Tangipahoa Parish Proclaim October at Family History Month

Mason Foster, Former Mayor of Hammond, LA
Reginald Goldsby,  Former Mayor of Amite, LA
Antoinette Harrell, Local Historian and Genealogist

Dr. Antoinette Harrell, a local historian and genealogist asked Gordon Burgess, Tangipahoa Parish President to proclaim October as family history month. October nationally is recognized at family history month. It created a great opportunity to reflect on family history and discussions. Tangipahoa Parish genealogy library in Amite, Louisiana has a wealth of ancestry information that can help local people who are searching for their family history.

George Perkins
Tangipahoa African-American Heritage Museum & 
Black Veterans' Archives

 

Clifford Wheat of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Clifford Wheat
Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lafonta

Clifford was born on October 16, 1904, in Amite, Louisiana. He was born to John and Delia Wheat. His sibling was: John, Jr, Conley, Percy, Enna, Hebert, and Emma Wheat. Clifford was a man of some means. Several years back, I met with Joyce Lafonta and cousin of Clifford Wheat. She inherited all of Clifford's papers and photographs when she purchased his home. 

When I was a small child growing up in Amite, Louisiana, we sometimes visited his home. The house and yard were so clean, and the house had such a homely feeling. He was a farmer who hired people to work on his farm. He was a barber too. 

Clifford was the grandson of Saul and Julia Lawson Wheat. The United States Federal Census didn't say when Saul was born, but it stated that Julia was born about 1834 in Louisiana. Julia died at the age of eighty-five on September 10, 1919. 

Joyce had quite a few exciting documents and records from Clifford's collection. The description told a lot about Clifford's life, accomplishments, and business dealing in Tangipahoa Parish. 

Eric Williams and Jeremy Collins

Photograph of African-American Students in the Fajoni Lanier

I would like to know what school this photograph was taken at. There is no little information and pictures on the African-American schools before integration. It had been very complicated and hard to find any historical information and photographs of the schools in the Louisiana Florida Parishes. If anyone can tell me about this school, please email me at; nurtuingourroots@gmail.com

Children Photographs in the Lanier Fajoni Collection

This folder was labeled as "children" I didn't find a lot of images in that files. I shared the ones I did find. If anyone know any of the people in these images. Please email me at; nurturingourroots@gmail.com

 

African American Images of Men in the Lanier Fajoni Photograph Collection

 If anyone recognize any of the men in these photographs. Please contact me by email at; nurturingourroots@gmail. com 

African-American Women Pictures in the Lanier Fajoni Collection

 

Unidentified African-American Photographs Lanier Fajoni Collection

Two decades ago, I met a woman by the name of Phylis in Amite, Louisiana. Phylis was teacher at that time. She also wrote a column for the local newspaper about local people. She contacted me about identified photographs of African American people who used Lanier Fajoni photographer services. Here are some of the photographs she shared with me. If anyone recognized any of the people, please email me at; nurturingourroots@gmail.com.

 

 

Britten Family Unidentified Photograph Collection at the Louisiana State Archives

Britten Family Collection
Louisiana State Archives
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

There are many unidentified photographs in the Britten Family collection at the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you are a Britten or have an older family member in the Britten family that can help identified the photographs. Please email Dr. Antoinette Harrell at nurturingourroots@gmail.com. 

Unidentified Photograph
Source: Louisiana State Archives
Britten Collection

Unidentified African-American Photographs at Louisiana State Archives in the Britten Collection

Unidentified
Source: Louisiana State Archives

Last week while conducting genealogy research at the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge, La., Bill Stafford, Louisiana State Archives Research Library Administrator, went into his office and came out with a box of unidentified photographs of African-Americans from the Britten Family Collection.

I was delighted to see the beautiful unidentified photographs. I did recognize an original postcard of the  Tangipahoa Parish Training School for the Colored in  Kentwood, Louisiana. I took photographs of some of the pictures to share on my social media sites. I decided to Live-Stream a special video on my Facebook page asking anyone who knows the Britten family to contact me concerning this collection. 

Bill said that someone dropped them off at the archives. At least the family didn't throw them away. That evening, Eric Williams and Ann Hurst reached out to the Britten family to see if the Britten's they know could help us identify anyone in the photographs. 

Unidentified
Source: Louisiana State Archives

Unidentified
Source: Louisiana State Archives

Louisiana State Archives Genealogy Research

Eric Williams 
Louisiana State Archives Research
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

One of the lessons I wanted to teach Eric Williams was how to use microfilms to research his ancestors' death records that could provide a lot of helpful information for him. Eric found information that answered some questions for him. Once, I instructed him how to fill in the research form that required the deceased person's name, date, certificate number, and the page number. 

Our trip to the Louisiana State Archives was very successful and rewarding for both Eric and me. We both were very pleased with our accomplishments that day. On the way home, we discuss how essential death records are to genealogy research. 

We didn't have enough time to do all that we wanted to do. We didn't have enough time to do all we wanted to do on this five-day research trip. Eric will return back to Louisiana to research at the St. Helena Parish Courthouse and Pike County Courthouse. He was researching the Walls, Tobias, Williams, Burton, Strickland, and Bated family surnames. 

Teaching Others to Find Their Ancestors Before 1870

Eric Williams
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Anyone researching their family lineage can tell you that it could be very challenging and time-consuming. But it's all worth it because you want to know more about your family history. There is one thing for sure, and that is your research will never end.

Mainly for African-Americans whose ancestors were enslaved in the United States.  Most who are researching their enslaved ancestors say they hit a brick wall before 1870. Eric Williams has genealogical ties to Amite County, Mississippi, Tangipahoa, and St. Helena Louisiana Parishes. 

I received a phone call from Eric Williams about our DNA connections. After we spent hours upon hours talking by phone, we decided to schedule a trip to the Amite Courthouse to research slavery inventory. It was Eric's first time researching in the Amite Courthouse for slavery records. We spent the day looking at Probate records, marriage records, wills, and other records in the courthouse. 

Eric found his ancestors who were enslaved in the inventory of the person who owned them. Eric's emotions were written all over his face. I know that feeling because I experienced it when I started researching my family history. Afterward, we went to the local library to finish our genealogy research for the day. 

Councilwoman Roslyn McKay- Batiste and I Are Related

Photo Courtesy
Rosalind McKay-Batiste Facebook Page

When you shake that family tree, you never know what surname can fall off the tree. Several months ago, I had a conversation with Ponchatoula, Louisiana Councilwoman Rosalind McKay Batiste about her McKay surname. She informed me that she descends through the Thomas McKay branch. After researching the McKay line, I found that Thomas and my Monroe were brothers. Their parents were Charles and Rinner McKay. I can't wait to tell her that we are related. The fantastic thing is when I first met her, we bond instantly. Well, that explains it.