Church Unveils CD Rom For Black Family History Research

Feb. 26, 2001-- An estimated 8- to 10- million African Americans now have access to records that could provide them additional clues to their family history.

In honor of Black History Month, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the release of Freedman’s Bank Records on CD Rom.

More Info Church News Release Background on Freedman's Bank Inmates Participate in Project Links African Ancestored Genealogy African American Genealogy Group African American Records Quick Guide African American Resource Center Ancestry.Com CD Rom Cost: $6.50 To order: 1-800-537-5971 (item #50120) Or www.familysearch.org

It's a searchable database documenting several generations of African Americans immediately following the Civil War.

The announcement came in a nationwide satellite link from 13 different cities. But it all began in 1989 with a human link between a genealogist at the Church's Family and Church History Department, and inmates at the Utah State Prison.

Marie Taylor found the original microfilms of the records. She immediately recognized their significance. She asked inmates at the Utah State Prison to participate in the challenging project. They extracted, linked and automated the 480,000 names contained in the Freedman’s Bank records.

Darius Gray, who worked on the Freedman's Bank Records Project, says, "After 11 years and tens of thousands of records, to see it all come together and have it presented to the world... yeah, it's a good day."

Congress chartered the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company in 1865 to benefit ex-slaves. But, after former slaves deposited more than $57 million in the bank, it collapsed because of mismanagement and outright fraud.

The Freedman’s Bank Records CD is available at cost for $6.50. It can be ordered over the Internet at www.familysearch.org or by calling Church distribution centers at 1-800-537-5971 and asking for item #50120.

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