Chris's Bio
Christopher X. Smothers
Christopher X. Smothers is a historian, genealogist, and emerging archivist dedicated to uncovering suppressed histories and preserving the cultural memory of underrepresented communities. He is currently pursuing a dual Master of Arts in History and Master of Science in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management at Simmons University. With a B.A. in History from Clark Atlanta University, Christopher’s work bridges the archival, academic, and public history sectors.
Christopher served as Lead Genealogist and Historian for the Fulton County Reparations Task Force, where he extracted and organized raw data from the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Federal Slave Schedules to trace enslaved individuals and their enslavers across Fulton,Campbell, and Milton counties in Georgia. His work identified slaveholding families, reconstructed familial and community settings among the enslaved, and used legal historical records to trace living descendants.
He also estimated the monetary value of lost labor during the antebellum period and analyzed tax digests to quantify revenue derived from the institution of slavery, producing a comprehensive report presented to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners to inform discussions on reparative justice.
Christopher has contributed to institutions such as the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. His work as Lead Research Coordinator for a digital forced labor camp project in Georgia and as Historian and Genealogist for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Center for Repair of Historic Harms reflects his commitment to reparative research and archival justice. As a board member of Reclaim the Records, he has championed efforts to expand public access to vital government records, including winning a major legal case against the New York State Department of Health and helping release the long-restricted Mississippi State Death Index.
In 2025, Christopher was featured on ABC News Live for his genealogical research uncovering Pope Leo’s maternal Black ancestry, a story that sparked international dialogue around Black identity and global history. He also presented original research at the Root House Museum in Cobb County, Georgia, showcasing a self-published database documenting every enslaved person listed in local probate records. His work traced the forced migration, hired-out labor, family networks, and appraisal values of the enslaved — an example of his meticulous, human-centered approach to archival discovery.
Through his organization, Unearthing Your Roots, Inc., Christopher continues to empower individuals and communities to connect with their histories through forensic genealogy, digital preservation, and public engagement. He looks forward to deepening his contributions to the field of archival management and collaborating with institutions such as the International African American Museum.
