Genealogy Discussions with Antoinette Harrell and Karran Harper Royal

Handy Burton of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Handy died on May 6, 1984 in Kenner, Louisiana. His services were held at Community Chapel Methodist Church in Fluker, Louisiana. He was married to Carrie Boykin Burton. . His parents were Green and Elcy Taylor Holden. Handy and Carrie were the parents of: Lula Mae, Charles, Helen, Margaret Alice, Charles W, Eural, Lorena, Lela, Henry Lee, and Douglas.  They had a total of 15 children. All are not listed here. 

Handy Burton Military Draft Card
Courtesy of Ancestry

Corrine Burton Holloway (1905-1995)

  

Corrine Burton 

Courtesy of blackwaltersr 

Ancestry

Corrine was the daughter of Tom and Martha Thomas Burton. Her birthplace was Liverpool, Louisiana.  She married John Holloway. According to the 1940 United States Census they ware the parents of: Oscar, Pearlie, Lizzie, Harriet  Holloway. I found on the 1930 United States census she also had a daughter named Emma. In 1930,  she and her family was living in McComb, Mississippi.  She died in 1995 an was buried in Venable Chapel Cemetery in Liverpool, Louisiana,  Her funeral services were held at Oak Grove AME Church in Kentwood, LA.

Thomas Tucker of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Published The Times-Picayune, June 25, 1962

Tucker-Entered into rest on Saturday, June 23, 1962 at 10:00 o'clock a.m. at Clinton, Infirmary, Clinton, Louisiana, Dr. Thomas Tucker, beloved husband of Mrs. Ida Wright; father of Charlie Tucker and Mrs. Pearl T. Cook of Greensburg, La., Mrs. Marie Tanner, Rev. Robert H. Tucker, Joseph, Woodrow and Mrs. Rebecca Chaney of New Orleans, Mrs. Flora Frazier of Tuckegee, Alabama, Mrs. Shirley Hardesty of Baton Rouge, and the late Bernie J. Tucker; foster father of Mrs. Juanita A. Brealy; son of the late Thomas Tucker Sr., and Mrs. Flora Coleman; father-in-law of Mrs. Elsie Tucker and Sidney Cook of Greensburg, Edward Frazier, Tuskegee, Alabama, Francis Tanner, Mrs. Ruth Tucker, Mrs. R. H. Tucker, Mrs. Rosalee Tucker, John A. Chaney of New Orleans, and Robert Hardesty of Baton Rouge; also survived by 37 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren, and on great-great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Relatives and friends of the family, bishops, general officers, presiding elders, pastorsa and laymen of the African Methodist Episcopal Churchh, Pitkins' Chapel church, Turner's Chapel A.M .E. church and all others churches of the Greensburg area, St. Peter A.M.E. church and Union Bethel Church of New Orleans, and Usher Board No. 2, Washington Chyapel, Tuskegee, Alabama, Bethel No. 212, Eagle Chapter No. 113, Order of Eastern St

ar, Prince Hall Affiliates, Greensburg, Dorcas Chapter No. 53 Heroine of Jericho Radiant Court No. 12, New Orleans, Louisiana, Educational Association, Faculty of North Scotlandville Elementary school, East Baton Roughe Principals Association, St. Helena Parish Education Association; principal and facutly of Morgan Elementary, Louisiana State Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, Ladies Auxilary of C.C.S.D.& E.M.B. Association, officers and employees of Purple Shield Insurance Co., Eureka Consistory No. &. Employees of Carver's Service Station, and Fraziers, Motor Sales and Services, and employees of V-8 Cab Co., are respectfully invited to attend the funeral on Tuesday, June 26, 1962, at 2:00 o'clock p.m. Turner's Chapel A.M.E. church, Greensburg, La. with the Re. Rev, David H. Rims presiding prelate of the Eighth Episcopal District Officiating.

Wake services on Monday night, June 25, at the above named church. Interment in Pitkin's Chapel Cemetery.

Capital Funeral Home in charge, Baton Rouge.

---

 

Emmett Burton the Son of Nathaniel and Nora Lee Burton

Emmett was born in St, Helena Parish, Louisiana on January 1, 1897. After he left home, he made Colfax, Louisiana his home. He was married to Sarah Jones. According the 1940 United States Census, he was living in Grant Parish,  Louisiana. He was a servant by occupation. Emmett and Sarah were the parents of: Elnora, James, Jennie, and Eliza Burton. Emmett died on October 24, 1966. 

He served as PVT in the Army, Unit: Co. A, 350th Labor Battalion. He enlisted on August 22, 1918, and discharged on May 21, 1919. He is buried in Iserlite Cemetery in Boyce, Louisiana. 

