
JOURNEY WITH US.
A research guide to ancestry, family history, and genealogy resources for St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.
Uncover with Ancestors of Paradise the untold stories of your Crucian 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
Family Tree Magazine
records.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian 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!
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FAMILYSEARCH RESEARCH WIKI | USVI
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.
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CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY LIBRARY
The Caribbean Genealogy Library (CGL) is a unique and valuable research library located on the island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Established in 2000, CGL is a leading resource for family history research in the Virgin Islands and in the Caribbean at large.
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DANISH FAMILY SEARCH | DANISH WEST INDIES
Danish Family Search er stedet man finder sine danske aner. Søg i danske kirkebøger, folketællinger og lægdsruller.
Danish Family Search is the place to find your Danish ancestors. Search in Danish church registers, censuses and parish registers. -
Rigsarkivet - The Danish National Archives
The Danish National Archives has digitized five million pages from the local and central administration of the Danish West Indies that you can browse through this website. But there are also archive groups and cases concerning the Danish West Indies in the archives of other authorities.
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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.
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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 Crucian 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!
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ANCESTRY MESSAGE BOARDS | CARIBBEAN
Ancestry message boards contain over 25 million posts on more than 198,000 boards.
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ANCESTRY MESSAGE BOARDS | USVI
Ancestry message boards contain over 25 million posts on more than 198,000 boards.
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Chronicling America HISTORIC AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS | virgin islands
Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.
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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.
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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.
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HISTORY HUB | Virgin Islands
History Hub is a research support community for everyone, including genealogists, historians, and citizen archivists.
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A List of Inhabitants in The Danish West Indies from 1650 -1825 | ROYAL DANISH CONSULATE
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Sion Farm to Bugby Hole, St Croix : history, owners & inhabitants, span of over 200 years
History of two estates that were established for colonists on St. Croix island. Includes some history of the Christmas and Moorhead families.
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The Virgin Islands Daily News (1930s-1980s)
The Virgin Islands Daily News is a daily newspaper in the United States Virgin Islands headquartered on the island of Saint Thomas.
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Virgin Islands Exodus: 1917 Identity Cards
Virgin Islands Exodus contains material extracted from the first one hundred and seventy-three (out of an orginal one hundred and eighty-four) United States Citizen's Identification Card applications submitted by Virgin Island residents between May 21, and October 9, 1918.
cemeteries + memorials.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian 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!
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THE DANISH CEMETERIES OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS | ROYAL DANISH CONSULATE
The book of The Danish Cemeteries of the Virgin Islands was commissioned and paid for by the Danish Cemetery Restoration Fund, a fund with the sole purpose of maintaining, repairing and restoring the three Danish Cemeteries located in the United States Virgin Islands. Through the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and generous donations from both corporate and private benefactors, the Danish Cemetery Restoration Fund has been able to continue the monumental tasks of preserving these historical grave sites so they may be visited and studied for years to come.
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FIND A GRAVE | Saint Croix
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.
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INTERNATIONAL JEWISH CEMETERY PROJECT | ST. CROIX
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.
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UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS: FUNERAL BOOKLETS
The Enid M. Baa Library of the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DLAM) has acquired an extensive collection of memorial booklets since the early 1970's for U. S. Virgin Islands residents. Booklets are usually more than 10 pages long and give details of the life and family connections of the deceased.
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Virgin Islands Funeral Booklets
The Caribbean Genealogy Library's Funeral Booklet Collection currently includes almost 4000 funeral booklets for people originally from, or who lived in, the U.S. Virgin Islands and some from the British Virgin Islands also.
historic images.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through early photographs, studio portraits, and historic landscape images.
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!
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DANSK VESTINDISK SELSKAB GALLERY
In the Gallery you will find photos, postcards and illustrations from the time both before and after the handover to the USA in 1917.
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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.
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Granger Academic | Saint Croix
Granger Academic provides access to Granger's vast and vibrant archive of historical pictures. Many of these images are not available anywhere else, and for the first time we have made our collection available free of charge to teachers, librarians and students.
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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.
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HARRY ALVERSON FRANCK PHOTOGRAPHS | USVI
Harry A. Franck (1881-1962) was a University of Michigan graduate (1903), avid traveler, and veteran of both world wars. He wrote thirty-three travel books describing Europe, South and Central America, China, Japan, and many other places. His most popular books include A Vagabond Journey Around the World (1910) and Zone Policeman 88 (1913). His books routinely featured photographs he took during his journeys: landscapes, street scenes, working people with the tools of their trade, portraits, and snapshots.
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JACK DELANO FSA PHOTO COLLECTION
Hired by the FSA in 1940 as an itinerant photographer, Jack Delano was assigned in 1941 to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Delano captured moments of daily life on the islands in both black and white and color.
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Library of Congress Public Domain Image Collections | Saint Croix
The Library's first digitization project was called "American Memory." Launched in 1990, it initially planned to choose 160 million objects from its collection to make digitally available on laserdiscs and CDs that would be distributed to schools and libraries. After realizing that this plan would be too expensive and inefficient, and with the rise of the Internet, the Library decided to instead make digitized material available over the Internet. This project was made official in the National Digital Library Program (NDLP), created in October 1994. By 1999, the NDLP had succeeded in digitizing over 5 million objects. The Library has kept the "American Memory" name for its public domain website, which today contains 15 million digital objects, comprising over 7 petabytes.
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The Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs | Saint Croix
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.
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M/S Museet for Søfart (M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark) | Image Archive
M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark tells the story of Denmark as one of the world's leading maritime nations in an evocative and dramatic way.
You can visit the digital image archive here where more than 60.000 photos are digitalized (in Danish). -
New York Public Library STEREOGRAPH COLLECTION | St. Croix
This digital compilation was developed in support of the NYPL website, "The African American Migration Experience," a sweeping 500-year historical narrative from the transatlantic slave trade to the Western migration, the colonization movement, the Great Migration, and the contemporary immigration of Caribbeans, Haitians, and sub-Saharan Africans.
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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 Crucian 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!
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David Rumsey Map Collection | Saint Croix
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.
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OLD MAPS ONLINE | VIRGIN ISLANDS
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.
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PERRY-CASTAÑEDA LIBRARY MAP COLLECTION | Virgin Islands 1920
The Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL) Map Collection website is archived as of 2021 and no longer being updated. Links to external sites may no longer work as expected. Please visit the Texas GeoData portal and Collections portal for map files and the UTL Map Collections LibGuide for additional information.
cultural institutions.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian 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!
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Athalie McFarlane Petersen Public Library
This Library’s historical building built in 1803, at the south end of Strand Street houses Frederiksted's small library. The Library houses original and microfilm collections of V.I. Archives, records, newspapers and other materials; it is capable of reproducing images via microfilming and photocopying. Microfilm reader/printers are available at certain libraries.
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Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism
Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, Inc. (CHANT) is committed to preserving Crucian culture and heritage and promoting sustainable community development with a focus on tourism, traditional skills, and heritage-focused workforce development.
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DANSK VESTINDISK SELSKAB | DANISH WEST INDIAN SOCIETY
Dansk Vestindisk Selskab with the English subtitle "Danish Westindien Society" was founded on Valentine's Day 15 June 1917 as the club "Danish Westindien" and later reorganized. In 1969, the name was changed to Dansk Vestindisk Selskab, which is nationwide with its headquarters in Copenhagen.
One of our hallmarks of the Danish West Indian Society is to help and guide members in finding their way back in history. This is done partly by means of information and links on this page, partly by personal contacts with other members with experience and partly by contacts with our sister organizations on the islands. -
Estate Whim Museum | Family History Center
The Library's Family History Center provides both resources and guidance to researchers tracing their ancestors. Census, vital statistics, and other government and church records document the path of people across St. Croix, the Caribbean, and abroad to Africa, Denmark, greater Europe and the Americas.
Holdings include Danish West Indian and Virgin Islands census records from 1841 through 1940, as well as slave lists, matricals, "free colored" lists and other government generated statistical records.
A current project involves the copying of church records and the St. Croix Vital Statistics records to add to the collections. An extensive vertical file collection on all aspects of Virgin Islands history includes unique genealogy materials.
