Montgomery County Archives

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