Before TillThe Living Evidence Archive

Accountability

The Research Ledger

Conclusions in this archive can move. When one does, the change is logged here with its date, its direction, and the record that caused it.

Last reviewed byAmberly R. Carter-Mills— Founder, Creator & Descendant Archivist

Research actions

What has been done

  1. August 8, 2026Claim Created

    Did Laura Tolliver attend "Vicksburg College"?

    Opened the first structured claim in the BEFORE TILL evidence architecture: Laura Tolliver and the institution remembered as "Vicksburg College."

    Result: Claim recorded as Under Investigation. No evidence entered yet.

    Recorded by Amberly R. Carter-Mills

  2. August 8, 2026Source Reviewed

    Compiled eight sources for Laura Tolliver Smith: the 1860 slave schedule, the 1865 Freedmen's Bureau register, four federal censuses, a published family history, and a Find a Grave memorial.

    Result: Citations recorded. Original images still require independent review inside BEFORE TILL.

    Recorded by Amberly R. Carter-Mills

  3. August 8, 2026Record Found

    Laura Tolliver was formerly enslaved by H. G. D. Brown.

    Identified Laura by name in an 1865-era Freedmen's Bureau register of former slaves.

    Result: Named evidence of enslavement by H. G. D. Brown of Lucky Hit plantation.

    Recorded by Amberly R. Carter-Mills

  4. August 8, 2026Claim Created

    Opened seven claims for Case 001, separating enslavement, plantation association, literacy, education, family size, the Bishop Mason account, and the farm.

    Result: Each claim carries its own evidence and its own status.

    Recorded by Amberly R. Carter-Mills

  5. August 8, 2026Conclusion Published

    Published version 1 conclusions for six claims.

    Result: One claim reaches Documented. The remainder stay Under Investigation.

    Recorded by Amberly R. Carter-Mills

  6. August 8, 2026Status Changed

    Did Laura Tolliver attend "Vicksburg College"?

    Set the Vicksburg College claim to Under Investigation with unresolved confidence.

    Result: The family account is documented; the attendance is not.

    Recorded by Amberly R. Carter-Mills

  7. August 8, 2026Lead Received

    Recorded a Find a Grave memorial for George Smith as a research lead naming Laura Taliaferro as his mother and Hazlehurst as her birthplace.

    Result: Held as a derivative lead, not as proof of parentage or birthplace.

    Recorded by Amberly R. Carter-Mills

Revisions

What has changed

No status change has been recorded yet. The ledger begins with the first revision to a published conclusion — it is intentionally empty until then.