The Business of Enslavers: Acquiring Human Inventory

In this compelling webinar from the African Diaspora Series by Legacy Family Tree, historian and genealogist LaDonna Garner examines the often-overlooked records and business practices of enslavers in early America. Titled “The Business of Enslavers: Acquiring Human Inventory,” the presentation urges genealogists to confront the uncomfortable realities of slavery by studying it from the perspective of the enslaver—an approach that can unlock hidden insights into the lives of the enslaved. Through the case study of the Trigg family, Garner traces generational patterns of ownership, migration, and economic enterprise, revealing how the business of slavery intersected with education, law, and commerce. Her presentation not only broadens traditional genealogical methods but also challenges researchers to consider the social and economic systems that sustained enslavement across states such as Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Missouri.

Key Insights and Takeaways

• Understanding the Enslaver’s Records: Garner demonstrates how studying the enslaver’s activities—via wills, probate files, business directories, insurance policies, and slave schedules—can expose connections, ownership transfers, and clues about the enslaved. These records, though painful, help restore identities to those previously reduced to property.

• Economic and Educational Systems of Slavery: The webinar highlights how enslavers received education in accounting and management to sustain their “business,” with period manuals and publications teaching plantation operations. This underscores how systemic enslavement was woven into broader economic and institutional structures.

• Modern Research Tools and Ethical Approaches: Garner encourages genealogists to expand their searches using AI-assisted browsers, full-text searches, and online databases such as the National Archives and state-level insurance registries. She also emphasizes reading historical sources within their period context, reminding researchers to balance technical skill with cultural sensitivity.

Garner’s analysis reframes genealogical research as both historical recovery and moral reckoning. By following her methods, genealogists can uncover new documentation trails that deepen understanding of ancestral experiences within the broader economic framework of slavery.

To explore these insights further, viewers are encouraged to watch the full webinar recording on the Legacy Family Tree Webinars platform. The complete presentation offers valuable demonstrations, resource links, and live examples that cannot be fully captured in summary. Genealogists seeking to expand their research into African American and antebellum history will find the webinar—and the extensive syllabus materials—an indispensable guide to navigating one of genealogy’s most complex and essential topics.