Just after the Civil War, the Freedmen's Bureau, along with local African American churches, established the first schools in the south for the formerly enslaved. After Reconstruction ended, education for African Americans in the south was woefully underfunded. Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish-American part owner of Sears Roebuck saw the need for more schools in the … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Rosenwald Schools
Category: African-American History
The Davis Market and the Central Cafe
What you are looking at is an ad for two businesses, owned by a very forward thinking young man named T.J. Davis. Mr. Davis was only 23 years old when he opened the only African-American owned grocery in Monroe around 1937. Next door there was a cafe, also owned by him. A little paragraph says … Continue reading The Davis Market and the Central Cafe
I Finally Have Proof!
I have always heard that Louis Armstrong played at the Savoy in the Miller Roy building. I never found concrete proof of that. I found ads for him playing at Carroll's Gym at the Monroe Colored High School, but not the Savoy. Well....found it! March 6, 1937 ad in the Monroe Broadcast.
Elderly Former Enslaved Man Passes Away
Any mention of an enslaved person gets my attention, since so few of their stories remain. On the front page of the Southern Broadcast, Saturday, January 9, 1937, was the obituary of a 93 year old man named Thomas Jefferson. He had been the former personal body servant of Daniel Armand Breard, Sr. I will … Continue reading Elderly Former Enslaved Man Passes Away
Monroe Colored High School Annex – 1936
Here is another clipping from 1936. I have never seen this before!
Fats Waller at the Savoy – 1936
I have been able to get my hands on a rare collection of Monroe African American newspapers from the mid 1930s. My jaw is continually on the ground from what I am finding! I'll be sharing some of the treasures in the next few posts. One of the first things I have found is an … Continue reading Fats Waller at the Savoy – 1936
The Rhythm Nightclub Fire of Natchez, MS
You may be wondering why I would talk about a fire that happened in Natchez, MS on a Ouachita Parish history blog. There is a Monroe connection. On the night of April 23, 1940 Walter Barnes and his Royal Creolians were performing at the night club for an estimated audience of 700 listeners. The Rhythm … Continue reading The Rhythm Nightclub Fire of Natchez, MS
Marbles Barbecue
Mention the above restaurant around long time Monroe resident Boomers, Silent or Greatest Generations and I guarantee a smile will creep over their face and their mouth will start watering! 1923 News-Star ad. By the 1930s, he had moved to 1000 Breard St. For more than fifty years, Marbles Barbecue was the best place in … Continue reading Marbles Barbecue
A Former Enslaved Person Passes Away
I have a feeling I am going to be sharing quite a few things from the new Willis collection! One of the things that was found was a newspaper clipping detailing the death of a former enslaved person who was living with the Willis family. There is no citation with the clipping, but it seems … Continue reading A Former Enslaved Person Passes Away
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 