They Had Names

Did you know that there are approximately 44 million people alive today who are descended from formerly enslaved Americans? Have you heard about the 10 Million Names project from American Ancestors? This amazing effort is fueled by the desire to name those who were enslaved in the United States. More specifically, their mission is to be “a collaborative project dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865.”

Even if you do not have direct ancestors who were enslaved, this amazing resource is an opportunity to explore and learn more. It is a perfect way to celebrate and honor Black History Month. Many times, enslaved individuals were only denoted by a tick mark on a census or as named property in a will. The researchers in this project are utilizing amazing techniques and recovering awesome documents and records. They have created an interactive map that you can use to explore their findings. They have also written stories to showcase what/who they have found through their inspiring work. In addition to these resources, they have compiled a database that you can search. To view some of the documents and records from your search results, you may need to come to the library and access American Ancestors directly.

If you have time this week, a recorded webinar with Cynthia Evans, the Director of Research, is available to watch on Legacy Family Tree until February 21. She introduces the project and talks about its scope and goals. To learn more about this important project, check out their Frequently Asked Questions or Guides, Lectures, and Publications. Their pilot projects are also a great way to explore the history that is being informed by their research. Finally, to keep abreast of the developments from this project, subscribe to the newsletter or check out their recent news section.

But wait, there’s more! There is also an opportunity to help recover the names of folks by submitting documents, records, and other genealogical information if you have any. You can also get involved by volunteering, sharing, donating, and more.