There are many types of records available for various ethnic groups. Locating them may be difficult as they cannot be depended upon to exist for all locations, all cultural groups, or all eras.

Some common ethnic sources include church records and newspapers. Native American researchers may find the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Dawes Rolls, and other Indian rolls, or special Indian censuses to be particularly useful. Territorial records for parts of the Southwest may include Hispanic American, Asian American, African American, and Native American items.

A number of records of slaves and slavery exist, but tend to be spotty and of uneven quality. Immigrant relief association records are also hard to find, but may harbor the clue you need to get your ancestor "across the pond."

Many ethnic groups have established historical libraries. You might find information in the Immigration History Research Center in Minnesota.  Many books of immigrant records have been published and articles on groups regularly appear in genealogical quarterlies. There may be a special genealogical societies devoted to your country of origin, religion, or culture. Perhaps a historical society magazine will have an article about your ethnic group.

Help Me!  Determine what books have been published about ethnic groups in my research location.

Help Me!  Determine whether articles have been published in genealogical periodicals.

Help Me!  Find an ethnic genealogical society.  

Help Me!   Find manuscript collections of slave and plantation records.

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