The Port of New Orleans was a bustling shipping base for slaves being sent to Southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. In the event that you locate a slave imported or exported from Louisiana, further information may be obtained from the United States Customs for the Port of New Orleans: Outward slave manifests (1812-1856) and Inward slave manifests (1807-1860). These records provide vital information on the transporting of slaves through the Port of New Orleans. These records offer the researcher extensive information on the movement of African and African-American slaves to and from the port of New Orleans for the early American and ante-bellum periods. Information such as date of arrival or departure, ship captain, name and size of vessel; name, age, height, and color of slave or slaves transported; name and residence of owner or shipper of slave/s are included in these records.

In the Outward rolls, port of destination is usually included. Conversely, for the Inward rolls port of origin is usually stated. This microfilm collection is located in the African American Resource Center of the NOPL. Researchers interested in the domestic slave trade of the United States as well as the genealogist in search of slave ancestors will find these microfilm rolls invaluable.

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