Uncovering Black History with AI: Ancestry.com's New Newspaper Records

Ancestry.com has announced the release of a new collection of newspaper records related to enslaved people in the U.S. These records, made searchable through AI technology, provide a valuable resource for Black Americans seeking to uncover their genealogical histories and learn about the painful pasts of their ancestors.

Importance of the New Records

The newly available records offer detailed insights into the lives of enslaved people, documenting how they were bought, sold, and how some attempted to escape. This information helps Black Americans trace their lineage and understand the experiences of individual ancestors. As more states address historic sites connected to slavery, this collection offers a crucial tool for personal and historical exploration.

Detailed Information from Newspaper Records

Nicka Sewell-Smith, Ancestry's senior story producer and genealogist, revealed that the collection includes newspaper records from before 1870, connected to over 183,000 enslaved people. These articles contain previously inaccessible information about individuals in communities where other records were lost or destroyed. The data includes:

Names
Ages
Physical descriptions
Locations
Sensitive materials related to the buying and selling of enslaved people
Ads seeking the return of escapees

Shifting Family History Research

Sewell-Smith emphasized that this collection transitions family history research from speculative to specific. "The collection moves the exploration of family history from theories about having an ancestor who suffered under enslavement to finally finding and naming them," she stated. This transformation allows for a more accurate and personal connection to the past.

How to Access the Records

Users can visit Ancestry's dedicated landing page for enslavement records to search by name or explore states with the most records. AI technology will scan these previously hard-to-search newspaper records, connecting them with names in Ancestry's other databases of probate documents to piece together historical puzzles. The largest collections of records are found in Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Navigating Sensitive Content

Ancestry.com has prepared resources to help users navigate these sensitive records. A blog post warns users about encountering jarring terms and content. Sewell-Smith noted, "We're telling people upfront, listen, you might see some stuff, some terms, some things that are going to jolt you." Some records highlight Harriet Tubman's efforts to help enslaved people escape north or provide clues about journeys on the Underground Railroad to Mexico.

Complementary Records

This new collection complements Ancestry's extensive database of over 18 million records documenting the lives of formerly enslaved or newly emancipated individuals. These include:

Freedmen's Bureau and Freedman's Bank records
Select U.S. Federal Census records
Other historical documents
Background and Related Efforts

Other sites and universities have also worked to make newspaper records related to enslaved people more accessible. Stephen F. Austin State University's "Texas Runaway Slave Project" and Enslaved.org's massive, crowdsourcing-powered expansion are notable examples. However, these resources have often been challenging to search or locate specific family members.

Conclusion

Ancestry.com's new AI-powered collection of newspaper records marks a significant step forward in uncovering Black history. By providing detailed, searchable information about enslaved individuals, this initiative offers Black Americans a powerful tool to connect with their past and understand their family's journey.