Etta Moten Performs at the Carroll Auditorium

Never heard of Etta Moten? Neither did I until I looked her up. Ms. Moten was the first black actress to appear on screen in a roll other than as a Mammy or Maid. She was a philanthropist and activist. She is best known for a little Gershwin Broadway play called, Porgy and Bess. She … Continue reading Etta Moten Performs at the Carroll Auditorium →

Fats Domino at the Red Dog

I would have LOVED to have seen this! Fats was among the first inducted class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Among that first class who have also appeared in Monroe: James Brown, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley. Fats performed in Monroe at the Red Dog Ballroom on August 1 … Continue reading Fats Domino at the Red Dog →

Zion Traveler Church Fellowship, circa 1945

This photo from our collection is only identified as Zion Traveler Baptist Church. https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A35 It shows people seated around tables eating, wearing their Sunday best. From the clothing, it appears to have been taken in the 40's or so. If you will notice, there are pews pulled up to the tables for seating! One gentleman … Continue reading Zion Traveler Church Fellowship, circa 1945 →

A Priceless Artifact of Monroe Colored High School History

A couple of weeks ago, while browsing Ebay, I found an autograph book for sale from 1941. Looking at the pictures of the pages, I soon realized it was an autograph book owned by a Senior of Monroe Colored High School, class of 1941! When the bidding ended, I was the highest bid. It arrived … Continue reading A Priceless Artifact of Monroe Colored High School History →

The Laura Porter Lynching

I was told about this website called Strange Fruit and Spanish Moss. They have documented lynching incidents from around the country. One of the ones that was documented was the Laura Porter lynching in Monroe: http://strangefruitandspanishmoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/july-25-1910-laura-porter.html Laura was the one in my post on Ouachita Parish lynching that was never found, but was rumored to … Continue reading The Laura Porter Lynching →

Floor Plan of the Original Carver Library

The State Library has posted on the Digital Library, an image of the original Carver Branch Library floor plan here: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/state-lhp%3A1166 . This is the Selman Field building, originally brought in and placed behind the old Miller Roy building, then converted to a library. We have several interior shots in our collection, and the best … Continue reading Floor Plan of the Original Carver Library →

Charter Members of the Monroe Chapter, N.A.A.C.P.

Monday, I found that the Library of Congress had the records of the N.A.A.C.P., including local level chapters. After consulting with my boss about it, she wrote them inquiring how to get copies of the Monroe documents. The next morning (yesterday) they were in her e-mail! We will be looking into getting the microfilm for … Continue reading Charter Members of the Monroe Chapter, N.A.A.C.P. →

Legal Executions in Monroe

All of these were hangings and all were given a trial and found guilty. Whether they were or were not guilty for the crimes they paid is left to history. These are the ones I found, some I have written about before. Russell Brooks - Hung February 15, 1823 for the murder of George Scamp. … Continue reading Legal Executions in Monroe →

Isaac Burnett: Grocer and Businessman

What you are looking at is an ad in a local newspaper from 1946. That imposing man in the photo, Isaac Burnett, was a very savvy businessman. He opened his grocery with only a $75 investment. Over the course of fifty years, it grew to $1200 a month in revenue. Isaac and his wife Annie … Continue reading Isaac Burnett: Grocer and Businessman →

Reported Lynchings in Ouachita Parish

I have posted before, listing reports of lynchings that have been found in Ouachita Parish newspapers. I can see the stats that show what articles are looked at and at least once a week or more, someone is looking at that list. That got me curious as to how many known lynchings there are in … Continue reading Reported Lynchings in Ouachita Parish →