Category: African-American History

Some Tidbits About Richard Barrington

Among Dr. Williams' papers was a file with Richard Barrington's name on it. Inside were copies of some sheets of paper with info written on them. Richard W. Barrington The first document was a paragraph which relates Mr. Barrington's dates of birth and death, along with some info about how he became a slave of … Continue reading Some Tidbits About Richard Barrington →

Collens Five Point Pharmacy

This building was another one that stood in the 600 block of DeSiard Street, right at the corner of 6th: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/lsu-sc-p16313coll52%3A1162 I am guessing that window is where African-American clientele picked up their prescriptions, since they were not allowed under Jim Crow laws to enter the whites only front entrance. I am not sure though. … Continue reading Collens Five Point Pharmacy →

1947 Photo of DeSiard Street

This photo was labeled, "Negro quarter on Main Street, Monroe, Louisiana." in the Louisiana Digital Library: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/lsu-sc-p16313coll52%3A1163 . It is a photo from the LSU Special Collections. I did a little digging in the 47-48 Monroe City Directory, and the scene depicted here shows a strip of buildings that once stood next to the New … Continue reading 1947 Photo of DeSiard Street →

Slave sale in Monroe.

Ad from the Monroe Register Newspaper, February 9, 1860. This just makes me shiver. Notice how Granville and Lucinda were husband and wife. Five years later, they all would be free. Did Granville and Lucinda get sold together or were they separated? If they were separated, did they find each other again after freedom came? … Continue reading Slave sale in Monroe. →

Early Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Records 1862 – 1929: Part I A-K Names

Fifteen years ago, I was allowed in the basement of the Ouachita Parish Courthouse to nose around in the records. Thrown in the bottom of a filing cabinet, I found some very old coroner's reports, dating back to 1862. We got permission from the Clerk of Court to spend a couple of weeks down there … Continue reading Early Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Records 1862 – 1929: Part I A-K Names →

Richardson Funeral Home

As well as Burton/Good Citizen records, Ouachita Parish Public Library has records for the Richardson Funeral Home from 1954 - 1976. They are contained in three volumes and have been indexed by name and by date. NameDate of DeathPage #Book #Adoner, John12/26/1960180Book AAlexander, Carl8/10/1971125Book CAlexander, James8/11/1964290Book AAlexander, Shirley2/9/1959123Book AAllen, Elijah3/20/1975264Book CAllen, Henry6/8/1972130Book BAllen, Henry6/9/1972152Book CAllen, … Continue reading Richardson Funeral Home →

Burton/Good Citizen Funeral Home Index

Part of the collection of the Ouachita Parish Public Library's Genealogy Department are copies of funeral home records. Included are records for the above two funeral homes, from 1954 - 1978. Many years ago, a name index was compiled. The following names are included: NamePage #Book #?, Arthur111Book A?, Charley123Book A?, James169Book AAdams, Alice120Book AAdams, … Continue reading Burton/Good Citizen Funeral Home Index →

The Pre Civil War Murder of Jailer Abram Williams and the hanging of “Tennessee Jack”

             I found the following article one day while I was browsing pre Civil War newspaper of Monroe.  This crime was shocking and brutal by even today’s standards.  What drove this young man to do what he did can only be imagined with sympathy and horror.  He paid for it though, with his life. The … Continue reading The Pre Civil War Murder of Jailer Abram Williams and the hanging of “Tennessee Jack” →

Jim May: West Monroe’s Own Holt Collier

Many people know of Holt Collier, who led Teddy Roosevelt on his famous area bear hunt, which gave birth to the Teddy Bear.  Did you ever hear of West Monroe’s beloved hunting guide Jim May?  He was well known enough in Ouachita Parish to have had his obituary posted in the News Star, way before … Continue reading Jim May: West Monroe’s Own Holt Collier →