Named in honor of Albert Baker Datcher, Jr., a long-time board member of the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. and well-known historian of black history in Shelby County, Alabama. 
 
A descendant of enslaved individuals in Shelby County, Mr. Datcher has worked tirelessly to bring to light the story of his people, and all those that were impacted by slavery .

The Albert Baker Datcher, Jr. Collection is an index of enslaved individuals living in Shelby County, Alabama from 1818,  It is a detailed collection that references over 3,500 slaves.  

For ease of use, the collection has been organized in four separate indexes:  1) Will Book Records, 2) Probate Estate Records, 3)  Loose Court Records, and 4) Deed Book Records.