More than two dozen 19th century letters have been acquired by the Kentucky Historical Society, which says the handwritten documents offer a look at African-American communities in Lexington and Hopkinsville.
The letters depict the lives of both free and enslaved Kentucky families.
The Historical Society says the 27 letters include news of the Watson and Robinson families about health, activities, church, births and deaths, slavery, the farm and freedom. Besides Kentucky locations, the letters also mention Mississippi City, Miss.; Brandon, Miss.; and Williamson County, Ill.
The society purchased the collection, which has been catalogued and digitized. It's available online at http://www.history.ky.gov . At that site, click on "Search our Collections," choose the KHS collections catalog and search for "Watson and Robinson."