Tear Down the 1870 Brick Wall
—One Document at a Time

Help break through the “1870 Brick Wall” by joining our Armchair Archivist Program. From the comfort of your home, you can help transcribe Shelby County’s oldest records—wills, estate files, deed books, and loose court documents—into searchable text. For countless black families, the 1870 Census is the first place their ancestors appear by name, creating a barrier that makes tracing lineage before emancipation extremely difficult. Your work as an Armchair Archivist will tear down that wall, making these hidden stories visible and accessible to all. Together, we can preserve history, honor those who came before us, and provide new opportunities for genealogical discovery. Click below to learn more and start transcribing today.