Illinois database adds to history of freed slaves

The advent of the Internet has revolutionized genealogy. Records by the millions are available with the twitch of a finger. But, often, when African-Americans research their genealogy, they run into a huge obstacle. It’s called slavery.

The state of Illinois has compiled a little-known database that can help.

Archivists working under the auspices of the secretary of state’s office maintain the Servitude and Emancipation Record Database (www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/servfrm.html) that contains historical records, many of them documenting freed slaves who settled in Illinois.

Karl Moore, an archivist who has worked on the database for years, explains that a freed slave was required to carry a certificate to prove he or she was free and not a runaway. Those certificates, called “free Negro bonds,” had to be submitted to the county and, today, provide some of the information for the database.

The information has been added gradually over the past decade as more Illinois counties contributed. There are about 20 counties participating now, all in southern Illinois. The casual browser may just select a county in the database search menu to see all documents from that county....