Frank Burton the Son of Gabe and Nora Lea Burton

Frank Burton Military Draft Card
Courtesy of Ancestry

Frank was born in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana  in 1892. He left St. Helena and made New Orleans, Louisiana his home. He lived at 3309 Louisa St in New Orleans. He listed Paul Jennet as the person who would always know his address. Frank was employed by the WPA in New Orleans. Frank signed his name.  In May of 1940 he married a woman named Rita Thompson. Frank died on January 18, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana

Elzie Burton the Son of Nathaniel and Julia Wilson Burton

Elzie Burton
World War II Draft Card
Courtesy of Ancestry

Elize was born on May 5, 1922 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. He left St. Helena and made New Orleans, Louisiana his home,  He was living at 3710 Thalia Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. He list Irene Burton as the person who always knew his address. He was employed by R.P. Farnsworth in Harrahan, Louisiana. He was 20 years old when he signed or wrote his named on the U.S., World War II Draft Card. 

Elize died on February 20, 2012, he is buried at Venable Chapel Cemetery. The U.S. Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current only listed one child and that child was Ernest Lee Burton. 

Nathaniel Burton of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Nathaniel Burton 
Military Draft Card
Courtesy of Ancestry

Nathaniel lived in Liverpool, Louisiana. Liverpool is a community in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. He was born in 1903 in St. Helena and was a sharecropper by occupation. He couldn't write, therefore he made his (x).  He listed his wife  Julia Wilson Burton and the person who will always know his address. He died on January 15, 1972 in Greensburg, Louisiana and is buried at Venable Chapel Cemetery.  His children were: Francis, Elzie, Celmar, Willie, Johnnie Burton, Lula, T.L, and James. His wife Julia died in November of 1984.

Absalom Burton and Edna Montgomery

Marriage License for Absalom and Edna
Source: Ancestry/Jane Holiday

Absalom Apps Burton was born around 1817 in Louisiana. He and Edna was the parents of 16 children;  Green, Harriett, Alps Absalom, Hester, Martha, Gabriel, Moses, Jane, Polly,  Violet, John, Minney, Agnes, Julia, Jackson, and Corriene Burton. Absalom also had one son with Dotia Wicker named Louis Burton. Louis Burton in 1842 St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

Louis was married to Malinda Burton. They were the parents of 9 children: James, Dotia, Martha, Celia, Mary, Ellis, Louis, Edna, and John Burton.  Louis and Malinda is my direct line. Their daughter Martha married Jacoh "Jake" Boykin. Martha and Jake are my father grandparents. 

My paternal 2nd great grandmother Martha was born around 1868 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Martha died at the age of seventy-eight. in 1946 in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. 

Clarisa "Clara" Richardson of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Clara Richardson 
Courtesy of  Wheeler411 (Ancestry)

Clara was born on April 7, 1884 to Andrew and Sarah Jane Foster Richardson in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. She died on June 15, 1987 in Baton Rouge, LA. She was one of nine children born the the union of Andrew and Sarah.  Her siblings were; Gertrude, Clara, John Wesley, Margaret, Leonard, Alonzo, Monroe, Minard, and Lawerence Richardson.  Clara was married to Johnson Foster, they had four daughters. Clara lived past a 100 years old. 

Kelly Brock Brumfield of Washington Parish, Louisiana

Kelly Brock Brumfield
Source: Patsy Johnson

Kelly was born to Laborn and Elizabeth Brock in 1900. The Brock family was living in Washington Parish, Louisiana. In the 1920 United States Federal Census Cally was living in the house with her parents and her niece Adrine Brumfield.  Her siblings were; Corene, Lula, Sylvia, Minnie, Julia, and Rachel Brock. Kelly is the grandmother of Patsy Johnson.

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

Richardson Funeral Home, Inc, Amite Donated a Volume of Funeral Books for Preservation

Funeral Records

The secretary for Richardson Funeral Home, Inc., Amite contacted Nurturing Our Roots Media regarding a volume of books that we might be interested in for genealogy research. She explained exactly what was in the books, and Dr. Antoinette Harrell assured her that she would be there in thirty minutes to examine them. 1996 to 2012 is the start and end date of the volume.

The books contain funeral records as well as indexes. Among the information researchers can find are the deceased's name, race, date of birth, date of death, occupation, and parents' names. Furthermore, it indicates whether the mothermaiden name, the funeral date, interment information, whether she was married, and the information's name. 

The books will be part of the Richardson Funeral Home Collection at the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies.  Parallelto the donation of books, 590 funeral programs will be added to the collection. EBPL Special Collections Department is digitizing the funeral programs and returning the originals to Dr. Antoinette Harrell at the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies. The Richardson Funeral Home is the first funeral home in the Louisiana Florida Parishes to preserve such records.

