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 supposed to make sure they were treated fairly. This is only covers a nine month period, and it makes you wonder what happened to the … Continue reading Louisiana Freedmen’s Bureau Office Records, Monroe, LA Indentures, Mar.-Nov., 1867 →

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 Ouachita Parish Anyone with a passing knowledge of Colonial Ouachita Valley history, knows the names of the early founders of what was to become … Continue reading Zadoc Harman →

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 place where African Americans could do business without begin discriminated against. An African-American contractor named J.A. Beckwith was hired in 1929 to build it at … Continue reading Miller-Roy Building →

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 decided to search using George B. Hamlet's name. Lo and behold, I found a site talking about the role African-Americans have played in the history … Continue reading George Byron Hamlet: Monroe’s first African-American mayor →

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 was forced to serve in. After freedom came, he was one of the very few former slaves who could read and write. He founded schools … Continue reading Rev. Billy Head →