Cheryl Stamant recalls her mother's handmade vintage doilies and scarves

Catherine Harrell Lewis

It's human nature to share stories about our families. This morning, I spoke with my maternal first cousin Cheryl. During our conversations, we somehow take a trip down memory lane. My mother Isabell and Cheryl's mother Catherine were sisters.  During our childhood, we spent a great deal of time together. Cheryl and her family lived primarily in New Orleans, Louisiana, while my family lived on my maternal great-grandmother's homestead in Amite, Louisiana. Cheryl and her siblings often visited us during the holidays and summer. Later Cheryl and her family moved back to Amite, La., where her mother grew up.

My  brothers and I would be so happy to see our cousins and play with them. We would pick blackberries  plums, peaches, pears, black walnuts on the homestead.  We enjoyed exploring and hiking in the woods. We spent the whole day together laughing and playing. It was one of the best memories I have of my childhood. Despite the amount of time we spent together, I didn't know her mother enjoyed crocheting lace scarves and doilies. She recalled how her mother crocheted beautiful handmade vintage scarves and doilies. During the 1930s to 1960s the vintage beauties adorned many homes. "Mother used to take the scarves when she was finished making them and dip them in Argo starch and wrap them in a towel and place them in the freezer and then iron them stiff," said Cheryl.  Some of the doilies held beautiful vases that sat on the tables she said. 

Cheryl Stamant

Many women called her to inquire about the handmade beauties.  Cheryl spoke about her mother's talents. Cooking was another of her talents. She mentioned the blackberry dumplings and her cooking. I knew my aunt was a good cook but I was unaware that she enjoyed the art of crocheting. I was surprised to learn that she had a talent for crocheting. I wish I could see the intricate patterns and designs she made. I really enjoyed Cheryl sharing beautiful memories of her mother with me. 

It's not unusual to find vintage handmade crocheted scarves and doilies in antique shops and estate sales across the country. When I see them, I can't help but think about the hands that made them. Cheryl express how she wish she had just one of the vintage beauties made by her mother's hands.

I love hearing stories like these because it helps me to appreciate life more and to remember to cherish the special moments I have with my family and friends. I am grateful for Cheryl's stories and for reminding me of the special people in my life. Sharing beautiful stories of your dear loved one help to keep their memory alive. I wanted to ensure that what she share with me can be shared with others members of our family who was unaware of her crocheting skills. 

Teaching My Granddaughter About Research and Preservation

Jo'elle and grandmother
at the Amistad Research Center

I have one granddaughter who is the eldest grandchild.  Born with a natural desire to learn, she had a strong interest in many things. I enjoyed sharing family history with her and making the process fun at the same time. At the age of two, she started traveling along with me on my genealogy adventures. The two of us would pack lunch and snacks at make our way to the library. The children department was our first stop, where we read books and sometimes arts and crafts. Afterwards we headed upstairs to the genealogy department. 

Her childhood was filled with research adventures and journey to different parish, counties, and states. She loved traveling with me. Especially to the different parks and children museums for fun and excitement. I appreciated Jo'elle's little help very much and I rewarded her for her efforts just to let her know how much I appreciated her helping me. 

As soon as she learned how to read, we would read the signs on the highway and play games together. I always enjoyed being able to take her out of state with me.  During out trips to Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas, she saw a lot of beautiful scenery. 

I wanted to describe our experience in a blog post to so that she can read about our journey together. After her brothers arrived and they turned two, we had traveling companions and were able to enjoy the journey with triple the excitement and fun. 

She accompanied me to the Amistad Research Center in New. Orleans to see our family collection when she turn seven.  I wanted her to see what I had in the boxes, since one day it will mean something to her. 

Traveling Down Memory Lane Through Pictures

Her 6th Grade  Class at O.W. Dillion
Photo Credit: Ian Brown

The journey of family research has allowed me to meet other families throughout the Louisiana Florida Parishes.  Whether it is oral history or a collection of photographs everyone had something they are proud to hold on too. I couldn't wait to visit with Mrs. Grace Sanders Walker to see her collections of family photographs. Years ago she donated the first African-American community album book to the Amite Genealogy Library. 

Mrs. Walker understands the importance of holding on to the family photographs and heirlooms. She comes from the Vernon Clan of Tangipahoa Parish.  When she started pulling out all her pictures and naming the people in the photographs. "I said to myself what a piece of history we would lose if we if it wasn't for people like her!"

I was walking back down memory lane with her. Each time I look at photographs with individuals who are willing to share the image and the story with me. I feel like I'm traveling back with them and learning something about the person in the image.

