• The Center for African American Genealogical Research, Inc.

Genealogy Tips

Lifelong Learning

Did You Know?

Allensworth, California was founded and financed by former slaves

The movie, The Body Snatchers, was based on real life Body Snatchers in African American communities

Nancy Green a former slave, was employed in 1893 to promote the Aunt Jemima brand by demonstrating the pancake mix at expositions and fairs.

In addition to being the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in 1884, Moses Fleetwood Walker was also an inventor, businessman and a supporter of Black nationalism.

Approximately 183,000 African American men fought to win the Civil War

U.S. Formation by State

State  Ratification or Admission Preceding Entity 
   July 4, 1776 Lower Counties on Delaware 
Delaware December 7, 1787  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Province of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania December 12, 1787  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776 Province of New Jersey 
New Jersey December 7, 1787  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Province of Georgia
Georgia January 2, 1788  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Connecticut Colony
Connecticut January 9, 1788  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Province of Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts February 6, 1788  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Province of Maryland
Maryland April 28, 1788  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Province of South Carolina
South Carolina May 23, 1788  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Province of New Hampshire
New Hampshire June 21, 1788 Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Virginia Colony
Virginia June 25, 1788  Sovereign state in Confederation
   July 4, 1776  Province of New York
New York July 26, 1788  Sovereign state in Confederation
  July 4, 1776 

Province of North Carolina, then sovereign state in Confederation
North Carolina    
  July 4, 1776 

Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, then sovereign state in Confederation
Rhode Island    
     
Vermont March 4, 1791 Province of New York, Vermont Republic
Kentucky June 1, 1792 Virginia
Tennessee June 1, 1796 North Carolina, then Southwest Territory
Ohio March 1, 1803  Northwest Territory
Louisiana April 30, 1812 Orleans Territory
Indiana December 11, 1816 Indiana Territory
Mississippi December 10, 1817 Mississippi Territory
Illinois December 3, 1818 Illinois Territory
Alabama December 14, 1819 Alabama Territory
Maine March 15, 1820 Massachusetts
Missouri August 10, 1821 Missouri Territory
Arkansas June 15, 1836 Arkansas Territory
Michigan January 26, 1837 Michigan Territory
Florida March 3, 1845 Florida Territory
Texas December 29, 1845 Republic of Texas
Iowa December 28, 1846 Iowa Territory
Wisconsin May 29, 1848 Wisconsin Territory
California September 9, 1850 Mexican Cession
Minnesota May 11, 1858 Minnesota Territory
Oregon February 14, 1859 Oregon Territory
Kansas January 29, 1861 Kansas Territory
West Virginia June 20, 1863 Virginia
Nevada October 31, 1864 Nevada Territory
Nebraska March 1, 1867 Nebraska Territory
Colorado August 1, 1876 Colorado Territory
North Dakota November 2, 1889 Dakota Territory
South Dakota November 2, 1889 Dakota Territory
Montana November 8, 1889 Montana Territory
Washington November 11, 1889 Washington Territory
Idaho July 3, 1890 Idaho Territory
Wyoming July 10, 1890 Wyoming Territory
Utah January 4, 1896 Utah Territory
Oklahoma Novemeber 16, 1907 Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory
New Mexico January 6, 1912 New Mexico Territory
Arizona February 14, 1912 Arizona Territory
Alaska January 3, 1959 Alaska Territory
Hawaii August 21, 1959 Hawaii Territory