FamilySearch

The FamilySearch USCT introduction pages function as both gateways to free record access and as research aids that contextualize the material. They describe the history and importance of the U.S. Colored Troops, outline what collections are available, and offer practical guidance for searching indexes or browsing images. FamilySearch emphasizes connections across collections—linking USCT records to Freedmen’s Bureau documents, census data, or probate files—ensuring that researchers can follow the thread of an ancestor’s life from slavery to military service and beyond.