DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GENEALOGY

JOURNEY WITH US.

A research guide to ancestry, family history, and genealogy resources for the Dominican Republic.

Uncover with Ancestors of Paradise the untold stories of your Dominican ancestors!

”From Anegada to Virgin Gorda, tour the Caribbean in this gorgeous site packed with resources, historical photos and videos…”

101 Best Genealogy Websites of 2024
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records.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through census records, court records, deeds, naturalization records, military records, ship passenger lists as well as birth, marriage, and death records.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • Dominican Republic, Catholic Church Records, 1590-1975 | FamilySearch

    Catholic Church records created by parishes and dioceses in the Dominican Republic. These records include: baptisms, confirmations, marriages, pre-marriage investigations, marriage dispensations, deaths, and indexes. These records were obtained from public access sources in the Dominican Republic and may be used for informational and research purposes only.

  • Dominican Republic Civil Registration, 1801-2010 | FamilySearch

    Images of births, marriages, and deaths. Includes some divorces and indexes. Some of these records have been indexed and are searchable as part of this collection. Additional images and indexed records will be published as they become available. These records were obtained from public access sources in the Dominican Republic and may be used for informational and research purposes only.

  • FAMILYSEARCH RESEARCH WIKI | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a free, online genealogical guide created and maintained by FamilySearch, a non-profit organization. It contains links to genealogy databases, websites, other resources, research strategies, and genealogical guidance to assist in the search for your ancestors. Articles included are locality pages for countries around the world and topic pages that include pertinent genealogy record types explaining how to use the record, what it contains, and how to find it.

  • SHIPINDEX.ORG: A VESSEL RESEARCH DATABASE

    ShipIndex.org simplifies vessel research. Whether you’re a genealogist, a maritime historian, a researcher, or just curious, we can help you learn more about the ships that interest you. We tell you which maritime resources, such as books, journals, magazines, newspapers, CD-ROMs, websites, and online databases mention the ships that interest you. We enhance these references by noting which ones include illustrations or crew and passenger lists, and where you can find or purchase the resource.

  • SlaveVoyages

    The SlaveVoyages website is a collaborative digital initiative that compiles and makes publicly accessible records of the largest slave trades in history. Search these records to learn about the broad origins and forced relocations of more than 12 million African people who were sent across the Atlantic in slave ships, and hundreds of thousands more who were trafficked within the Americas. Explore where they were taken, the numerous rebellions that occurred, the horrific loss of life during the voyages, the identities and nationalities of the perpetrators, and much more.

collections.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through our collection of diverse genealogical resources.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • ANCESTRY MESSAGE BOARDS | CARIBBEAN

    Ancestry message boards contain over 25 million posts on more than 198,000 boards.

  • ANCESTRY MESSAGE BOARDS | Dominican Republic

    Ancestry message boards contain over 25 million posts on more than 198,000 boards.

  • DIGITAL LIBRARY OF THE CARIBBEAN

    The Digital Library of the Caribbean is a cooperative digital library for resources from and about the Caribbean & circum-Caribbean.

  • THE EARLY CARIBBEAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE

    The Early Caribbean Digital Archive is an open access collection of pre-twentieth-century Caribbean texts, maps, and images. Texts include travel narratives, novels, poetry, natural histories, and diaries that have not been brought together before as a single collection focused on the Caribbean. The materials in the archive are primarily authored and published by Europeans, but the ECDA aims to use digital tools to "remix" the archive and foreground the centrality and creativity of enslaved and free African, Afro-creole, and Indigenous peoples in the Caribbean world.

  • El Caribe Digital Archive

    El Caribe is a Spanish-language daily newspaper published in Santo Domingo and is one of the Dominican Republic’s most influential and longest-running newspapers. Founded in 1948 under the repressive Trujillo regime (1930-1961), the newspaper has borne witness to decades of political uncertainty, economic development, and social change. Except for brief interruptions in publication for a month in 1962 and seven months in 1965, El Caribe has been a constant chronicle of national and international news, both for the Dominican Republic and the broader Caribbean region.

  • HISTORY HUB

    History Hub is a research support community for everyone, including genealogists, historians, and citizen archivists.

  • MYHERITAGE | Dominican Republic ($)

    The Dominican Republic family history research page lists data collections relevant to Dominican Republic.

    Start your search here to find ancestors originating from Dominican Republic and to research historical records pertaining to Dominican Republic.

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CEMETERIES + MEMORIALS.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through cemetery records, grave records, tombstone inscriptions, and funeral booklets.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • FIND A GRAVE | Dominican Republic

    Find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials or add photos, virtual flowers and a note to a loved one's memorial. Search or browse cemeteries and grave records for every-day and famous people from around the world.

  • INTERNATIONAL JEWISH CEMETERY PROJECT | Dominican Republic

    We have successfully collected information about thousands of Jewish cemetery sites all over the world along with information on the location of the cemetery, and how to obtain more information. Each Jewish cemetery or burial site listed in the project by town or city, country, and geographic region is based on current locality designation. Some listings include links to other websites with additional information such as burial lists or a name to contact by email or snail-mail.

HISTORIC IMAGES + FILM.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through early photographs, studio portraits, historic landscape images and film.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • DEADFRED GENEALOGY PHOTO ARCHIVE

    Trace your roots for FREE with our searchable database containing thousands of identified and mystery photos for genealogy enthusiasts looking for long-lost family. Anyone who finds a photo of a direct ancestor that is owned by the archive will receive the photo for free.

  • HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library

    HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library is an archive of images from the Jewish world. Jewish communities in the Caribbean featured include Aruba, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Eustatius, St. Thomas, and Trinidad.

  • HUNTLEY FILM ARCHIVES | Dominican Republic

    We are a team of dedicated film archivists who aim to help you produce the best archive content for your project.

    Our collections are vast and varied - the sum of over fifty years of service to production and to film archiving. Our footage starts around 1895 and we cover the places and people of the 20th century comprehensively and globally. Our holdings are mostly documentary with the addition of behind the scenes Hollywood, Bollywood and a special collection of pioneer film makers. It is with great pride that our source material is still on celluloid for quality and that filmic texture. Our films are housed in purpose built film vaults and our staff expert in their field.

  • Mary Evans Picture Library

    Mary Evans Picture Library licenses images for use in books, newspapers, exhibitions, websites and all manner of other media. Our images cover a broad range of topics, with the overarching themes of history and film. Our range, however, extends far beyond most people's perception of historical pictures, to include areas such as fashion, design, society and, uniquely, the paranormal.

  • The Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs | Dominican Republic

    The Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs is a singular collection of more than 3,500 historical images from 34 countries including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad. This visual record contains studio portraits, landscapes and tourist views and brings to life the changing economies, environments and communities that emerged post-emancipation. The Collection includes nearly every photographic format available during the years 1840 to 1940, including prints, postcards, daguerreotypes, lantern slides, albums, and stereographs.

  • SOUTHEAST ASIAN & CARIBBEAN IMAGES (KITLV) | UNIVERSITAIRE BIBLIOTHEKEN LEIDEN

    The KITLV image collection holds photographs, prints and drawings that were acquired by The Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV). Housed at Leiden University Libraries since 2014, as part of the KITLV library collection.

    The biggest part of the image collection consists of photographs. Around 1890 the KITLV started collecting photographs for the purpose of documenting the image of the Dutch East and West Indies in all their facets, such as landscapes, town views, architecture, and life under indigenous and Dutch rule and so forth.

  • VIVID-PIX

    Easy-to-use software that helps you fix your pics and documents fast! Free to try - no credit card required.

HISTORIC MAPS.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through historic maps.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • David Rumsey Map Collection | Dominican Republic

    The David Rumsey Map Collection was started over 35 years ago and contains more than 200,000 maps. The collection focuses on rare 16th through 21st century maps of North and South America, as well as maps of the World, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. The collection includes atlases, globes, wall maps, school geographies, pocket maps, books of exploration, maritime charts, and a variety of cartographic materials including pocket, wall, children's, and manuscript maps. Items range in date from around 1550 to the present.

  • Historic Map Works | Dominican Republic

    Based in South Portland, ME, Historic Map Works, LLC is an Internet company formed to create a historic digital map database of North America and the world. Drawing on the largest physical collection of American property atlases of its type, it is our aim to be the single best online destination for map enthusiasts and researchers alike.

  • OLD MAPS ONLINE | Dominican Republic

    Our mission is to give old maps a new life in the online world via the Old Maps Online search catalog that allows visitors to explore and discover the beauty of historical maps depicting a past geographical place of their interest.

CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through libraries, museums, historical societies, and community cultural centers dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Caribbean culture.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • Centro Cultural y Museo Horacio Vásquez

    Este Centro Cultural y Museo fue construido con el objetivo de que Tamboril contara con un espacio de animación cultural, y que a su vez funcionará como espacio museográfico y como centro de investigación de la historia dominicana desde la casa original del Presidente Horacio Vásquez. Este lugar, además da acogida a las actividades comunitarias del entorno, todo el Cibao v otros visitantes lejanos.

    A partir de la iniciativa de la Fundación Horacio Vásquez y de sus principales familias, se inicia un periplo con el interés de que esta historia y este personaje no se quedara en el olvido. Tomando como base su trayectoria y las cosas que pudo conservar la familia, se obtuvieron los permisos de rigor para acompañar el recorrido del museo estos objetos de sin igual valor para la familia y el país.

  • Centro León

    El Centro León es museo y centro cultural concebido para la creatividad, la investigación, el encuentro y el disfrute de todos los públicos, dominicanos y extranjeros. Esta institución cultural fue inaugurada en ocasión del centenario de la fundación de La Aurora, primera empresa de la familia León. La realización de esta obra consolida la trayectoria y el apoyo al arte y la cultura que ha venido desarrollando la familia León desde la Fundación Eduardo León Jimenes.

    Acopia 40 colecciones sobre artes visuales, arqueología, etnografía, folklore dominicano, cultura popular dominicana, fotografía dominicana, bibliográfica, cartografía, documental y multimedia. Sus programas y proyectos se articulan en torno a sus ejes temáticos: creatividad, identidad y habilidad, a través de actividades de animación sociocultural y educación. Sus espacios cumplen con los estándares internacionales establecidos por el Consejo Internacional de Museos (ICOM) y la UNESCO, para su diseño y operación.

  • CUNY Dominican Studies Institute

    Founded in 1992 and housed at The City College of New York, the Dominican Studies Institute of the City University of New York (CUNY DSI) is the nation's first university-based research institute devoted to the study of people of Dominican descent in the United States and other parts of the world. CUNY DSI's mission is to produce and disseminate research and scholarship about Dominicans, and about the Dominican Republic. CUNY DSI is the locus for a community of scholars, including doctoral fellows, in the field of Dominican Studies and sponsors multidisciplinary research projects.

  • First Blacks in the Americas / Los Primeros Negros en las Américas

    The CUNY DOMINICAN STUDIES INSTITUTE (CUNY DSI), a research unit of the City University of New York housed at The City College of New York, has announced the publication of their online academic and educational platform "First Blacks in the Americas," the first digital bilingual platform devoted to disseminating the history of the early inhabitants of Black-African ancestry of today's Dominican Republic, then a Spanish colony named La Española (Hispaniola, in English) that occupied the entire island of the same name, shared today by the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti.

  • INDO-CARIBBEAN CULTURAL CENTRE

    Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre (ICC) is a non-profit, independent, educational organization recognized by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. ICC was established in 1999 with its axiom being “Celebrating unity in cultural diversity in the Caribbean.” It is dedicated to publishing two magazines every year – a Divali souvenir magazine, and an Indian Arrival Day commemorative magazine. ICC is primarily committed to the production of information about people, issues and events affecting Hindus and Indians in multi-ethnic Trinidad and the Caribbean.

  • INSTITUTO DOMINICANO DE GENEALOGÍA

    El Instituto Dominicano de Genealogía fundado el 26 de enero de 1983 (Día de Duarte), en la ciudad de Santo Domingo, capital de la República Dominicana, tiene como objetivo primordial la intensificación de los estudios y las labores en el campo de la genealogía.

  • Museo 26 de Julio

    Ofrecer un panorama visual del desarrollo histórico de los ciudadanos mocanos junto a sus familias, por la entrega y lucha por su país.

    Despertar la curiosidad en las nuevas generaciones para que profundicen en algún aspecto de nuestro pasado y su trascendencia en el presente.

    Fomentar la memoria histórica de Moca y sus vinculaciones con la formación de nuestra república, a través de las exhibiciones de este museo y videos históricos contados por los descendientes, mostrando una exposición temporal y permanente que fomentan las familias y su importancia en la lucha por la independencia democrática.

  • Museo de las Atarazanas Reales MAR

    Establecer al Museo de las Atarazanas Reales (MAR) como uno de los principales museos y centros de investigación de arqueología subacuática de Centro América y del Caribe.

