As Black History Month is recognized across the country, a new effort in Louisville could reshape how the community understands its past and help families reconnect with their ancestry.Centuries-old records that have long been stored inside the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office are now the focus of a major preservation initiative. Through a new partnership with the Filson Historical Society, tens of thousands of historical documents will be preserved, catalogued, and eventually made accessible to the public.Some of the fragile books, handwritten ledgers, wills, deeds, and marriage records date back to the 1700s, offering rare insight into life during the 18th and 19th centuries — including the era of enslavement in Kentucky.“In the era of enslavement, African American people were denied the ability to record their own lives and stories. Through these government documents, we’re able to capture small but powerful pieces of evidence about people," said Patrick Lewis, president and CEO of the Filson Historical Society.Jefferson County Clerk David Yates announced the partnership, saying the goal goes beyond preservation. He hopes the effort will promote transparency and deeper understanding of Louisville’s history.“There may be some dark chapters of our history that are exposed. I think it’s important that we understand that history so we better understand who we are in today’s community,” Yates said.Archivists say the work requires careful review, especially when analyzing 19th century handwriting and identifying hidden details in old ledgers.Kelly Hyberger with the Filson Historical Society pointed to one example, a marriage record that identified an African American couple in the ledger.“This is the type of marriage between an African American couple that we’re really going to be looking for,” Hyberger said.Lewis added that wills, deeds, and marriage records may contain stories that have “sat on the shelves for too long.”The Filson Historical Society launched its African American History Initiative in 2023 and will help assess, inventory, and eventually integrate the records into its permanent collection.Leaders hope the project will fill in historical gaps for descendants searching for connections to their family history.“In this moment in history, this is where their ancestors were, this is what they were doing, and this is who they are. That can be incredibly powerful for building somebody’s sense of identity and helping them feel like they belong in a community," Hyberger said. Yates says the preservation and cataloguing process will likely take several years. Once complete, a digital database will allow people to search for the names of their ancestors online.