Montgomery County Archives

In light of Montgomery, Alabama's 2018 Camilia Bowl football game, played on December 15, 2018, this episode discusses the history of Montgomery's Cramton Bowl stadium.

In this episode we continue our series on Influential Montgomerians by discussing Alabama’s first African American politician, James T. Rapier. We explore the life of Rapier, including his time in Florence, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; and Buxton, Ontario, Canada. We also focus on his education in Canada, as well as abroad in Scotland. Furthermore we examine his return to Alabama to become a leader in the Republican Party and career as a successful politician and labor organizer. Sources: http://www.blackpast.org/aah/rapier-james-thomas-1837-1883 http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3272 https://www.biography.com/people/james-t-rapier-40910 Music: www.purple-planet.com

In this episode of In the Stacks, we begin a series on Influential Montgomerians by discussing one of the earliest white settlers of Montgomery, Abraham Mordecai. We follow Mordecai’s life from his Jewish background in Philadelphia and his service in the American Revolution, the war of 1812, and the Creek Wars of 1813-14. We also explore his relationship with the Creek Indians as a trader and his role in developing the Cotton industry in the Montgomery area.

In the Stacks: Episode 17: Cottage Hill by Montgomery County Archives

In this episode we take a look into the lives of two of Montgomery’s most influential residents of the 19th century, Dr. William O. Baldwin and James Hale. We discuss the unusual connection between the two men and their role in within the city’s rich History. Sources: http://www.alabamapioneers.com/biography-william-owen-baldwin-m-d-born-1818-photograph/ https://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/03/the_story_behind_4_historic_ho.html https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&localeSubcountryName=Alabama&query=%2Bgivenname%3A%22James%20H.%22~%20%2Bsurname%3AHale~%20%2Brecord_country%3A%22United%20States%22%20%2Brecord_subcountry%3A%22United%20States%2CAlabama%22 https://books.google.com/books?id=vZQ3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA659&dq=james+hale+alabama&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1wKP02L_cAhWI3VMKHeYDA8U4ChDoAQg3MAM#v=onepage&q=james%20hale%20alabama&f=false https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAjv0FXvRQ https://books.google.com/books?id=RVDJRbURtRMC&pg=PA369&lpg=PA369&dq=james+hale+montgomery&source=bl&ots=fpIO

In this episode of In the Stacks, we present a discussion with the staff of the Montgomery County Archives, featuring County Archivist Dallas Hanbury, volunteer Taylor Smith, and Intern David Cook. The interview focuses on how the three developed their interest in archives and what they think can be done to help others develop an interest as well.

In this Episode of In the Stacks, we discuss how Montgomery became the permanent site of the Alabama State Capital. We begin by discussing how St. Stephens became the original home of the state capital before it briefly moved to Huntsville. We then examine the turbulent time it spent in the town of Cahaba that led to it being moved to Tuscaloosa and the politics that led to it finding a home in Montgomery. Sources: http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1674 http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2498 http://www.archives.state.al.us/capital/capitals.html http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1543 http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/history/constitutions/1819/1819all.html http://www.alabamapioneers.com/chandelier-falls-in-alabama-capital-on-first-session/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNsu55CSTSY Music: http://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode of In the Stacks we discuss Revolutionary War General Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Alabama in 1825, including Montgomery. Lafayette’s visit to the young state was part of a grand tour of the United States to honor the general, the last surviving general of the American Revolution. The visit was important to Alabama for many reasons, including its unifying affect on the young state. Sources: http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2152 Levasseur, Auguste. Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825; or Journal of a Voyage to the United States. Translated by John D. Godman. New York: Research Reprints, 1970 Music: www.purple-planet.com

In this episode of In the Stacks we discuss the aviation history of Montgomery, Alabama. We discuss the flying school opened by the Wright Brothers in Montgomery and how that site would later become Maxwell Air Force Base. Sources: http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1337 http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1364 Music: www.purple-planet.com

In this episode we discuss the Montgomery County Courthouse and the upcoming 60th anniversary if its opening. We discuss historic moments that occurred within the Courthouse and basic facts about the building. Sources: http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/9809/rec/393 http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/amg/id/36231/rec/419 https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13000894.htm Music: www.purple-planet.com

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

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

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 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