Mrs. Grace S. Walker and Glyniss Vernon Gordon
Photo Credit: Ian Brown

Old photographs are treasures that many people hold on too tightly. Pictures that make them smile and often time they reflected upon a loved one who has passed on. Learning how to label the photographs are important. Everyone has photographs in their collection and may not know some of the people in the photograph. 

Her pictures are in great condition and you can tell that she handles them with gentle care. Our family photograph tells stories about our family and ancestors. There is an old saying that says...a picture is worth a thousand words. In earlier times taking a picture was a big deal. Everyone put on their Sunday's best and pose for the pictures. Most of the time everybody looked so serious. The women dressed up in the fancy dress and some wore hats. The men put on their finest suit and shine their shoes to get their pictures taken.  I can't forget the children how nicely dressed they were.  

Sitting on her dresser was pictures of her parents and other family members. She made several trips to bring out more pictures. One of the pictures she brought out for display was of Robert "Free Bob" Vernon. She is a descendant of Robert. The Vernon family had deep roots in the Florida Parishes. Nurturing Our Roots really appreciate everyone who has preserved their family photograph.

Isaac and Mariah Harrell of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Top Left: William Harrell, Sr. Bottom Left: Isaac Harrell, Jr.
Top Right: Johnny Harrell: Bottom Right: Joseph Harrell
Isaac Harrell in the center.

Last week a woman name Carolyn August- Robinson contacted me about her East Feliciana Harrell family.  Her grandfather Isaac Harrell was born circa 1892. Isaac's mother was named Catherine, she married a man name Ripley Flowers who listed Isaac as his stepson in the 1900 U.S. Census. 

A brother by the name of James E. Harrell was living in the household. James was born in 1894. 

In 1910 he was living in the Police Jury Ward 7th, East Feliciana, Louisiana.  He was recorded as a mulatto and was a farmer by occupation. He was married to Mariah Jefferson Harrell.  They were the parents of Catherine, Emma, Leola, Viola, Mary Ella, Florence, Joseph, John, Isaac and Elizabeth Harrell.

In 1920 Isaac and Mariah were living in New Orleans, Louisiana at 5763 Dauphine Street. He worked as a laborer at a saw mill. In 1930 the family was living at 5431 Urquhart Street. Isaac was longshoreman working on the docks.

Their son Joseph was killed in a train derailment in 1947 on his way home. Once Isaac and his wife left the small town of Clinton they made New Orleans their home. Many of their descendants still live in the New Orleans today. I heard that there were Harrell's who lived in the ninth ward in New Orleans other than my Harrell family. Now that I'm making a connection with other Harrell's who came from Clinton it may help me find my maternal great grandfather Alexander's brother and sisters offsprings if there were any.

The Harrell Sister

Just this past week  family historian Karran Harper Royal and I went to Clinton to help New Orleans Police Officer Stephen Harrell, Sr. connect to his Harrell roots in Clinton. Now we're connecting with Carolyn to connect with her Clinton roots.

In 1802 Hezekiah Harrell was sent as early as 1802 by his father, fat old Levi Harrell of Charleston District, S.C., to explore the southern wilds for a home large enough for his "old folks," the littles one, the slaves and herds. Hezekiah, having obtained a liberal Spanish grant.  Fat "Ole Levi," other family lines are  Smith, Bacon, Chance, Robinson, Hobgood, Little, Cassel, McNeil and Hunt. They all lived in East Feliciana and Amite County, Mississippi in the early 1800s.  I've been to the clerk's office in Amite County, Mississippi many time looking at the slave inventory and succession records of Hezekiah. Now that I know the lineage of Isaac and Beauregard Harrell, I would like to find their ancestors who were slaves to find out if they were related to my maternal great-great grandfather Robert Harrell.

Carolyn August-Robinson

One thing that fat old Levi told his son Hezekiah is not to sell any of his slaves. Hezekiah honored his father wishes and kept the enslaved African together on the the Harrell plantation.  I hear people with the last name Harrell talk about their Clinton roots.  I think its time to use DNA to find out if we're related once we hit a brick wall and our research can't go any
further.

So many of us with the last name Harrell want to know how history and more about our ancestors, who were they, where did they come from. Who are their children? Where did they go after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed granting the former slaves their freedom. I very grateful for social media networks, because we're sharing photographs and family stories.

Carolyn informed me that she and Stephen are friends on facebook and she was trying to find out if they're related.  I think we'll  get some answers very soon. If you're a Harrell with ancestral roots in East Feliciana Parish, Amite County, Mississippi, St. Helena Parish, Tangipahoa Parish and Orleans Parish, and you would like to share your Harrell family history please email me at afrigenah@yahoo.com., Karan and I would like to hear about your history and we're still searching for the descendants of Alexander and Dinah Harrell.

Isaac Harrell, Jr.
Son of Isaac and Mariah Harrell