  • Museo Alcázar de Colón

    Monumento Patrimonio de la Humanidad y museo histórico, dedicado a la investigación y comunicación del período colonial desarrollado en los inicios del Siglo XVI, más específicamente desde 1509 hasta entrada la mitad del Siglo, y todos los acontecimientos anteriores y posteriores relacionados con la Familia Don Diego de Colón y Doña María de Toledo, sus actividades en la isla y sus relaciones con España y las nuevas tierras americanas.Description goes here

  • Museo Casa Fuerte Juan Ponce de León

    La misión del Museo Casa Fuerte de Ponce de León es la de preservar y comunicar a los visitantes los aspectos relacionados con la epopeya de la conquista de las tierras de San Rafael del Yuma territorio de los Caribes durante el siglo XVI para la corona española, así como la de dar a conocer al conquistador Juan Ponce de León colonizador de Puerto Rico y aventurero en la búsqueda de la Fuente de la Juventud en La Florida.

  • Museo de las Casas Reales

    El Museo de las Casas Reales o el palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santo Domingo es un importante sitio histórico y cultural ubicado en la Ciudad Colonial de Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. Este museo se encuentra en un edificio emblemático que fue construido durante el período colonial español.

  • Museo de la Familia Dominicana del Siglo XIX

    Este museo cuenta con un valioso mobiliario que muestra la forma en que vivía una familia acomodada del siglo XIX.

    Está instalado en la conocida Casa de Tostado en la calle Arzobispo Meriño esq. calle Padre Billini de la Ciudad Colonial. Este edificio fue construido en piedra en el siglo XVI por el escribano Francisco de Tostado, quien arribó a la española en 1502 junto a Fray Nicolás de Ovando, recién nombrado Gobernador de la Isla.

  • Museo Faro a Colón

    Investigar, exponer, conservar y difundir la memoria histórica, el mestizaje y el patrimonio cultural internacional, con fines de educación, estudio y recreo, relacionado con la llegada de Colón, el descubrimiento, colonización y evangelización de América y sus consecuencias, involucrando a Europa-Asia, África y América.

  • Museo de Historia y Geografía

    El Museo de Historia y Geografía Dominicana fue creado el 14 de septiembre de 1981 e inaugurado el 1 de marzo de 1982 en el edificio que ocupaba el Liceo Unión Panamericana.

    El museo desempeña un papel fundamental en la preservación y conservación del patrimonio histórico de la República Dominicana. A su vez proporciona a los visitantes una visión integral de la historia de la República Dominicana, desde la época precolombina hasta el presente, permitiendo comprender la evolución y los acontecimientos significativos que han moldeado la nación.

  • Museo del Hombre Dominicano

    El Museo del Hombre Dominicano es un museo situado en Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, está constituido por diferentes salas de exposición, su colección posee la mayor cantidad de bienes culturales procedente de los primeros habitantes de la isla Hispaniola.

  • Museo del Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración

    El Museo del Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración en Santiago, inaugurado el 16 de agosto de 2007, representa un novedoso museo visual, que cuenta con una presentación didáctica de la historia de la Restauración, resaltando sus principales acontecimientos, enfatizando además los valores de la identidad santiaguera más emblemáticos.

DOMINICAN DIASPORA.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through our collection of diverse genealogical resources.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • DominiRicanDH

    The title of our project, DominiRican, pays homage to the shared diasporic experiences of Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and people of both Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. It engages the cultural productions and intellectual processes that emerge from these shared identities and experiences in the United States. This project is dedicated to mapping literary and cultural productions that emerge out of the coexistence of Dominican and Puerto Rican diaspora communities in the U.S.. Mapping takes on a dual mfeaning here as we are tracing the origins and movement - across the Caribbean Sea between DR and PR - and through the Atlantic Ocean as Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, and DominiRicans travel and migrate to the United States and also participate in back and forth movements throughout these places that contribute to transcultural changes, community building, intellectual exchanges in scholarship and literature, and identity formations expressed through literature, food, music, dance, art, and visual culture. Furthermore, we digitally map the locations of DominiRican communities, spaces of visual art or of historical relevance, institutions, and of relevant people (birth places/cemeteries/memorials) to illustrate how ideas and practices have moved beyond borders and share this story.

