African-American Genealogy

NOTE: If there is a African-American genealogy book that you'd like to recommend the library purchase or a link that you'd like me to add to this page, please feel free to email monica (at) pawls.lib.ms.us with the information.  Thanks!

The books/microfilm listed below are owned by the McComb Public Library unless otherwise noted. 

AMITE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

·         Slaves of Liberty: Freedom in Amite County, Mississippi, 1820-1868 By Dale Edwyna Smith

CHURCHES

·         Celebrating 117 Years! Rose Bower Missionary Baptist Church – LIBERTY Public Library

·         Centennial Commemoration of God's Call to Holiness - A Commitment, A Celebration, A Challenge: Church of Christ of Holiness U.S.A., 1896-1996

DEATHS/CEMETERIES/BURIALS

·         Amite County, Mississippi Cemeteries by J. Paul Mogan

·         The Marion County, Mississippi Cemetery Record by Stanley Arnold

·         See Also: Pike County Death Information 1929-1933

FAMILY HISTORY

·     Irris Gave Us Hope...in the Future: No Stopping, No Standing, No Parking...Keep Moving (Irris Bonner-Harris family of Amite County, MS)       by Hope Facen-Ford         The Continuous Legacy of an African-American family (Dillon family) by Ron Fisher

·         The Crutcher Family of Yazoo County, Mississippi, 1800s-1900s (Crutch, Crutcher family) by Marguerite K. Shaw-Pickett

·         Oliver Wendell Cunnigen, Sr. (biography) 9 page booklet Plus a newspaper clipping of his 100th birthday in July of 1981 (in the genealogy vertical files)

·         Commodore Dewey Higgins (5 page biography + pictorial review) Principal of Burgland High School, Pike County, MS Folder also includes a newspaper clipping on Charles D. Westbrook, the first African-American to be named to the McComb School Board in 1969. (in the genealogy vertical files)

·         Butts, Bradley, Walker, Robinson, and Kenerson by David Walker – LIBERTY Public Library

·         Lanterns at Our Feet by David Walker – LIBERTY Public Library

GENEALOGY HOW-TO

·         Secrets to African-American Roots: a guide for researching American records (2006) by Collette Smith

·         Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing Your African American family tree (2001) by Tony Burroughs

·         Black Genesis: A Resource Book for African-American Genealogy (2003) by James Rose and Alice Eichholz

·         Finding Your African American Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide (2000) by David T. Thackery

·         A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your African American Ancestors (2003) by Franklin Carter Smith and Emily Anne Croom

                                                                                          

MARRIAGES                            

·         Pike County Marriage Records on Microfilm Years Available: 1888-1927

·         Amite County Marriage Records on Microfilm Years Available: Dec. 1866 – Jan. 1872

·         Walthall County Marriage Records on Microfilm Years Available: 1914-1926

·         Marion County Marriage Records on Microfilm Years Available: November 1908-January 1930

·         George County, Mississippi Colored Marriage Records, June 17, 1910 through December 21, 1979 (book)

MILITARY

·         Negro Soldiers: Free Men of Color in the Battle of New Orleans, War of 1812 by Rosemarie Fay Loomis – LIBERTY Public Library

SCHOOLS
 

·         Burglund High School Graduation Program for May 30 – June 2, 1965

·         Homecoming of the Lincoln County Training School 1901-1982 (August 21, 1982) (in the genealogy vertical files)

·         See Also: Pike County School Census

 
SLAVE NARRATIVES

·         Mississippi Narratives, Vol. IX by Works Progress Administration (WPA) Note: This book is shelved in the Reference area

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WEB LINKS 

*** 14 Oct 2024 - The Internet Archive was hacked recently and is currently offline. The archived links below will not work until full access has been restored to their site.***

* An Adams County, Mississippi Record Book

* Mississippi Slave Narratives

* Freedmen's Bureau Online - Mississippi

* Freedman's Bureau (MS Dept. of Archives)
includes search tips...scroll to bottom of page to conduct a search

* Amite County - Largest Slaveholders (1860) and Surname Matches in the 1870 Census

* African-American Gateway - Mississippi
from Allen County Public Library

*AfriGeneasPrecious Photos
Includes several photographs from MS and a few from Pike County

site not working when checked 26 Apr 2023 - link goes to archived version

*AfriGeneas Precious Photos II

*Colored Marriages, Wilkinson County, Mississippi (Books G & H, 1865-1870)

site not working when checked 26 Apr 2023 - link goes to archived version

Exploring and Preserving African American History in the Louisiana Florida Parishes: Preserving Our History inTangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, Louisiana   
by Dr. Antoinette Harrell

FAMILY HISTORY

* Pike County MS Magee-Varnado Heritage (by Willie Robinson)

* Robinson, Varnado & Other MS Family Research (by Willie Robinson)

* The Dillon-McGruder Family Homepage (by Wallace "Matt" Dillon) 

site not working when checked April 2016 - link goes to archived version 

*The Gwendolyn McGowan-Seagroves Family Homepage (by Gwendolyn McGowan Seagroves)

* Barnes Family of Pike County, Mississippi (by Rosie M. Polk)

* Brumfield Genealogy

* Westbrook Family - Descendants of David and Phyllis Westbrook of Amite County, MS
site not working when checked December 2015 - link goes to archived version
Westbrook Family Facebook Page

 *Between the Gate Posts (Copiah,Jefferson, Lincoln County MS)

* Remembering Their Names (by Linda Durr Rudd)

*Links last checked and updated 14 Oct 2024.