Exploring and Preserving African American History in the Louisiana Florida Parishes
Welcome to Preserving Our History in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, Louisiana. "Our History, Our Story, Our Legacy!" Dr. Antoinette Harrell is a native of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. She is a genealogist and local historian with a broad emphasis of African Americans in the Louisiana Florida Parishes.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Monday, October 13, 2025
Rosa Etta Wooldridge was delivered by Annie Nutter a midwife in St. Helena Parish
Pheoby Self Vining was born in 1880 in Pine Grove, Louisiana
Louisiana birth records uncover names of midwives in the Southeast Florida Parishes
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Charley Green 1917 Louisiana Birth Records Source: Ancestry. com |
Sam Holden birth record found in Ancestry online Louisiana birth records
Ancestry has introduced a new collection of Louisiana birth records spanning the years 1911 to 1923, facilitating access to historical birth information online. Additionally, a 2022 Louisiana law permits adoptees aged 24 and older to request non-certified copies of their original birth certificates, though this process is managed directly by the state and is not included in Ancestry's collection.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Could Grandma's quilts be on the verge of being lost forever?
It's not just the quilt; it is the beautiful memories of our loved ones who have passed away. Those quilts hold the stories of many who joined in to make them. It was a time when women gathered, sharing conversations, problem-solving, and planning actions to keep their homes and community families together.
If anyone in St. Helena, Washington, East Feliciana, Livingston, and Tangipahoa parishes would like to share their story and images of the quilt for a story, please email me at nurturingourroots@gmail.com.
Edgar Pitts preserving southern old-fashion tea cake recipes
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Eric Lee Pitts with his father's homemade teacakes. Photo credit Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
Our community thrives when we come together for events like this, which create a sense of connection and shared purpose. The combination of delicious food, meaningful conversations, and a welcoming atmosphere made for a beautiful fall Saturday morning. Not only was it enjoyable, but it also proved to be an educational and heartwarming experience that left a lasting impression.
Mary Womack bringing in the box of homemade teacakes Photo Credit Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Sugarcane syrup making is deeply rooted in the Womack family traditions
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The Womack Brothers Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
The Womack brothers—Floyd, Richard, John, and Larry—shared their passion for the craft and extended an invitation tothe audience to witness the process the day after Thanksgiving. Images and video from my collection and Donald Davis's collection provided a glimpse into the intricate process of sugarcane syrup making. The library personnel noted that it was the highest number of visitors they had seen on a Saturday morning. The event, which had been widely promoted across various platforms, attracted a diverse crowd of enthusiasts and
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Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
Floyd Womack and his brothers recounted how this annual event serves as a unifying occasion for their family. Richard described the tradition of roasting sweet potatoes on the handmade stove, while Floyd reflected on the homemade biscuits and the inviting aroma of smoked sausages that permeated the air. Preserving the culinary traditions of rural communities is essential. As younger generations migrate to cities for better opportunities, the knowledge of traditional recipes and cooking techniques is at risk of being lost. Globalization and the rise of processed foods further threaten these unique culinary practices, which have been passed down for generations. Without dedicated efforts to document and sustain them, these traditions may fade away over time.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Little Brother Montgomery was born on Kents Mill in Kentwood, Louisiana.
