The Alabama Indian Affairs Office does not maintain any historical records, nor do we provide genealogy research; however, listed below are some suggested resources regarding how to begin a genealogy search.

Many people today have a desire to seek their heritage. According to the Oxford Dictionary, genealogy is "A line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor."

There are several ways to complete a genealogy chart. Start with yourself and work backward to the person you believe to be American Indian.

 

The National Archives provides accommodations of materials and information on how to begin genealogical search. According to their on-line post "The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) holds a vast collection of records, including the original Declaration of lndependence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. NARA also preserves millions of federal records, Presidential materials, and other historical documents in various formats like paper, photographs, maps, and electronic records. These records are invaluable for research, genealogical purposes, and understanding US history."

The website for NARA is https://archives.gov.

Tracing Native American Ancestry: Methods and Resources - Genealogy Voyage

According to their website post "Our mission is to enhance the quality of life, promote economic opportunities, and to carry out the federal responsibilities entrusted to us to protect and improve the trust assets of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. We accomplish this by directly empowering Tribal governments through self-governance agreements."

Website Address: https://doi.gov
Publication of DOI - A Guide To Tracing Native American and Alaska Native Ancestry
Bureau of Indian Affairs Website Address: https://www.bia.gov/

According to their website post "The Alabama Genealogical Society, Inc. (AGS) is a nonprofit organization chartered in 1958 to assist and support the research of its members by finding, safeguarding, preserving, and publishing records pertaining to Alabama families and their history. It is the only genealogical society in Alabama that serves all 67 counties."

The Alabama Genealogical Society (AGS) maintains a list of professional genealogists who are available to assist with research. You can find their contact information on our website: https://algensoc.org/ags-researchers-list/ . Please note that any fees for services would be arranged directly with the individual researcher.

In addition, AGS offers free research assistance to its members for one research question. Membership options are as follows. Members may request help by emailing: research@algensoc.org.

• Individual: $30/ year
• Family: $35/year
• Libraries/Societies: $15/year

To join AGS or learn more about our membership benefits, please visit: https://algensoc.org/membership/ .