EMBER

Early Midwest Black Experience Research

Early Black Presence

We are working county by county across Minnesota and into Wisconsin to find every early Black resident we can document from territorial days through 1900.

Some counties have dozens of names. Some have just one or two. All of them matter.

Iowa

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Minnesota

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Wisconsin

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Minnesota

Aitkin County

Anoka County

Becker County

Beltrami County

Benton County

Big Stone County

Blue Earth County

Brown County

Carlton County

Carver County

Cass County

Chippewa County

Share A Story

We are building a record of every early Black resident we can find in towns and cities across the Upper Midwest from territorial days through 1900.

Records are scattered. And some of the best sources are people.

Did a family member mention a name? Have you come across a photo, an obituary, or a local story about an early Black resident? We want to hear it.

Every lead matters.