Genealogy and historical societies are great sources of information. Their magazines have information sometimes, that isn’t published anywhere else. Sometimes they have great online databases only available to their members. Here are the societies that I know of, that cover Ouachita Parish.
The most local of any of them is the Northeast Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society. They meet once a month in the Louis Lock Room of the Ouachita Parish Public Library in Monroe, Main Branch, the second Sunday of each month (except May and December) at 2:30 pm. Guests are welcome. They publish a newsletter called “Forgotten Louisiana” four times a year. The parishes covered are: Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union and West Carroll.
They have no web page. Membership is $20 Individual, $25 Family, $15 Senior (55 or older), $20 Senior family, $15 Student (with student ID and proof of class attendance). Mail your name, address, phone and e-mail, the surnames you are researching, along with your check to 2020 Rosedown Dr. Monroe, LA 71201. You can even receive Forgotten Louisiana by e-mail in PDF form if you wish.
Another area Genealogy society is the Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Association. They meet the second Saturday of each month at 1 pm a the Broadmoor Branch Library in Shreveport. Visitors are welcome. They publish a newsletter called “The Genie” quarterly by PDF format through e-mail. They welcome submissions of family history, genealogical research, and research methodology with no geographical limitations. They also welcome historical articles. and queries.
The website for the society can be found here: http://www.altgenealogy.com/index.htm . Annual dues are $20 for a whole year, but if joining after July 1, it is only $10. For a membership application, please see their web page.
Did you know a Mississippi Genealogy Society covers Ouachita Parish? The Vicksburg Genealogical Society meets monthly at various times and places, mainly a the Vicksburg Public Library (see their web page for details). They publish a quarterly newsletter called “Mississippi River Routes”. As well as covering the Vicksburg area, they cover the following parishes in Louisiana: Avoyelles, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, LaSalle, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union and West Carroll.
The website for the society can be found here: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~msvgs/index.htm . Annual dues are $25, made payable to the society at the following address: Vicksburg Genealogical Society, Attn: Treasurer, P.O. Box 1161, Vicksburg, MS 39181-1161.
Some other statewide societies that you may find interesting:
Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society
Louisiana Historical Association
Le Comite’ des Archives de la Louisiane
Louisiana African-Americans: P.O. Box 2116 Opelousas, LA 70570-9998, E-Mail: LouisianaResearch@Yahoo.com
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 