Louisiana Florida Parishes African American Collections and Preservation

Amite Genealogy Library
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

The first time I began conducting genealogy research  more than 25 years ago. In my research, I did not find much on the history of African Americans in the Louisiana Florida Parishes. I asked myself, "What are you willing do to do change it?" After carefully considering my options, I decided to pursue the task I wanted to accomplished. I specifically wrote down my plan of action and started implementing it.  The Amite Genealogy Library in Amite, Louisiana was my first stop. As part of my strategic plan, my next steps were to organize folders on different families that have lived in the parish since 1870. Secondly, I contacted several key people who have live in the Florida Parishes all their lives. I informed them as to what I was doing and how much I needed their assistance to accomplish my goals. Some people started pulling out boxes of photographs and other documents. From Ponchatoula to Kentwood, I've seen and learned so much just from visiting peoples homes and looking at their private collections.

Several years later, I began blogging about the people and local history of the Florida Parishes. Currently the blog post has close to 400,000 readers globally. Periodically, I produced several short films about the some of the people and the local history. A number of highlighted articles have been published in the local newspapers, including the Daily Star, Tangi Digest, and the St. Helena Echo. My third objective was to establish African American collection at the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies.  Four African American Collection have been established; Bernice Bennett Collection, Dr. Kingsley B. Garrison, Antoinette Harrell, and Richardson Funeral Home, Inc, Amite.

The Daily Star Newspaper.

Additionally, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Special Collections was added as a repository for the African American funeral programs. The programs will be scanned and made available on their library's websites for researchers. The Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana received an extensive collection as well. The book entitled " Images of America" African Americans in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes was published approximately three years ago and now the book sit on the bookshelves in libraries, museums, and the Louisiana State Archives.  One of the other major accomplishments were documenting nine African American cemeteries in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes. My youngest son Bernard and my colleague Ilona Little helped me to document the cemeteries and made them available on the USGenWeb site for genealogy research for anyone researching their family history in the Florida. Parishes. There are others that needs to be recorded. Most of the churches do not have a record of who is buried in the cemetery. I would like to talk with the leaders and secretaries of the churches and ask them about keeping records of the deceased buried in their cemetery.

It has truly been a rewarding journey and I'm looking forward to the next chapter of this journey. In the near future, I would like to have interns who can train under me so that I can prepare myself to pass the torch to the next generation who are interested. Hopefully next summer, I will get interns and volunteers to help me to continue documenting the history of the Florida Parishes. In some cases I need to create databases of some of the finding.

The Florida Parishes had gained exposure as a result of my guest appearance on internet radio and zoom broadcasts about the history and people. Numerous of filmmakers, writers, magazine publishers and. other media outlets regarding my research. In the coming years, I intend to collect oral history from the elders in the community. As I ponder on the subjects, that will determine how I will find the people I want to interview. 

Peonage Research Documentary 
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr. 

Source:

The USGenweb Archives Part of the The USGenWeb Project (Tangipahoa Parish Index)

http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/tangipahoa/cemeterya.htm

Dr. Antoinette Harrell Collection

http://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/programs/csls/historical_collections/archival_collections/h_k/harrell_collection.html

Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite Collection

http://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/programs/csls/historical_collections/archival_collections/r_s/richardson_funeral_home/index.html

Dr. Kingsley B. Garrison Collection

http://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/programs/csls/historical_collections/archival_collections/e_g/garrisonkingsleyb.html

Bernice Alexander Bennett Collection

http://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/programs/csls/historical_collections/archival_collections/a_b/bernice_alexander_bennett.html

The Amistad Research Center

http://amistadresearchcenter.tulane.edu/archon/index.php?p=accessions/accession&id=1248

The History of B. Stern Co., LTD

B. Stern Truck Driver
Photo Courtesy of Hancock Whitney Bank
Amite, Louisiana.

B. Stern located in Amite, Louisiana was incorporated in 1861.  Levi Stern was one of the several Jewish families in Amite, Louisiana. Levi Stern was born in a small Gerrman Village in 1828.  He was a young boy when he came to America with his family. He enlisted and fought in the  Confederacy for his new homeland. After the war ended, he settled in Amite, Louisiana and opened a store. He opened the largest department store in Amite in 1870. He named the store "B Stern" Levi passed away in 1888 and was buried in Amite, La. 

People from Amite and surrounding areas frequently shopped at the department store. People occasionally window shop, perusing all the goods displayed in the store windows. During the Christmas holiday, toys were displayed in the window that captivated the children's attention. My mother often talked about shopping at B.Stern. During the the 1950s and the 1960s, African Americans would dress up on a Saturday and head into town for shopping, a movie, and ice cream cones. 

One the weekend, going into town was a great way to unwind after working hard all week. This was a easy to see their friends who didn't live in close proximity. Many of the younger people spent the long summer days working in the fields, picking beans and other produce. In the 1970s a hamper of beans went up to a $1.50 a hamper. So with that being said, it was far less in the 60s. They worked and saved their money. They enjoyed spending their hard earned money on items they wanted or needed. Nevertheless, some people still window shop because they had other obligations for their money. 

Source

https://www.isjl.org/louisiana-amite-encyclopedia.html

Touring the Louisiana State Archives

Louisiana State Archives
Photo Credit: Leonard Smith III

The Louisiana State Archives is the official repository for Louisiana's historical records. Over the past twenty-five years. I have made numerous trips to the archives in order to conduct genealogy research on both my paternal and maternal lines. I recently saw a flyer advertising a tour of the archives and I was excited to sign up for the tour. Throughout all my years of research, I have never gone past the first floor. After learning that I would have access to the second floor, I was very pleased. 

When I told my friend and documentary filmmaker Leonard Smith III that the Louisiana State Archives was hosting a tour, he said that he would join me for the tour. The second floor consists of a warehouse of boxes containing original records, boxes and some personal items of individuals. A tour of several departments of the film production facilities and microfilms was conducted. I was pleased to meet with Alliso Liorens, Executive Staff Officer: Brad France, M.A. Archives Supervisor, and Catherine J. Newsome, State Archivist and Executive Director of the Louisiana State Archives. We toured the exhibit room as well as the auditorium during our visit. 

Some of the staff  pulled search materials out for us to see. Records for Mahalia Jackson, Louis Armstrong, Bonnie and Clyde, and Marie Laveau. They also pulled a suit, shirt and tie that belonged to Huey P. Long. There is nothing comparable to reviewing original records. Over the course of my research trip. I visited many courthouses, archives, and libraries. I also met many people who still maintain original records within their homes. 

Following the tour, Leonard and I had a good discussion about what we seen and what we learned from the tour. The mere sight of all the boxes overwhelmed me since I have boxes in my office ready to be sent to the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, the Amistad Research Center, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Special Collection, and the Amite Genealogy Department. 

Leonard Smith III
Louisiana State Archives 
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell