In the Stacks Episode 5: “Jumping the Broom”: Slave Marriages and African American Marriage Records

Montgomery County Archives

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