BOOKs.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through our collection of books for beginners, research guides, records guides, case studies, memoirs, family histories, oral histories, and photography collections.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

BLOGs.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through history, culture, and genealogy blogs.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • SAMBUMBIA - DOMINICAN-CARIBBEAN GENETICS AND GENEALOGY

    Analyzing and understanding the roots of Dominican/Quisqueyan/Haitian peoples via genealogy and genetics.

PODCASTS.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors on-topic podcast episodes and series.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • ISLAND ARCHIVES

    The Island Archives Podcast is an audio series created to honor the Caribbean heroes/sheroes of the past and present and highlight their immeasurable contributions in different areas/disciplines. We feature their achievements by retelling their stories in an interesting, engaging, and insightful way by blending humor, history and highlights.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through social media discussion forums, networks, groups, and pages.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY | FACEBOOK

    This group is for sharing resources and assisting with research relating to Caribbean ancestry and history.

  • CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY RESEARCH COMMUNITY | FACEBOOK

    Welcome to the Caribbean Research Community! This group was created to give people researching the region a place to ask questions, collaborate, and share research with one another.

  • THE CUTLASS MAGAZINE

    A progressive podcast and platform dedicated to the Indo-Caribbean community and other descendants of Indian indentureship from around the world.

  • Genealogia De La Republica Dominicana | Facebook

  • GENEALOGÍA GURABERA, Republica Dominicana | Facebook

    Somos un grupo conformado por las familias tradicionales de Gurabo, sus descendientes y relacionados que buscamos ampliar los conocimientos de nuestras raíces, de los orígenes de Gurabo, con la intención de hacer un reagrupamiento familiar, para el rescate de las tradiciones, costumbres, valores, cultura, historia y folklore, que forjaron nuestros padres abuelos y tatarabuelos, fundadores de Gurabo. Quienes llegaron procedentes de las Islas Canarias, España, a mediados del siglo XVII.

  • GENEALOGICAL TRANSLATIONS | FACEBOOK

    Genealogical Translations was established to provide amateur family researchers a place to have their genealogical documents translated. We are a global volunteer group whose members help other members by offering free translation of their genealogical documents such as vital records, postcards, obituaries, and more, in languages including – Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and many others!

  • Genealogy of the Dominican Republic / Genealogía de la República Dominicana | Facebook

    The group is aimed at those who are investigating their Dominican ancestors. You can write in English or Spanish. Open discussion of genetic genealogy questions, problems, solutions, resources, and successes with the aim of arming participants with tools and strategies for leveraging DNA test results to demolish brick walls in the family trees are welcomed.

GENEALOGY VIDEOS + TUTORIALS.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through tutorials, lectures, roundtable discussions, and genealogy webinars.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • Researching your Dominican Ancestry w/ Geneologist Jasmin Kateri | Dominican Writers

    Jasmin Kateri is a Geneologist/Writer

    For more information visit www.jasminkateri.com

  • Genealogy in a Spanish Sea, the Caribbean: Dominican Republic | FamilySearch

    In this video, Genealogy in a Spanish Sea: the Caribbean (Dominican Republic), Debbie Gurtler will explain the history of the Dominican Republic, existing records that can be found on FamilySearch.org, and other materials that can be used for family history research. This presentation will also demonstrate and discuss family history research resources for Puerto Rico and Cuba in addition to the Dominican Republic. You will learn about online resources as well as archive holdings for these beautiful island nations.

    This keynote presentation was part of RootsTech Connect 2021.

  • Caribbean Indigenous Peoples: An Introduction to Taíno Culture | Holyoke Public Library

    Roberto "Múkaro" Borrero is a Taíno community leader, an accomplished musician, and artist, as well as an internationally respected advocate for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. He is currently the President of the United Confederation of Taíno People and, on behalf of the International Indian Treaty Council, he is a co-convener for the Indigenous Peoples Major Group on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. Borrero will present a lecture on Taíno history and culture, which will span from before the arrival of Columbus to contemporary affirmations of Taíno heritage. The Taíno were the first Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere to be called "Indians".


  • INTRODUCTION TO AFRO-CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY RESOURCES WITH SHARON WILKINS

    Learn how to trace your Afro-Caribbean ancestors from the West Indies, including Barbados, Jamaica, and other places. Presented by Sharon Wilkins, President of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society - New York.

