by David T. Thackery

There has never been a better time to research African American ancestors. The same advances in technology that have created a boom in the exchange of information have made it possible for a family historian to cover great distances and conduct in-depth investigation for a fraction of the cost of a traditional research trip. Census schedules, plantation records, and military records, among other sources, are at the researcher's fingertips in the form of online databases, CD-ROMs, and individual Web sites.