Bureau was created by an act of Congress on the 3<sup>rd<\/sup> of March 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Major General Oliver Otis Howard was appointed as its first commissioner. As well as being a Union Army officer, Howard was also an abolitionist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bureau was initially intended to operate for one year after the end of the war. However, its mandate was later extended until 1872.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The mission was to provide aid and protection, promote education and employment, and help establish legal rights for former slaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, the bureau provided assistance to impoverished white Southerners and refugees who had been displaced by the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bureau was disbanded in 1872. This was partly due to a lack of funding and political support. There was widespread resistance from white Southerners and political opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Records_Of_The_Freedmens_Bureau\"><\/span>Records Of The Freedmen\u2019s Bureau<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a rundown of the type of information held in these records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Marriage_records\"><\/span>Marriage records<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Freedmen&#8217;s Bureau recorded and legalized many marriages of formerly enslaved couples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These marriage records may include the names of the bride and groom, their ages, residences, and names of witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Labor_records\"><\/span>Labor records<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Labor contracts documented agreements between former slaves and their employers (often former slave owners).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They may include names, ages, family relationships, occupations, and terms of employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Medical_and_school_records\"><\/span>Medical and school records<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The bureau provided food and clothing to impoverished African Americans. Rations and clothing records of these distributions often include names, ages, family relationships, and sometimes physical descriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bureau established hospitals and clinics for freedmen. The medical records of patients can include names, ages, medical conditions, and treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The organization also established schools for African American children and adults. School records may include the names of students, their ages, and their attendance history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bureau was responsible for managing confiscated land and property. Records may include details about the property, its location, and the names of the individuals to whom it was allocated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Court_and_legal_records\"><\/span>Court and legal records<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Freedmen&#8217;s Bureau intervened in legal disputes involving freedmen. This included labor disputes, criminal cases, and issues related to marriage and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Records may include case summaries, witness statements, and court rulings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Administrative_correspondence\"><\/span>Administrative correspondence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Letters and reports from bureau agents were also preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These can provide insights into local conditions and the experiences of freedmen in different regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Access_The_Records\"><\/span>How To Access The Records<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the U.S. government agency responsible for the bureau records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, not all the records are digitized and available online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Online_access\"><\/span>Online access<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The National Archives website offers a catalog that can be searched online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, in my experience, it isn\u2019t easy to use and find what I\u2019m looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, the organization has allowed other genealogical websites to index some of the material. Here is a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.familysearch.org\/search\/collection\/2721171\" target=\"_blank\">link to the collection on FamilySear<\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.familysearch.org\/search\/collection\/2721171\" target=\"_blank\">ch.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ancestry.com is usually a subscription site, but they\u2019ve made their collection of Freedmen\u2019s Bureau records <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancestry.com\/cs\/freedmens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">available for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Physical_records_at_NARA\"><\/span>Physical records at NARA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As I mentioned, not all the records have been digitized. However, the physical records are stored at NARA research facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These two sites have the most records:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>the main National Archives building in Washington, D.C.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the National Archives at College Park, Maryland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microfilm_records_at_libraries\"><\/span>Microfilm records at libraries<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not planning to be in Washington D.C. or Maryland anytime soon, then you may get lucky if you have access to a large library. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I suggest you talk to the librarians about getting access to NARA\u2019s microfilm catalog. They may be able to request loans of microfilm copies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Freedmen&#8217;s Bureau was established by the U.S. government in 1865 after the end of the Civil War. &nbsp; It was originally called the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. The Bureau was set up to help the approximately four million newly emancipated African Americans as they transitioned from slavery to freedom. The Freedmen&#8217;s &#8230; <a title=\"How To Research The Freedmen&#8217;s Bureau Records\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/research-freedmens-bureau-records\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How To Research The Freedmen&#8217;s Bureau Records\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1893"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1893"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2038,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1893\/revisions\/2038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exploreblackheritage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}