  • Caribbean Ancestry Guide: Getting Started | Island Ancestors

    Use the strategies and hints in this video to trace your Caribbean ancestors. Before you know it you'll be on location just like on 'Who Do You Think You Are.' West Indian family history research is challenging but NOT impossible.

  • Caribbean Ancestry: Myths and Misconceptions | Island Ancestors

    Myths and Misconceptions are holding you back from tracing your Caribbean Ancestors. Challenge your assumptions and take your research forward.

    In this video, I dispel four common myths about West Indian family history.

  • Tracing My Caribbean Ancestry - Reasons to do Genealogy! | Islands Ancestors

    How I traced my Caribbean ancestors back to the 18th century! The process of working on my family tree has helped me grow tremendously. Now I want to help you trace your Caribbean ancestors as far back as you can!

  • Researching Female Ancestors of the Caribbean | FamilySearch

    In this video, Researching Female Ancestors of the Caribbean, Sharon Tomlin delves into ways we can research African-Caribbean female ancestry. Encouraging dialogue across the generations to understand the pioneers of the past and to discover the pioneers within their own family.

    This presentation was part of RootsTech Connect 2021.

  • BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 84: Getting Started with Caribbean Genealogy

    Learn tips, tricks, and more for researching ancestry in the Caribbean! Special guest, Anaisa Bayala.

  • The History of Indo-Caribbean Heritage (Kala Pani Archives / काला पानी अभिलेखागार) | DIS A FI MI HISTORY PODCAST

    In this episode, we delve into the fascinating Indo-Caribbean heritage with our special guest, Jess from the Kalapani Archives. Jess discusses the significant history of the East Indian indenture labor system that spread across the Caribbean, Africa, and the South Pacific.

    Learn about the inception of the Kalapani Archives, a repository that aims to shed light on this overlooked history and its relevance to present-day family research. Discover how Jess and her co-founder Tony, who met online through a shared interest in Indo-Caribbean history, have created a vibrant online community to unite descendants of Indian indentured laborers.

    Join us as Jess provides insights into the origins and significance of the Kalapani Archives, the challenges faced, and the future initiatives planned to continue expanding this essential historical resource.

  • Exploring the Early Caribbean Digital Archive: A Treasure Trove for Family and Historical Research | DIS A FI MI HISTORY PODCAST

    In this episode, we delve into the rich world of the Early Caribbean Digital Archive (ECDA) with the insights of Professors Nicole Aljo and Elizabeth Dillon, alongside their dedicated team.

    We explore the origins and objectives of the ECDA, a publicly accessible archive platform that houses a vast collection of pre-20th century Caribbean materials. Learn about their mission to decolonize and democratize knowledge by surfacing hidden narratives, such as those of enslaved individuals, embedded within historical texts.

    The team also shares their experiences and methodologies in curating and digitizing these invaluable resources, offering a glimpse into some fascinating exhibits like Obeah practices and Jamaican Heirs. Discover how you can navigate the archive, contribute to ongoing projects, and even use these resources for family research and educational purposes.

    Join us for a compelling discussion on the importance of preserving and accessing Caribbean history, both for understanding our past and informing our present.

  • Art in the Spotlight: The Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs | Art Gallery of Ontario

    Join artist and Toronto Photo Laureate Michèle Pearson Clarke for a conversation with AGO Associate Curator of Photography Julie Crooks about The Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs, a singular collection of more than 3,500 historical images from 34 countries including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad. This visual record contains studio portraits, landscapes and tourist views and brings to life the changing economies, environments and communities that emerged post-emancipation. The Collection includes nearly every photographic format available during the years 1840 to 1940, including prints, postcards, daguerreotypes, lantern slides, albums, and stereographs.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST.

Uncover the rich lives of your Dominican ancestors through collaboration with a professional genealogist.

The following resources may include some affiliate links in an effort to support the continued growth of Ancestors of Paradise as a leading research resource in Caribbean genealogy. Thank you for your support!

  • DESCUBRE TU HISTORIA

    Helping descendants from the Caribbean, Central, South and North American former Spanish colonies start the journey of healing and empowerment through the knowledge of their Family History.

  • Legacy Tree Genealogists

    Are you looking for details about your Caribbean ancestry? Do you need help getting started or have you hit a brick wall?

    Caribbean genealogy can be challenging, and the professional genealogists at Legacy Tree Genealogists can help with your research needs.

    Ancestors of Paradise visitors save on select genealogy research projects.

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