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Fireburn Heritage
Fireburn Heritage, Inc. is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission to foster transformative change through collaborations with other nonprofits and like-minded individuals. With a focus on cultural preservation, the humanities, gender equality, zero hunger, and environmental sustainability, our vision is to create a more equitable and inclusive world.
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Florence A. Williams Public Library
The Florence Augusta Stephens Williams Public Library (FWPL) building was previously the location of the public school for Christiansted.. The Library houses original and microfilm collections of V.I. Archives, records, newspapers and other materials; it is capable of reproducing images via microfilming and photocopying. Microfilm reader/printers are available.
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Friends of Virgin Islands National Park
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park programs aimed at sharing and preserving the island's rich cultural heritage and history include funding the Park’s archeological program, restoring and maintaining ruins, supporting the Folk Life Festival, and hosting cultural seminars and workshops.
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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.
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M/S MUSEET FOR SØFART | M/S MARITIME MUSEUM OF DENMARK
M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark tells the story of Denmark as one of the world's leading maritime nations in an evocative and dramatic way.
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Museum of Danish America | Genealogy
The Museum of Danish America explores the Danish-American experience, the historic and modern influences of Denmark on the United States, and the continuing story of how a nation of immigrants shape American identity.
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Slave Wrecks Project | St. Croix
Since 2015, the Slave Wrecks Project (SWP) has developed a network of collaborators and explored the history of slavery and freedom in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. SWP and partners work to advance terrestrial and maritime archaeological investigations, dive training, and underwater heritage monitoring and analysis in the U.S.V.I. In 2019, the SWP conducted exhibition development, interpretation, and community outreach in St. Croix, telling fuller stories about our shared history. The ongoing terrestrial field school at the Estate Little Princess led by SWP collaborator Society of Black Archaeologists continued the archaeological and architectural investigation of enslaved persons’ presence at the estate and the continued community and student training in field methodology.
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ST. CROIX FRIENDS OF DENMARK
The mission of the St. Croix Friends of Denmark is to increase public awareness and appreciation of the Danish heritage of St. Croix through education, community outreach, and civic engagement while preserving a unique cultural bond and supporting that connection.
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St. Croix Landmarks Society
The research program at St. Croix Landmarks Society’s Research Library & Archives aids scholars, researchers, and genealogists (family historians) with their personal, academic, and various other projects. The Society’s vast collections contain books, manuscripts, and graphics that you won't find anywhere else.
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US Virgin Islands Maritime Museum
The US Virgin Islands Maritime Museum was created in order to promote the understanding of the maritime history from the time of the Danish West Indies (pre-March 31.1917) to the present-day US Virgin Islands (March 31.1917, Transfer Day, to present).
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Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center
In harmony with the mission of the University of the Virgin Islands and its College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center collaboratively serves as a liaison designated to create a reservoir of resources and initiatives for faculty, students, administration, staff and the community to maintain and sustain access to materials that nurture, preserve, research, document, restore, promote, protect and respect Virgin Islands and Caribbean culture.
virgin islands DIASPORA.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian 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!
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Houston Virgin Islands Association (HVIA)
Let’s turn your nostalgia and passion into a changing and progressive action. Houston Virgin Islands Association (HVIA) has its own unique structure allowing it to promote Virgin Islands culture and heritage by those living in the Diaspora, thereby creating a pride and joy of Virgin Islands “NICE.”
HVIA holds very simple mandates:
Enhance the cultural, educational, civic and general well-being of its members;
Showcase our values, traditions, heritage, and culture as a means of increasing public awareness;
Educate members and our community about the Virgin Islands: our history, culture and traditions.
Involve our members in community developments and charitable causes, within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
books.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian 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 + articles.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through blogs and articles on history, culture, and genealogy.
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!
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200 Years in Paradise
200 Years in Paradise genealogy blog covers general Virgin Islands records and family history sources, social history, island history, and genealogy techniques and hints. Surnames include van Beverhoudt, Conrad, Magens, De Windt, Pentheny, Colbeth, Moorhead, Robson, Andersen, Scott, Dalton, and related families.
