Access the Freedmen’s Bureau Records Online

Speaker: Tammy Ozier

Our 23 August 2022 will be held in-person.

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands better known as The Freedmen’s Bureau or just The Bureau was established by the US Federal War Department in 1865 and officially ended in 1872. The Bureau was established to provide relief services to Freedmen (formerly enslaved persons) and Refugees (whites) to support those people whose lives were impacted by the Civil War.

Tammy Ozier will provide a brief history of the Bureau and detail its organizational structure as well as outline an approach to researching records within The Bureau record set, demonstrating how to access these records for free online.  The presenter will focus on offering specific instructions for accessing the Bureau records found at these websites: National Archives Records Admin (NARA); Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives (SOVA); FamilySearch.org; Ancestry.com; Mapping the Freedmen’s Bureau, including website links.

The presentation concludes with sample records that highlight the genealogical information that can be found in the Bureau records. To showcase the richness of the archive, we will explore the kinds of information that can be uncovered from military records, hospital records, rations list, and other materials available through the Bureau, including information about the names of former slaveholders; identification of family units; former residences; proof of marriage, and proof of parentage.

Tammy preserves her family’s stories in honor of her late mother and sister, who were unwavering supporters of her genealogical quests. She has traced enslaved and free ancestors going back to the mid-1700s, sharing articles about her family on her blog. She has a Black Studies Bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University and is an authority on African diasporic spiritual systems.  Tammy is also a retired corporate finance executive with over 30 years of experience.  She is passionate about everyone reconnecting with their ancestors. Her personal research area includes Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

In addition to various educational opportunities, Tammy has attended several institutes at MAAGI, SLIG, and IGHR.  Tammy is a 2022 recipient of the IGHR Frazine K. Taylor African American Research Scholarship. She’s the current president of AAHGS Metro Atlanta Chapter and a member of the Louisiana chapter. She also holds genealogical and historical society memberships in UGA, TSGS, ASALH, GGS, and NGS. Tammy has presented her research at various genealogical events, including at the Georgia Archives and Cobb County Public Library.