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

More African American Funeral Programs to Be Digitized at the EBPL Special Collections Department

Patsy  Johnson

I've had a busy week of preserving African Americans funeral programs at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Special Collections Department and conducting peonage research in the Mississippi Delta  made this week one of my busiest. Not to mention the many meetings I had scheduled. One of my meetings this week was with Patsy  Johnson concerning her collection of funeral and church programs. 

There are over 100 African American funeral programs in her collection from several South East Louisiana parishes: Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, St. Helena, East Feliciana, and Washington Parishes. A large number of the funeral programs were composed of members of her family, friends, and church family. Having thumbed through her collection, I made a recommendation to her about preserving her collection. In our conversation, I explained how important it is for her collection to be digitized in order to be preserved, and how I have partnership with the EBPL Special Collection Department to assist with the preservation of such collections. 

Patsy made use of this opportunity to ensure long term preservation to digitization. It was encouraging to know she understood how these funeral and church programs can be extremely valuable to the study of local history and genealogy research. I discussed with her how disappointed she would be if a natural disaster or other catastrophic event took place that could cause her collection to be damaged or destroyed. It is for reason like this, that we must consider alternative approaches to preserving our rich collections. 

Our meeting concluded with a plan of action for preserving her collection and making it accessible to other researcher through online digitization at the EBPL Special Collections Department. It is expected that the process will be completed within three months. 

Funeral Services for Bro. Jim Williams

1885-1962, to be held at  Church of God in Christ, Amite, La. on Thursday, February 1, 1962 at 1:00 p.m. 

Order of Service

Master of Ceremony.....................................................................................................Supt. Monroe McGee 

Presiding.............................................Elder Alex Richardson, Pastor, Church of God in Christ, Amite, LA

Song................................................................................................................Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross

Invocation.............................................................................Rev. Leroy Thomas,  Pastor of Church of God

Christ Dell Chapel, Independence, Louisiana

Talk by Family..................................................................................................................Bro. Monroe Perry

Talk by Friends...................................................................................................................Deacon C. Wheat 

Solo.................................................................................................................................... John E. Forman

Eulogy..................................................................................................Elder J.J. Johnson, Pastor of Church of God in Christ Darlington, Louisiana.

Reprint from the Funeral Program of Jim Williams

Courtesy of Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite

Notes: 

Jim was married twice, first to Lillie Edwards Williams  and secondly to Emma Vining Williams was his second wife. According to the 1940 United States Federal Census, he and his family were living in Amite, La. on Highway 103. His occupation was a farmer and they rented their home. According to the census, he never attended school. He and Emma was the parents of: Ethel, Arthur, Jim, Jr., and Dorothy Williams. He was the stepfather of: Alexander, Josephine, Alma and Rosabelle Richardson.      

Jim and Lillie were the parents of; Viola Williams, E.D. Williams, and J. D. Williams. Jim is buried at Mount Zion also known as Greater Refuge Temple and Bear Creek Cemetery in Montpelier, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.   

According to his U.S. World War 1 Draft Registration Card, he was born on December 14, 1879. A slender build man, short in height, black hair and black eyes.                  

Thomas Richardson, Sr. of Amite, Louisiana

Thomas Richardson, Sr. 

Thomas Richardson, Sr. was born in Amite, Louisiana on July 4, 1928 to the late Alexander and Melissa Wheat Richardson. He died on October 3, 1971 in Compton Los Angles. He was the first born child to this union. He had had nine siblings: one sister; Helenstine Richardson Williams; eight brothers: Samuel, Walter, Alex, Emmitt, Joseph, Earl, Nathaniel, and Darnell Richardson.

He married his sweetheart Leola Gilbert in 1953 in New Orleans, LA.  They had five children:  Thomas, Jr., Yolanda, Winifred, Malcom, and Russell Richardson.  According to to his Military Draft Card he was eighteen years old and live in Route 1, Box 16 E, Amite, LA.  Thomas was employed by Welton Brumfield in Amite, La. 

He had brown eyes, black hair, dark brown complexion and was 5'2". He listed his father as his next of kin. 

The Celebration the Life of Thomas Richardson

Thomas Richardson, Sr. 

Without warning death pluck a flower from the Richardson's Garden on Sunday October 3, 1971. Thomas was born July 4, 1929/ He was born and reared in Amite, LA. He was married to Leola Gilbert on July 25, 1953. To this union was born five children. To his family he was a loving and faithful striving always to keep them happy and in material comforts of life. He was a faithful husband and a loving father. All the beautiful things in life the most beautiful, is character and he who possesses a beautiful character is worthy of the flowers we give. A beautiful life is the fruit of a beautiful character, he who we memorialize here at this time possessed a beautiful character and lived a beautiful life.

