Montgomery County Archives

In Episode 9 of In The Stacks we discuss lynching and the opening of Equal Justice Initiative's Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. For more about the EJI or the Memorial for Peace and Justice visit their website at www.eji.org

Sources:

Manfred Berg, Popular Justice: a History of Lynching in America pg. 48

https://lynchinginamerica.eji.org/report/

Music: www.purple-planet.com

In episode 8 of In the Stacks we use the Dowe family collection to explore the history of Catholicism in Montgomery, Alabama and the role it has played in the city. In particular, we discuss St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, St. Bede Catholic Church, Pastor Patrick turner, The City of St. Jude, Father Harold Purcell, and Bishop Thomas J. Toolen.

Sources: http://www.mobarch.org/parishes/

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1829

http://www.angelfire.com/me2/kulacoco/stjude.txt

Music: http://www.purple-planet.com

In episode seven of "In the Stacks" we discuss the history of Montgomery County, Alabama, particularly the founding of the county and its claim of being “older than the state”.

Music: www.purple-planet.com

In episode six of “In the Stacks” we interview Taylor Smith, A volunteer at the Montgomery County Archives, about his digital exhibit on Andrew Dexter, founder of the city of Montgomery. We discuss Dexter’s life before arriving in Montgomery, the research done to put together this exhibit, and the historical significance of Andrew Dexter

Link to the Exhibit: https://taylorskeltonsmith.wixsite.com/andrewdexter

Music: www.purple-planet.com

Episode five concludes our series “History in Plain sight”. In the episode we continue highlighting records related to slavery and Reconstruction. We specifically discuss marriage records and how researchers can use them to further African American genealogical research prior 1865. We also highlight slave marriages and the African American ritual of “jumping the broom”.

Sources: African-American Marriage Index book, ca. 1865-1935, Montgomery County Judge of Probate Record Group, Montgomery County Archives: http://www.mc-ala.org/ElectedOfficials/ProbateJudge/ProbateDivisions/Archives/Pages/Default.aspx

https://digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.bing.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1262&context=faculty_scholarship

http://celebrateintimateweddings.com/ceremonybroom.html

http://www.genealogytoday.com/columns/ruby/050131.html

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/spring/freedman-marriage-recs.html

Music: http://www.purple-planet.com

Episode four is the second in our series “History in Plain sight”. In the episode we further discuss records related to slavery and Reconstruction, specifically slave-backed mortgages and Freedmen’s Bureau labor contracts. The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, more commonly known as the Freedmen’s Bureau, was created by the War department in March of 1865 to supervise relief efforts in the South. The Bureau provided a host of services to freedmen and refugees, including providing food, clothing, medical attention, support for education, as well as the negotiating and reviewing of labor contracts.

Sources: http://freedmensbureau.com/alabama/alaoutrages.htm

Music: http://www.purple-planet.com

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

In the debut episode of the “In the Stacks” podcast we introduce the Montgomery County Archives, located in Montgomery, Alabama. We highlight our notable collections such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott mugshots and the Emory Folmar Papers. In the Stacks was created to inform the public about our many collections as well as how they can gain access to those collections.

Sources: Emory Folmar Papers, Montgomery County Archives: http://www.mc-ala.org/ElectedOfficials/ProbateJudge/ProbateDivisions/Archives/Pages/Default.aspx

Montgomery Bus Boycott Mugshots, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Record Group, Montgomery County Archives: http://www.mc-ala.org/ElectedOfficials/ProbateJudge/ProbateDivisions/Archives/Pages/Default.aspx

Music: http://www.purple-planet.com

In episode two of “In the Stacks” we highlight the John Dowe Collection, a collection of family records from Montgomery’s Dowe family that date back to the nineteenth century. We also discuss the historic Dowe house. The Dowe Collection was created by John Dowe Jr., a lifelong resident of the historic Dowe house and a decorated scoutmaster. Dowe was the grandson of Irish immigrants who settled in Montgomery in the 1850s.

Sources: The John Dowe Collection, Montgomery County Archives: http://www.mc-ala.org/ElectedOfficials/ProbateJudge/ProbateDivisions/Archives/Pages/Default.aspx

Music: http://www.purple-planet.com