Marriage and death certificates don’t tell the whole story—but they leave clues. Learn how missing details in vital records can reveal powerful insights into Black family history and ancestral connections.

Racial labels like “Mulatto” and “Colored” weren’t neutral—and they weren’t fixed. Learn how historical language has shaped Black genealogy records and why understanding context is key to accurately reading your ancestors’ stories.

February 5, 2026 - The paper trail isn't gone! One of the first things many people learn when researching enslaved ancestors is this hard truth: names were often taken, changed, misspelled, or never written down at all. That can feel discouraging. How do you trace someone who seems to disappear from the record before 1870? Here’s the good news. The paper trail may be broken, but it is not gone. Enslaved people left footprints everywhere, even when their names were erased. Fin

February 2, 2026 - Your elders are your best source of information. Conversations about the past matter! Talk to an elder today to capture your family's stories. The most valuable records that you already have are your elders' stories. When people begin researching their family history, they often head straight to online databases. Census records, DNA tests, and digitized documents feel official and reliable. Over time, I learned an essential truth about Black genealogy: som

Family photographs are more than just faded images; they are windows into the lives of our ancestors. Each old picture tells a story, capturing a moment in time that might otherwise be lost. As someone who recently inherited my Grandma’s collection of photographs, I understand the excitement and frustration that comes with piecing together family history. Before her passing in November 2024, she and I spent countless nights identifying the people in the images but only manage

Funeral Home books can hold the key to lost family information. When most people think about researching their family history, they imagine digging through census records, birth certificates, and old photographs. But there’s another valuable resource that is often overlooked — funeral programs and obituaries. These documents hold a wealth of information that can help piece together family trees, connect long-lost relatives, and preserve the legacy of African American families

Black History Month 2025 Discover Your Family's Roots with Kinfolks Family History It’s Black History Month, and there has never been a...

Every October, genealogy enthusiasts and family historians celebrate Family History Month, a time to honor and explore personal and collective heritage. But have you ever wondered how this celebration came to be? The story behind Family History Month is one of growing interest in genealogy, national recognition, and grassroots efforts to preserve and pass on family stories. In this article, we'll look closer at the origins of Family History Month, the reasons it was created,

Ever since I was a child, I have loved books. Throughout my school career, trips to the library were my favorite part of the day or week. As an adult and a seeker of knowledge and information, 2 or 3 hours in a bookstore is as good as being on a tropical island or me. However, in a room filled with books, you can let your imagination travel almost anywhere! For genealogists, libraries hold rare pieces of family history that are most likely, not available in online databases.