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die creol taal
In 2013, we started to build this website to present as much information as possible about texts in and about Virgin Islands Dutch Creole. A lot of sources are already digitally available and by presenting the links to these texts we hope to help you obtaining the information you need to study the language and language related subjects.
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From Enslavement to Emancipation: Naming Practices in the Danish West Indies
The focus of this article, the Danish plantations in the West Indies during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, were multicultural colonies inhabited largely by enslaved Africans and slave owners and administrators from Britain, Ireland, and the Netherlands, with small numbers of Danes, French, and North Americans. In this paper we aim to add to historical and anthropological discussions on names and naming practices in the context of Caribbean slavery, through our analysis of historical documents and datasets from the island of St. Croix. Louise Sebro has remarked that close examinations of population databases for the island “will undoubtedly throw light on traditions of name giving” (2010: 198). Our contribution here consists of an analysis of 197 names from a plantation register taken for tax purposes in 1785, as well as the names contained in 1,426 baptismal records pertaining to two churches in St. Croix. One is a Lutheran church (1780–1794) in the capital city of Christiansted (image 1), whose congregation was made up of white, free colored, and enslaved individuals; another is Friedensthal Moravian Church (1744–1832), located on the outskirts of Christiansted, whose congregation consisted primarily of enslaved individuals from nearby sugar plantations as well as free people of color. Our analysis is further illuminated by details from the lives of three former slaves from the Danish West Indies.
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Insight into Danish Colonial Life | ROYAL DANISH CONSULATE
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Vintage Virgin Islands
Vintage Virgin Islands features over 300 blog posts about the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
podcasts.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian ancestors through 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!
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CARIBBEAN MYSTICS
The Caribbean Mystics Podcast features true supernatural stories that take place in the Caribbean region. Told from first person perspective, these stories reveal the extensive unexplainable phenomenon that occurs in this region of the world. Hosts Paulina and Gabrielle, join together at the end of each story to provide key historical background, cultural context, and meaningful elaboration through their lenses of being ancestral Virgin Islanders and Caribbean Mystics.
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Chatting with Dr. Leonard Richardson
Dr. Richardson will take you down Memory Lane and challenge you to dates, places, and people past and present of the Virgin Islands.
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Di hou creol - Podcast over Virgin Islands Dutch Creole
From about 1991 on I study the Dutch related Creole language Virgin Islands Dutch Creole. In this podcast I pay attention to texts, linguistic aspects of the language, history of the language, history of the study of the language and field work.
Vanaf ongeveer 1991 bestudeer ik de aan het Nederlands gerelateerde creooltaal Virgin Islands Dutch Creole. In deze podcast besteed ik aandacht aan teksten, taalkundige aspecten, de geschiedenis van de taal, de geschiedenis van de bestudering van deze taal en aan het veldwerk dat gedaan is om deze taal beter te leren kennen. -
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.
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A Trail Gone Cold | Damn Interesting
Against the odds, a tiny Icelandic town speaks of a local Black ancestor. Geneticists and historians combine forces to uncover the man’s eventful life.
social media.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian 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!
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CARIBBEAN GENEALOGY | FACEBOOK
This group is for sharing resources and assisting with research relating to Caribbean ancestry and history.
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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.
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THE CUTLASS MAGAZINE
A progressive podcast and platform dedicated to the Indo-Caribbean community and other descendants of Indian indentureship from around the world.
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Gabrielle Querrard | Instagram
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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!
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The Native Son Museum | Instagram
A native of St. Croix, Virgin Islands. On a mission to preserve: history, people, economics, and culture. Follow me on my journey!
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St. Croix St. Thomas St. John DNA Registry | FACEBOOK
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Virgin Islands Ancestry Discovery Group | Facebook
VIADG helps Virgin Islanders research and preserve their family histories, stories, traditions, customs and, culture; provides a forum for developing research skills, sharing knowledge of resources available, and involving the Virgin Islands community in the ancestry discovery process.
