What They Didn't Write Down | Researching Enslaved Ancestors

Njila New Moon Workshop — "What They Didn't Write Down | Researching Enslaved Ancestors"

Researching enslaved ancestors means learning to work in the gaps. The records that exist were not created to preserve their humanity — they were created to track property. And yet the evidence is there, if you know where to look and how to read it.

In this one-hour workshop, B. Kelly, Founder of Njila, shares the research strategies, record sets, and analytical frameworks that make it possible to find, document, and honor ancestors who were deliberately excluded from the historical record.

You'll learn:

• The primary record sets for researching enslaved individuals before and after emancipation

• How to use slaveholder records, estate inventories, and plantation documents as genealogical sources

• Freedmen's Bureau records, USCT records, and other post-emancipation resources

• How to work with indirect and negative evidence when direct documentation doesn't exist

What's included:

GA ($27) — Live workshop access

VIP ($47) — Live workshop access + downloadable Enslaved Ancestor Research Framework (fillable PDF research template)

This workshop is free for Njila Patreon members (Storykeeper tier and above). Join at patreon.com/njila.

About Njila:

Njila is a family history preservation practice founded by B. Kelly. Rooted in African American heritage and the documentary record of Louisiana, Njila uses rigorous genealogical methodology to help families find, document, and honor their ancestors. njila.org