Researching the Ancestry of Formerly-Enslaved African American Families Part 2: Beyond the 1870 Brick Wall
The 1870 brick wall isn't the end of the road. Learn how to use freedmen records, enslaver documents, and DNA analysis to uncover the generations before it.
Researching the Ancestry of Formerly-Enslaved African American Families, Part 1: Up to the 1870 Brick Wall
The 1870 census was the first to document most formerly-enslaved families by name. Here's how to trace your ancestors right up to—and eventually beyond—that wall.
African mtDNA Haplogroups: A Complete Guide to L0–L7 and Beyond
From Haplogroup L0 to the Malagasy Motif, uncover the African maternal lineages that shaped humanity—and still live on in your mtDNA.
How Y-DNA Testing Transforms African American Genealogy
The genetic gaps in African American family history are real — but Y-DNA testing can help fill them. Learn what your paternal DNA can tell you about your African ancestry and how to get started.
Discover the Intriguing Paternal Lineage of Michael Jackson
How did researchers confirm Michael Jackson's paternal ancestry without his DNA? Sherman McRae explains the Big Y-700 test that revealed an unexpected French Huguenot connection.
I Got a DNA Surprise—Now What?
If a DNA test reveals an unexpected family connection, you may feel pressure to act quickly. This article offers supportive guidance for processing the discovery, seeking help, and approaching first contact carefully.
What Is an NPE? Understanding Unexpected DNA Results
Learn what an NPE is, how unexpected DNA results can happen, and where to find support after a DNA surprise, adoption, or donor conception discovery.
Eighty Years to a Name: How an mtDNA Project Helped Identify the Unknown Sailor of HMAS Sydney (II)
A chance connection through a Group Project helped identify an unknown WWII sailor after 80 years using an mtDNA haplogroup.
Understanding mtDNA Haplogroups and Your Results
Learn how mtDNA haplogroups are named and how to interpret your mtDNA results to trace your direct maternal ancestry.
What Is Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)? Explained Simply
What can mitochondrial DNA tell you about your ancestry? Learn how mtDNA is inherited and how it helps trace your maternal line.