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Virgin Islands and Caribbean Historical Knowledge | Facebook
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Virgin Island History Keepers | Facebook
We are the ones responsible to keep our history and stories from our grandparents, parents or the woman or man down the street. We have lost so much of them. Why not share yours so other can pass it on, our culture our stories, soon it will be gone. We are not shamed of our people, tell the stories that came from the soul if not now, when.
GENEALOGY VIDEOS + TUTORIALS.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian 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!
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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.
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Frederiksted Walking Tour 2022 - DVICE
Frandelle Gerard, Executive Director at Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism (CHANT), takes us on a historical walking tour of Frederiksted (“Freedom City”), St. Croix. -
How to Find Your Family's Records in the Virgin Islands | FamilySearch
Unearth the rich history of your family in the US Virgin Islands, once known as the Danish West Indies, and explore the records of the British Virgin Islands. This presentation delves into lesser-known resources, guiding you to discover birth, marriage, and census records specific to these islands. Learn about online resources and local repositories that can streamline your search, saving you valuable time in uncovering your family's unique story.
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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. -
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".
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Scotland’s relationship with the Atlantic slave trade | National Library of Scotland
DIn this talk Matthew Lee, a PhD student co-supervised by staff at the Library, examines Scotland’s relationship with the Atlantic slave trade through our collections, based on a recent cataloguing project.
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BlackProGen LIVE! Ep 84: Getting Started with Caribbean Genealogy
Learn tips, tricks, and more for researching ancestry in the Caribbean! Special guest, Anaisa Bayala.
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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.
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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. -
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. -
On their terms: black women subverting the plantation economy in the Caribbean | Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
This paper draws on a Black feminist lens to read against the silencing violence of the slavery archives and reveal a dynamic (if sometimes controversial) and creolizing process of identity formation of free and enslaved Black women who, through resistance and/or accommodation, subverted the socio-political structures of colonial power and negotiated their place in the plantation economies of the Caribbean. Peggy incorporates archival and archaeological methods alongside intersectional theory to reveal an alternative narrative of Atlantic enslaved and free communities.
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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.
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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!
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The Colonisation of the Virgin Islands | Island Ancestors
Did you know that the Virgin Islands were under six empires? I’m a born and raised Virgin Islander with roots there going back nearly 300 years. When I started researching my family I quickly realised that Virgin Islands history is far more complex and interesting than I ever imagined.
In this video, I introduce you to the history of the Virgin Islands and why it’s a historically fascinating place.
hire a professional genealogist.
Uncover the rich lives of your Crucian 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!
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Ancestor Seekers
Ancestor Seekers hosts the premier genealogy research trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. The company’s roots trace back to England, where Keith and Carol Spillar founded British Ancestors, offering expert genealogical services.
However, upon encountering the wealth of resources at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City they redirected their efforts to establish Ancestor Seekers and introduce the Dream Genealogy Vacation. This unique experience offers guests a week-long immersion in the world’s largest genealogical library, The FamilySearch Library, where they access unparalleled resources as well as receive exclusive instruction and guidance from professional genealogists.
Since its inaugural research week in February 2005, Ancestor Seekers has proudly welcomed genealogy enthusiasts for nearly two decades.
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AncestryProGenealogists®
The AncestryProGenealogists® team includes expert genealogists and family history specialists with extensive research experience—but the heart of the journey is you.
Watch your family history come to life as our experts solve family mysteries, break down brick walls, resolve adoption riddles, dig into your DNA, and discover more about who you are and where you came from. -
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. -
Lene Kottal Danish Genealogist
Lene Dræby Kottal is a professional genealogist with Denmark as her area of expertise. Lene's passion is to make her clients feel as though they truly know their Danish ancestors. Her clients can trust that they will receive a thorough and accurate representation of their family history when working with Lene.
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Sabine Maronnier Généalogiste Professionnelle
Recherches Généalogiques Familiales, Historiques et Sous-traitance successorale, en France et à l'étranger sur demande.
Professional Genealogist for Family Genealogical Research, History and Inheritance Subcontracting, in France and abroad on request.
Genealogista profesional para la investigación genealógica familiar, la historia y la subcontratación de herencias, en Francia y en el extranjero a pedido.
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