Jefferson County and Birmingham, Alabama: History and Biography, 1887

This database contains historical and biographical information on Jefferson County and Birmingham, Alabama. The preface to this work states that Jefferson County laid the foundations of a wonderful industrial transformation pervading the entire state. Therefore, it makes sense that this history is a technical treatise regarding the proof of the mineral wealth of the county, the success of rail transportation, and the industrial, financial, and social character of the population (p. v). The biographical portion of this work contains personal sketches and portraits of many of the prominent residents of the area.

Historical works contain valuable information that can be a great addition to your genealogical research. Although historical works will generally not mention your ancestors specifically (unless they were prominent individuals in the community), they do provide information on the time and place in which your ancestors lived, which will help you place your ancestors in a historical context.