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Black History Month 2018 – Access Black History Records

Black History Month

In recognition of Black History Month, Fold3 is making the records in its Black History collection available for free through the end of February.

Whether you’re searching for your ancestors or looking for primary documents to help with other research, the Black History collection gives you access to more than a million documents, records, and photos that help to capture the African-American experience during five eras of American history: Slavery, The Civil War, Reconstruction & Jim Crow Laws, World War I & II, and the Civil Rights Movement

Recontruction and Jim Crow LawsAll the titles in our Black History collection contain valuable insight into the history of African-Americans, but titles that are especially rich in information include:

Some examples of interesting records you can find in the Black History collection include:

  • An 1810 inventory for the estate of Joseph Morton, a “free black man”
  • An 1827 inventory for the estate of Thomas Drayton that lists his 160 slaves by family group
  • A Civil War—era photograph of black laborers
  • The service record of Christian A. Fleetwood of the US Colored Infantry, who earned the Medal of Honor during the Civil War
  • A photograph of 3 members of the original black fighter squadron in WWII

Get started searching Fold3’s Black History records here. Or look for individual collections by name here.

13 Comments

  1. Brent Nimmo says:

    I tried to access the records for Robert Breckenridge of the 27th USCT. It told me that I need a premium membership to view his records. Grrrr.

  2. ANP says:

    When I try and look at any records in the Black History Month collection, I’m prompted to set up a 7 day free trial.

    • Anthony Snow says:

      You can setup an account for free to access other items that are free even after the month of Feb. I have been a non paying member for years. There are many records on the site for free.

  3. Carey Balton Yancey says:

    Knowledge is power too put form and function to wield means as power affecting culture as effectively as we sense of humanity! This is means positive or negative to endure???…!!!

  4. Pam Martin says:

    This has to be scam. Nothing can be viewed “free” wthout starting a trial payment plan. FREE means FREE with “no attachments”

  5. Renee Scott says:

    AGREE. The old Bate & Switch False Advertising Ploy

    • Anthony Snow says:

      You can setup an account for free to access other items that are free even after the month of Feb. I have been a non paying member for years. There are many records on the site for free.

  6. My Mother was a W.A.C. around 1945 from Emporia Ks. Looking for any info. Desperately seeking a photo of her. She passed in 2004. Any suggestions?

  7. My Mother was a W.A.C. around 1945 from Emporia Ks. Looking for any info. Desperately seeking a photo of her. She passed in 2004. Any suggestions?

  8. Brent Nimmo says:

    I am trying to see the records for Robert Nickens, USCT. They come up as being premium. Is there a special way to get to see them?

  9. Yvonne H. Vest says:

    To all of who tried to open a given record I was told the same thing that I had to upgrade to the premium membership but yet it says that all the records in this collection are supposed to be FREE. I am a member of Ancestry so I should be able to access theses records without paying an additional fee. No such luck