Slave Index Project: A New Digital Resource to Research Slave Ancestry in Shelby County

Shelby County Museum & Archives Executive Director Jennifer Maier and research assistant Bruce Cooper painstakingly combed through thousands of court records, wills, and probate estate records from the 1800's to compile records of slaves who lived in early Shelby County.  The resulting Shelby County Slave Index is of great importance to Black Americans who are trying to find information about their ancestors from a time when they were considered little more than property.  Peter Datcher is one such person who has benefited from this new source of information.  He was able to track down his own great-grandparents who married after slavery ended and purchased a hundred acres to farm.  This land is still in the family's hands today.  This is a wonderful opportunity to hear about Director Maier's project and also hear the story from the man who tracked down his kin with the help of digital technology. This program is free, but seating is limited. Registration is recommended.