Researching Black Ancestry in Essex County: Resources and Methods

On Friday, April 29, 2022, Essex Heritage and a panel of experts presented a program as part of Salem Ancestry Days to educate on resources and methods for researching Black ancestry in Essex County. In recent years, there has been a surge in the number of research projects done to uncover and interpret records and resources that shed light on the Black residents of Essex County from the 17th century to the present. These resources have allowed historians, genealogists, and family history researchers to better understand the diverse communities in the region and build a more complete picture of our history.

MODERATOR: Nate Bryant, Ed.D, Vice President of Student Success, Salem State University

PRESENTERS: Charles Shaw, Member, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society; Lauren McCormack, Executive Director, Marblehead Museum; Lou Meyi, Marblehead Racial Justice Team; Beth Bower, Retired Archivist and Public Historian