Find out more
There are very few printed and online guides describing sources and techniques for Caribbean family historians. I have included a couple of guides to African-American genealogy, which although relate to the USA, will be useful.
Books
Tracing your West Indian ancestors by Guy Grannum (PRO Publications, 2002)
Ancestors by Paul Crooks (Black Amber, 2002)
Jamaican Ancestry: How to Find Out More by Madeleine E Mitchell (Heritage Books, 1998)
Jamaican Records. A Research Manual: a two-part guide to genealogical & historical research using repositories in Jamaica & England by Stephen D Porter (Stephen D Porter, 1997)
Tracing Ancestors in Barbados: A Practical Guide by Geraldine Lane (Genealogical Publishing Co Inc, 2005)
DNA and Family History by Chris Pomery (The National Archives, 2004)
Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African-American Family Tree by Tony Burroughs (The Fireside, 2001)
The How to Guide for Tracing African-American and West Indian Roots Back to Africaand Going there for Free or on a Shoestring Budget!! by James E White and Jean-Gontran Quenum (Booklocker.com, 2004)
Finding a Place Called Home: A Guide to African-American Genealogy and Historical Identity by Dee Parmer Woodtor (Random House, 1999)
Unlocking your Genetic History: A Step-by-Step Guide to Discovering your Family's Medical and Genetic Heritage by Thomas H. Shawker (National Geneological Society Guide, 6, 2004)
Trace your Roots with DNA: Use your DNA to Complete your Family Tree by Megan Smolenyak & Ann Turner (Rodale Books, 2004)
Links
www.movinghere.org.uk- Guidance on Caribbean genealogy
www.everygeneration.co.uk - Empowering and influencing the black community through history, genealogy and heritage
www.afrigeneas.com - African-American genealogy; especially www.afrigeneas.com/guide, African-American Genealogy: An Online Interactive Guide for Beginners, by Dee Parmer Woodtor
www.bioethics.umn.edu/afrgen/africangenealogy.html - papers from a conference held at the Center of Bioethics, University of Minnesota, July 2002 on African-American genealogy
www.candoo.com/surnames/index.php - index of people researching Caribbean families
www.candoo.com/genresources/ - list of useful addresses and resources in the Caribbean including professional researchers and material which has been microfilmed by the LDS
www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ - Caribbean genealogical web project - links to a public newsgroup and to online histories and resources
http://genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts - a selection of free family history charts
Useful addresses:
The National Archives (UK), Kew, Surrey TW9 4DU. Tel: 020 8876 3444, email via webform
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - the website has online indexes to Barbadian baptisms and marriages, locations of their family history centers, and their catalogue of their microfilms of archive and library material. Its Hyde Park Family History Center, 64/68 Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, tel: 0207 589 8561, has many Caribbean resources on-site, including registers of births, marriages and deaths for Barbados and Jamaica.
Caribbean archives, libraries and registry offices:
Most archives, libraries and registry offices do not have websites and it has been difficult obtaining these addresses. Where I have found websites I have obtained contact details from these, or used other official and government sites. It is possible that some of these contact details may not be accurate. My experience is that some services are excellent and others tardy but on the whole it can take some time to get a reply - be patient.
Anguilla
- Anguilla Library Service, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI, tel: (264) 497-2441- Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Judicial Department, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI, tel: (264) 497-2377
Antigua
- The National Archives, Rappaport Centre, Victoria Park, St John's Antigua, West Indies, tel: (268) 462-3946, email: archives@candw.ag- The Registrar General's Office, High Court, High Street, St John's Antigua, West Indies, tel: (268) 462-3929
- Antigua and Barbuda Public Library, Market St, St John's, Antigua and Barbuda, www.thepubliclibrary.edu.ag/, tel: (268) 462-4959, email: publib@antigua.gov.ag
Bahamas
- Department of Archives, PO Box SS-6341, Nassau, Bahamas www.bahamasnationalarchives.bs, tel: (242) 393-2175, email: archives@batelnet.bs- Registrar General's Office, PO Box N532, Nassau, Bahamas, tel: (242) 322-3316
- Nassau Public Library and Museum, Shirley St, Nassau, Bahamas, tel (242) 322-4907
Barbados
- Department of Archives, Lazaretto Building, Black Rock, St Michael, Barbados, tel: (246) 425-1380, email: bda@caribsurf.com- Registration Department, Supreme Court of Barbados, Law Courts, Colleridge St, Bridgetown, Barbados, www.lawcourts.gov.bb/Recordbranch.html, tel: (246) 426-3461
- National Library Service, Public Services Division, Coleridge St, Bridgetown, Barbados, tel: (246) 426-6081, email: natlib@caribsurf.com
Belize
- Belize Archives Department, 26/28 Unity Boulevard, Belmopan, Belize, tel: (501) 822 2247, email: archives@btl.net- Registrar General, Supreme Court, Belize City, Belize, tel: (501) 227 7377
- National Library Service, Bliss Institute, PO Box 287, Belize City, Belize, www.nlsbze.bz/, tel: (501) 223 - 4248, email: nls@btl.net
