In the Stacks Episode 3: History in Plain Sight: Slavery, Reconstruction, and County Records.

Montgomery County Archives

Episode three begins our series “History in Plain sight,” a series that focuses on the records in our collections dating back to slavery and Reconstruction and how these records are useful in the practice of African American genealogy. In the episode we introduce the records that the series discusses, including slave-holder affidavits, slave-backed mortgages, Freedmen’s bureau labor contracts, and African American Marriage records dating back to 1865, as well as examine some of the difficulties associated with practicing African American genealogy. Sources: 1860-1862 Slave Holder Affidavits Index, Montgomery County Archives: http://www.mc-ala.org/ElectedOfficials/ProbateJudge/ProbateDivisions/Archives/Pages/Default.aspx Music: http://www.purple-planet.com