Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Category: African-American History

  • Ed Logan

    The following article was published in the Monroe Morning Post, probably in the 1920’s.  It was undated and was found in the papers of the Garrett family.  Very few issues…

  • African-American Education in Ouachita Parish Near the Turn of the Century

    This is a tiny little key hole glimpse into the history of education in the African-American community of Monroe.  It talks about a trade school that had been started by…

  • Logtown Legend

    The WPA writers project in 1937 interviewed John B. Filhiol, who told the following story.   Paul and Agatha were two of the slaves owned by Edward Landry Grammont Filhiol,…

  • Louisiana Freedmen’s Bureau Office Records, Monroe, LA Indentures, Mar.-Nov., 1867

    Right after the Civil War, orphaned African-Americans were “apprenticed” to local white families to learn a trade.  The Louisiana Freedmen’s Bureau took care of writing up the contracts and were…

  • Zadoc Harman

    Here is another article I wrote for Louisiana Road Trips magazine in June, 2001.  Zadoc Harmon was a fascinating Ouachita Parish character! Zadoc Harman:  Free Man of Color in Colonial…

  • Miller-Roy Building

    The Miller-Roy building is one of the most historically important buildings in Ouachita Parish.  In 1929 two doctors, Dr. Dr. J.C. Roy and Dr. J.T. Miller decided that they needed a…

  • George Byron Hamlet: Monroe’s first African-American mayor

    A few weeks ago, I was just playing around on the internet, seeing what was out there by searching prominent names in Monroe’s history, and seeing what came up.  I…

  • Rev. Billy Head

    This pastor is one of the most fascinating figures in Ouachita Parish history.  He was born into slavery.  He became one of the most trusted servants in the home he…