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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.

Thank you to our sponsors and program supporters

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Shelby County Historical Society
Museum & Archives

205-669-3912

Tuesday through Friday

9 am to 3 pm

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 457
Columbiana, AL 35051

Museum Physical Address
1854 Old Courthouse Circle
Columbiana, AL 35051

Shelby Iron Works Park
10268 CR 42
Shelby, AL 35143

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