2020 Fall Seminar

Recordings of each session will be available to registered attendees for one week after the seminar.

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Paths to Freedom: Essential Steps for African American Genealogy

The Seven Phases of African American Genealogy

This is an overview of the methods and sources in the six distinct phases that are the building blocks of African American genealogy. It progresses from beginning to more advanced research, highlighting some of the problems and complexities of African American genealogy along the way. It is designed for beginners, intermediates and advanced researchers.

From Census to Slavery

Most African American researchers try to leap from census records to slave research, bypassing a multitude of records in between. A broad foundation between now and the Civil War will increase the probabilities of success during the slavery period.

Freedmen’s Bureau Research

Records from the Freedmen’s Bureau are some of the most important for African-American Genealogy, and a hidden source for other genealogists. They help bridge the gap from freedom to slavery. Many reveal the name of the former slave owner. These records also contain records of white teachers, employers, land owners, and refugees from the Civil War. This lecture will explore twelve major groups of records from the Bureau.

Why You Don’t Find Your Ancestors

Genealogy databases have billions of names. But after searching online you often can’t find your ancestors in the databases. However, they still may be there. Why is that? There are many reasons but many of the answers may surprise you.

Burroughs’ book, Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree was number one on Essence Magazine's Best Seller List and is now in its fifth printing.

• His chapter, “African American Genealogy” is in the Encyclopedia of African American History
• His chapter, "How to Create a Family Tree," is in The Experts Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do
• His chapter, “African American Genealogy” appears in The Source: A Guidebook Of American Genealogy
• he was one of three co-authors of the African American Genealogical Sourcebook

Burroughs has received many honors including:

• The Distinguished Service Award from the National Genealogical Society
• The Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Award from the Federation of Genealogical Societies
• The Lowell Vokel Award from the Illinois State Genealogical Society
• He is a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association

In 2012 he received a fellowship from the Black Metropolis Research Consortium to research the Underground Railroad in Chicago. In 2005 he was selected as one of 5,000 African Americans to be included in a video oral history archive by The History Makers.

He lectures throughout the United States and Canada, having delivered one hundred lectures at national conferences, twelve national keynote addresses, nine regional keynotes, ten state keynote addresses and twelve local keynote addresses.

Burroughs is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the the Illinois State Genealogical Society and the Kwame Nkrumah Academy. Former board positions include:

• Association of Professional Genealogists
• New England Historic Genealogical Society
• Federation of Genealogical Societies
• GENTECH
• Friends of Genealogy at Newberry Library
• National African American Military Museum
• Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
• Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Chicago, Inc. (President)

Burroughs has traced two family lines seven generations and one line eight generations.His genealogical research has qualified him for twelve lineage certificates including:

• General Society of the War of 1812
• Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
• World War II Serviceman in Illinois
• First Families of Pennsylvania
• Century Family of Nebraska
• Pioneer Families of New Mexico
• First Families of the Twin Territories (Oklahoma and Indian Territory)
• Tennessee Ancestry
• Kansas Early Settlers
• Chicago Rebuilder
• Cook County (Illinois) Pioneer.

His research on the index to the Census led to discovering the original instructions and correcting a forty year omission from National Archives' instructions. His research on the Underground Railroad in 2001 enabled the Kimsey Crossing home in Tamarora, Illinois to be recognized by the National Park Service's Network to Freedom. His testimony before Congress in 2000 helped preserve 135 year old records from the Freedmen's Bureau.

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