To my mind the highest tribute that can be paid to any man is, that he was loved by his fellows and Christ. Truly  he was a noble gentleman and citizen. He was a hared worker. He sought to help and encourage all who needed such. He was always busy, and alert to find something to do or a word to encourage. 

Thomas leaves to mourn his death, a wife Leola; five children: Thomas, Jr., Yolanda, Winfred, Malcom and Russel of Compton, California, mother and father, Elder. and Mrs. Alex Richardson (Amite), one sister, Mrs. Helestine Williams (Houston, Texas) eight brothers: Walter (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Alex, Jr., (Houston, Texas), Nathaniel and Emmitt (Los Angles, California), Samuel, Earl, Joseph, and Darnell of Amite. A host of relatives and friends. 

Program

Devotion

Mistress of Ceremony.........................................................................................................Helen P. Edwards

Selection...............................................................................................................................................Chorus

Solo.........................................................................................................................................Mr. J.M. Mabry

Talk.................................................................................................................................Mrs. Eunice Rudison

Solo.....................................................................................................................................Mr. Leslie Mabry

Obituary...............................................................................................................................Mr. Leslie Mabry

Acknowledgement of Condolences, Flower, and Telegrams/Mrs. Helen P. Edwards

Solo.........................................................................................................................Miss. Darilyn Richardson

Eulogy..................................................................................................................................Supt. H.H. Evans

Viewing of Cadaver

In charge of arrangements, Richardson Funeral Home and Purple Shield Life Insurance

Reprint: The Funeral Program of Thomas Richardson

East Baton Rouge Parish Library Digitizing Funeral Programs from Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite.

Kay Hurst and Melissa Eastlin
EBPL-Photo
Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

The African American funeral programs contains a wealth of information about the deceased that gives insights into their lives. The funeral programs contains their name, date of birth, date of death, parents names, maiden names of women who were married, occupation, education and civic duties and organization affiliation, names of their siblings, and children.  Valuable information  is provided in these programs that can be a great help to anyone researching their family history. 

In sharing some of the Watson funeral program with  award winning author, radio talk show host, and genealogist Bernice Bennett, she discovered information about her family history and learned about her ancestors on her grandfather side of the family. "These are my relatives on my grandfather side of the family. Bennett explained to me." Each of the people on the Watson funeral programs and funeral home books are in my family tree. 

Kay Hurst, Research Specialist at the Genealogy and Special Collections Department at the EBRPL, sent an email requesting me to meet with   them about the collection. They read the article published  in the Advocate newspaper "Segregation erased generation of  Black history. This Louisiana funeral home rediscovering it." During our meeting they told me that they would gladly digitized the collection and return the originals copies  back to me. Because Richardson Funeral, Inc. Amite has a collection at the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, I thought it would be best to consult with Dr. Samuel Hyde, the Center Executive Director before I make any decision concerning this collection. He informed me that was alright to get them digitized. I was hoping that he would agree with this process.

East Baton Rouge Parish Library collection is a collaborative effort between the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Special Collection  Department and numerous community contributors to collect preserve and make available this unique resource.

Any archivist's greatest concern during a natural disaster is the loss of historical materials, rare books, audio, video, and photographs.  The Georgia Public Library Service new collection features more than 100 years of digitized African American Funeral programs. The San Antonio Public Library, Texas has a digitized African-American Program Collection. The African American Funeral Programs Collection at the East Baton Rouge Parish. I'm glad to see that this digitized process is happening Louisiana,

Thomas Cook
EBPL: Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Richardson Funeral Home, Inc., Amite, Nurturing Our Roots Media and Dr. Antoinette Harrell has become a contributors to the preservation for funeral programs at EBPL. Digitization of this collection provides access to the funeral programs of several of the Florida parishes and other parishes in Louisiana to anyone worldwide who are searching for genealogical and historical information through the use of digital technology. In collaboration with my brother Thomas, we gathered the funeral programs and took them to the East Baton Rough Parish Library Special Collection Department for digitization preservation. It will take Kassandra and Kay approximately one month to digitize the collection.

It took me two days to alphabetize 590 funeral programs. I also created a database of the funeral programs for Richardson Funeral Home, Inc., Amite,  The Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. Creating this database facilitates a faster processing of the collection. I would definitely say it's my passion and a labor of love. 

Please see the link below for the African American Funeral Program EBRPL:

https://www.ebrpl.com

https://batonrougedigitalarchive.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16340coll17