Researching African Americans can be chall enging\, but having a famous surname may make the task easier. This presen tation focuses on a case study of the Shakespeare family of Tallahassee\, Florida. The eldest family member\, who knew very little about her ancesto rs and relatives\, commissioned me to research her maternal branch. She ha d no relatives to interview\, no family documents\, and she only knew her mother\, Gracie Jane SHAKESPEARE Brown\; her grandfather\, Samuel Shakespe are\; and his sister\, Gracie Shakespeare. She also knew that they owned p roperty in Tallahassee and that her family was originally from South Carol ina. Using standard genealogical research practices\, I reconstructed her family. With the limited information\, the ancestor chart and family group sheets were filled out. The research goal was broadly defined to tracing her family as far back as possible\, which was segmented into smaller goal s. I worked from the known to the unknown\, used collateral relatives and the ancestors&rsquo\; FAN club (friends\, associates\, and neighbors)\, an d searched keystone record collections\, censuses\, and vital records\, to build out the family tree. It highlights the fact that African American g enealogy is both challenging and rewarding--whether you know a great deal or very little about your family. It can even be exhilarating\, especially if you have very little information on your family\, to begin with. Here are some tips to use in researching your African American family.
\nDr. Juanita Gaston is a professional genealogist and teacher specializing in African American research. Inspired by Alex Haley&rsquo\;s Roots\, she began researching her family in the 1970s. After working as a college prof essor of geography for over thirty years\, she retired from Florida A&\ ;M University and started providing genealogical services to others. She i s a member of APG\, NGS\, AAHGS\, and several state and local societies. J uanita describes herself as a lifelong learner. She has a B.S. from Alabam a State University and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University.
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