Art of genealogy takes form in bank records of freed slaves
Genie Collins

AMERICUS —

The art of genealogy has come to life for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Americus in an unlikely form — bank records.

Willie Cooper is a member of the local LDS church, and he has recently uncovered the records of the Freedman’s Bank — a bank that was in existence from 1865-1874 for the purpose of giving free slaves the opportunity to deposit and save their money.

“African Americans can use these bank records as a tool to find their ancestors prior to 1870,” Cooper explained.