The individuals documented in this journal are first described as people — mothers, fathers, children, laborers, artisans, community members — who were enslaved.
Enslavement was a legal condition imposed upon them. It was not their identity.
The journal avoids referring to individuals as “slaves.” Preferred language includes:
“A man who was enslaved…”
“An enslaved woman…”
“A child held in bondage…”
Dehumanizing language from historical documents may be quoted when necessary for accuracy, but will not be adopted as descriptive language without context.
Every entry must include sufficient documentary information to allow another researcher to locate the record.
Minimum required information:
Document Type
County and State
Year
Page, Book, or File Number (if available)
Use primary sources, including (but not limited to): Probate inventories and estate records, Wills and court records, Bills of sale, Slave schedules, Church registers, Tax lists, Freedmen’s Bureau records, Labor contracts, Military service records, and Census records.
Formal academic citation style is not required; clarity and traceability are.
Transcriptions and document images are encouraged but not required.
The journal includes:
Individuals whose names appear in historical records
Individuals identified only by description (e.g., “Unnamed woman, age approximately 25”)
The absence of a recorded name does not negate existence. Such entries acknowledge both presence and archival erasure.
Enslavers are listed only when directly documented in cited records.
If associations are inferred from strong contextual evidence, they must be clearly labeled in the narrative.
The purpose of identifying enslavers is genealogical traceability and historical accuracy. The primary focus of each entry remains the individual who endured enslavement.
Standard entries range from 250–500 words.
Entries must:
Distinguish between documented facts and contextual interpretation
Avoid speculation beyond available evidence
Maintain a respectful, dignified tone
Center the humanity of the individual
Contributors may use AI tools to assist in drafting narratives and organizing citations.
However:
All statements must be supported by submitted documentary sources.
AI must not introduce unsupported claims.
Contributors remain responsible for verifying factual accuracy.
Contributors may use the following prompt:
Using only the documentary information provided below, draft a 300–400 word biographical entry about [Name or Description].
Do not invent facts.
Do not speculate beyond the evidence.
Clearly distinguish between documented facts and historical context.
Use person-first language.
Maintain a respectful and dignified tone.
After drafting the biography, create a simple citation list using the following format:
Document Type, County, State, Year, Page/Book/File Number (if available), Archive or Database Name (if known).
Do not fabricate missing citation details.