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Little Brother Montgomery Source: Wikipedia |
During a review of my archival collection, I discovered a scanned copy of a letter dated April 11, 1976This letter was written on the letterhead of Amos Kent. The letter, addressed to the Kentwood Ledger newspaper, included a program for the Jazz Festival at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans, Louisiana. Amos Kent mentioned that Little Brother Montgomery, a native of Kentwood, was born at Kents Mill. According to Kent, Montgomery began playing the piano
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Brother_Montgomery
https://msbluestrail.org/blues-trail-markers/little-brother-montgomery
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Carter LaCoste, a student at St. Augustine High School, advocated for swimming classes as part of the sport activities
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Carter's competitive swim meets Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell |
Anyone familiar with Carter knows that he isn't hesitant to speak or advocate for a cause, and he will argue his point relentlessly. His mother, Victorica, often remarks that he should become an attorney because he is determined to make his point. He's always up for a good debate, that's for sure. During the previous school term, he engaged with Coach Sims, the school's athletic director, to explore the possibility of introducing swimming as a school activity. "Coach Sim was all ears and was on board," said LaCoste. Sims took proactive steps to address LaCoste's request rather than allowing it to remain unaddressed. At the start of the current academic year, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that swimming would indeed be offered at St. Augustine High School. Moreover, he was deeply impressed to learn that approximately twenty students had enrolled in the class during its inaugural meeting. Many of the students had no idea that could be done LaCoste said. We had our first entry meeting and we start swim practice this coming Monday said LaCoste.
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LaCoste Backstroke competitive swimming Image: Antoinette Harrell |
He was thrilled to call and share the good news. The whole family is proud of him and, most importantly, for the students eager for swimming lessons. Once LaCoste sets his mind to something, he does not stop until he accomplishes it, so his achievements come as no surprise. LaCoste advocacy for integrating swimming into sports programs is highly commendable. This young man serves as a model of leadership, demonstrating a promising future. His efforts have significantly raised awareness about
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal placed brochures at the Tangipahoa Tourism Center
Tangipahoa Tourism Convention Center |
Vera Wheeler Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell |
Pictured from left to right are Dana Monster, Pete Boykins, Winthrop Walker, Carla Tate, Ella G. Williams, Vera Wheeler, Dr. Antoinette Harrell and Rev. Herman O. Kelly, Jr.
For more information about the Tangipahoa Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau, please visit the website at tangitourism.com
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Tangipahoa Parish Earlier Black Schools
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Westside Marching Band |
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Ponchatoula Color School Photo Courtesy: Ella Mae Badon |
1897 Lea's High School, Amite, Louisiana, Kind of Instrument D, Book 29, Page 8
1903 Oak Grove School, Book D1, Page 204
1908, Blades Reid School, D1, Page 338
1911, School, Independence, Kind of Instrument D, Book 63, Page 478
1911, Tangipahoa Parish Negro Training School
1942, Amite Color School, Amite, Louisiana
1917, Color Citizens, Kind of Instrument D, Book 81, Page 470
1920, Tangipahoa Color School, Kind of Instrument D, Book 88, Page 608
Gordon Chapel Church of God in Christ School, Amite, Louisiana
Tasker AME Zion Church School, Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Perrin High School, Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Ponchatoula Color School, Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Greenville Park High School, Hammond, Louisiana
1915, Hammond Color School, Hammond, Louisiana, Kind of Instrument D, Book 75, 187
1912, Big Zion School, Roseland, Louisiana, Kind of Instrument, D, Book 64, Page 227, 350
1958, Westside High School, Amite, Louisiana
1920, Tangipahoa Colored School, Instrument D, Book 88, 607
1896, St. James African Methodist Episcopal, Kind of Instrument D, Book D1, Page 136
1926, St. James Mission, Kind of Instrument D, Book 109, Page 27
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Grant Chapel AME Church is at the forefront of emphasizing the significance of church history.
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Grant AME Church in Amite, LA Photo Courtesy of Facebook |
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Grant Chapel AME Church member preserved thirty-plus years of church history
Esco Hornsby, Sr. 30 + Years of Church History Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell |
We discussed that the VHS taped be digitalized for preservation. Digital preservation will ensure that the church's history is accessible and can be easily shared with a wider audience. It will allow members of the community to revisit past events and celebrations. Digitizing these tapes protects them from physical degradation, ensuring that this important cultural heritage is not lost to time.
Reverend Mack Charles Hurst served as the pastor or Grant Chapel African Methodist Church for twelve years.
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Photo Courtesy of Legacy.com |