A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CERTIFICATION
Why certification?
Certification confirms that you descend from an ancestor enslaved by the Jesuits. It is required to be eligible for DTRF programs, including the need-based Descendant Scholarship program and home safety modifications for elders through the Aging with Dignity program. Certification also connects you to a growing community of Descendants learning and preserving their family histories.
THE PROCESS AT A GLANCE
- Check your family’s connection. Review the indicators below, including the list of common Descendant surnames.
- Choose your documentation path. There are four ways to document your lineage. Pick the one that best fits your situation.
- Complete the online application. This will take about 10 minutes.
- Submit your documents. When we receive your application, we will send you a secure upload link.
- Receive your decision. Once you have completed the application and fulfilled all documentation needs or additional documentation requests, the review process typically takes about two weeks.
STEP 1: CHECK YOUR FAMILY’S CONNECTION
You may descend from an ancestor enslaved by the Jesuits if several of the following apply to your family:
- You are of African ancestry
- You have family roots in southern Maryland, Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, Pennsylvania, or Washington, D.C.
- Your family has (or previously had) a Roman Catholic tradition
- Your family has stories of ancestors enslaved by the Jesuits or the Catholic Church
- You have a family surname that appears on the ancestral surname list
None of these items alone can prove descent, and you do not need all of them to apply. If several are true, keep going.
STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR DOCUMENTATION PATH
You must document your lineage back to a Jesuit-enslaved ancestor. There are four accepted paths. You need only one.
▶PATH A: APPLY THROUGH AN ALREADY-CERTIFIED SPOUSE OR PARENT
If your spouse, parent, or child is already a Certified Descendant, you qualify for an expedited process. You will need their name and DTRF certification number, plus your marriage certificate (for spouses) or birth certificate (for children). Note that adoptive children are eligible for certification.
▶PATH B: BUILD A FAMILY TREE
Create an electronic family tree on Ancestry, MyHeritage, or FamilySearch that traces your lineage back to a Jesuit-enslaved ancestor. Links between each generation must be supported by records. Only two kinds of records are accepted:
- Government-issued records
- Birth certificates
- Marriage records
- Death certificates
- Church records
- Baptismal records
- Marriage records
- Burial records
The Georgetown Memory Project and the American Ancestors GU272 databases can help you find your ancestors and connect the earliest generations.
▶PATH C: HIRE A PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST
Submit a report by a professional genealogist documenting your lineage to a Jesuit-enslaved ancestor. A complete report includes:
- A pedigree chart showing your line of descent
- A narrative explaining and citing the supporting documentation
- Images of the supporting documents
▶PATH D: SUBMIT DNA RESULTS
If you have taken an AncestryDNA test, you can pair your results with your family tree. You will need to share collaborator-level access to your AncestryDNA results and editor-level access to the linked family tree.
STEP 3: COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION
Fill out the Descendant Certification Application online. Have the following items ready:
- Your contact information
- The names of any family members you are applying on behalf of
- The name and certification number of your certified spouse or parent, if you are using Path A A link to your online family tree, if you have one
You will not attach documents to the application. You will submit your documentation separately through a secure link in Step 4.
Ready to apply?
STEP 4: SUBMIT YOUR DOCUMENTS SECURELY
After you complete the application, you will receive a secure Virtru email from our team. You can safely reply to the email and attach your documents. If you were previously certified by another Descendant organization, attach that certification paperwork in your email reply.
Note: Check your spam folder. The secure Virtru email sometimes is filtered to the spam folder.
STEP 5: RECEIVE YOUR DECISION
Once we have received both your application and your supporting documentation — including any additional requests for documentation — our review typically takes about two weeks. If we require anything else, a member of our team will contact you to discuss your status and next steps. When review is complete, you will be notified of your certification decision via email.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
▶What does certification verify?
Certification verifies that you descend from individuals who were enslaved by U.S. Jesuits. It entails genealogical review based on historical records and family documentation.
▶Can I apply if I'm not certain of my ancestry?
If you do not yet have evidence connecting your family to individuals who were enslaved by Jesuits, we do not recommend applying until you are able to prove your connection via official documentation.
▶Can I apply for multiple family members?
Yes. You may apply on behalf of multiple individuals — such as your children or siblings — as long as you submit sufficient documentation for each person.
▶Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Sensitive genealogical documentation is collected separately through an encrypted email system to ensure your personal information is protected.