Bermuda
- Bermuda National Archives, Government Administration Building, 30 Parliament St, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda, tel: (441) 295-5151- Registry General, Ministry of Labor and Home Affairs, Government Administration Building, 30 Parliament St, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda, tel: (441) 297-7739
- Bermuda National Library, 13 Queen St, Par-la-Ville, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda, tel: (441) 295-3104
British Virgin Islands
- Library Services Department, Flemming St, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, tel: (284) 494-3428- Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Government of the British Virgin Islands, Central Administration Complex, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, tel: (284) 494-3492, email: registrar@bvigovernment.org
Cayman Islands
- Cayman Islands National Archive, Government Administration Building, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. tel: (345) 949 9809, email: cina@gov.ky- Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, General Registry Department, Tower Building, Grand Cayman. tel: (345) 244 3404, email: bdm@gov.ky
- Public Library, Edward St, George Town, Grand Cayman, tel: (345) 949-5159
Dominica
- National Documentation Centre and Public Library of Dominica, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, tel: (767) 448-2401, email: library@curdom.dm- General Registrar, Bay Front, Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, tel: (767) 448-2401
Grenada
- Public Library/National Archives, 2 Carenage, St George's, Grenada, tel: (473) 440-2506- Registrar General, Church St, St George's, Grenada, tel: (473) 440-2030
Guyana
- National Archives of Guyana, 28 Main Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana, tel: (592) 227 7687, email: narchivesguyana@yahoo.com- General Register Office, GPO Building, Robb Street, Georgetown, Guyana, tel: (592) 225-7561
- National Library, 76/77 Church & Main Streets, Georgetown, Guyana, www.natlib.gov.gy, tel: (592) 227-4053, email: natlib@sdnp.org.gy
Jamaica
- Jamaica Archives and Records Department, 59 Church St, Kingston, Jamaica, www.jard.gov.jm, tel: 876 922-8830, email: archivist@jard.gov.jm- The Registrar General, Vital Records Information, Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, Jamaica, www.rgd.gov.jm, tel: (876) 984-3041, e-mail: information@rgd.gov.jm
- National Library of Jamaica, 12 East St, Kingston, Jamaica, www.nlj.org.jm, teL; (876) 967-1526, email: nljresearch@cwjamaica.com
Montserrat
- Montserrat Public Library, Government Headquarters, BBC Building, Brades, Montserrat, tel: (664) 491-4706, email: publiclibrary@candw.ag- Registrar General, Department of Administration, Government Headquarters, Brades, Montserrat, tel: (664) (664) 491-2129
St Kitts and Nevis
- National Archives, Government Headquarters, Church St, Box 186, Basseterre, St Kitts, West Indies, www.nationalarchives.gov.kn, tel: (869) 465-2521, email: nationalarchives@gov.kn- Nevis Archives and Library, Nevis Historical and Conservation Society, Nelson Museum, Bellevue, Charlestown, Nevis, West Indies, www.nevis-nhcs.org/library&archive.html, tel: (869) 469-0408, email: gdore@nevis-nhcs.org
- Registrar General, PO Box 236, Basseterre, St Kitts, West Indies, tel: (869) 465-5251
St Lucia
- St Lucia National Archives, PO Box 3060, Clarke St, Vigie, Castries, St Lucia, tel: (758) 452-1654, email: stlunatarch_mt@candw.lc- Registrar of Civil Status, Peynier Street, Castries, St Lucia, tel: (758) 452-1257 Central Library of St Lucia, Bourbon St, Castries, St Lucia, www.education.gov.lc/lib/lib.htm
St Vincent and the Grenadines
- National Archives, Cotton Ginnery Compound Frenches, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, tel: (784) 456-1689, e-mail: archives@caribsurf.com- Registrar General, Government Buildings, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, tel: (784) 457-1424
- Department of Libraries Archives and Documentation Services, Lower Middle Street, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, tel: (784) 457-1111, email: publiclibrary@caribsurf.com
Trinidad and Tobago
- National Archives, PO Box 763, 105 St Vincent St, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, tel: (868) 625-2689, email: natt@tstt.net.tt- Registrar General's Office, Registration House, 72-74 South Quay, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, www.legalaffairs.gov.tt/registrar/Default.htm, tel: (868) 624-1660
- Tobago Registrar General's Office, Jerningham Street, Scarborough, Tobago, tel: (868) 639-3210
- National Library and Information System Authority, 105 Abercromby St, Port of Spain, Trinidad, www.nalis.gov.tt
Turks and Caicos Islands
- Turks and Caicos National Museum, Guinep House, Front Street, PO Box 188, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, British West Indies, www.tcmuseum.org/ tel: (649) 946-2160, e-mail: use webform- The Registrar's General Office, Front Street, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies, tel: (649) 946-2800
About the author
Guy Grannum has been researching his own Barbadian ancestry for many years, and in doing so has gained first hand an in depth knowledge of how to research West Indian ancestry. He works at The National Archives and is the author of a number of genealogical guides and article.
Published: 2007-01-22
