1955 Les Martiniques Debutantes

Debutante balls were still a thing well into the 20th century. I think Les Martiniques still has them today! Above are the beautiful debutantes of 1955, sixty eight years ago. According to some tentative research, I believe this was the first group of debutantes this club presented!

The First African-American That Tried to Integrate ULM

The first African-Americans to integrate ULM were Sarah McCoy (Abakwue) and Bobby Saucier in 1964, and the first to graduate was Donald Wayne Smith in 1967, but did you know there were efforts at integration all the way back in 1952? I found this interesting article in the Pittsburg (PA) Courier of February 9, 1952: … Continue reading The First African-American That Tried to Integrate ULM →

Famous Performances in Monroe/West Monroe

Yes, I am on a kick researching what big name stars came here to perform! I have given you a list from the local school gymnasiums/auditoriums. This is a list from the local bars/nightclubs. Again, let me stress, this is not a comprehensive list! I just typed in the names of major sites in newspapers.com … Continue reading Famous Performances in Monroe/West Monroe →

Duke Ellington Comes To Monroe.

As I write this, I am researching the local music venues that were here before the Civic Center. I am limited to newspapers.com, which makes it easy to search through the years. I saw an article at the end of the year 1936, discussing acts that came through at the Three Mile Inn, which is … Continue reading Duke Ellington Comes To Monroe. →

A Short History of the Miller Roy Building and the Savoy Ballroom

Yesterday, I was honored to speak at the unveiling of a historical marker for the Savoy Ballroom at the Miller Roy Building. I was asked if I was going to post the speech here in my blog. I thought that was a good idea, so here it is. I would first like to thank Mr. … Continue reading A Short History of the Miller Roy Building and the Savoy Ballroom →

A Story of a Husband’s Devotion to His Wife

Rest in peace Mr. and Mrs. Sanders. The Chicago Tribune, 2 January 1899, Page 4 HORSE STRAYS WITH AGED NEGRO'S WEALTH HIDDEN IN ITS COLLAR. Charles Sanders Loses $95, the Savings of Nine Years - He Hoarded It to Buy a Tombstone for His Slave Wife's Grave. Somewhere on the West Side is a stray … Continue reading A Story of a Husband’s Devotion to His Wife →

A Cemetery Puzzle

The 16th of last month, I lead a beginning genealogy lecture at one of the local libraries. We were having technical difficulties with the projector set up, and IT was called. I continued my talk. We were discussing the lack of documentation of African American cemeteries in the area, when one of the IT people … Continue reading A Cemetery Puzzle →

January, The Tailor Ad – 1929

How about his ad, also from the 1929 phone book. Mr. Ibra B. January needs no introduction. He was the best tailor Monroe has ever seen and was a pioneer in the early Civil Rights movement in Monroe.

The Negro Motorist Green-Book – 1940

Lets say you were an African-American living in the United States decades before the Civil Rights movement. You wanted to take your family on vacation out of state, but didn't know what businesses were safe to stay at. You couldn't just walk into any hotel and ask for a room! This little guide became a … Continue reading The Negro Motorist Green-Book – 1940 →

African-American Woman Fishing In Monroe

Some photos leave you wanting more. This one does for me. It is a photo taken in Monroe circa 1930 of a woman sitting on the bank of a bayou/river fishing. Who was this woman? What was her story? What has she been through and seen? It is important that we record our family stories … Continue reading African-American Woman Fishing In Monroe →