Brister English Project
Brister English Press
After emancipation, Black families separated by slavery placed ads in newspapers across the country searching for their people. We continue that tradition. Post your notice, share a news clipping, record your liberation ad, subscribe to the newsletter, and help us find each other.
Inspired by the Lost Friends column in the Southwestern Christian Advocate (1879–1900) and the "Information Wanted" ads of the Christian Recorder.
A living archive of search and reunion
Featured Clippings
Find
Search newspaper databases for clippings that tell our stories.
Digitize
Scan it. Screenshot it. Save it for the archive.
Preserve
Help transcribe and preserve clippings for the community to explore.
Our News Clippings
What we found in the papers, brought home to the archive.
Monthly Community Event
Brister English Press Cuts Up
Once a month we gather on Zoom. We search the papers together. We clip what we find. Everything gets added to the archive right here, in real time.