First Woman Registered to Vote

Last week was the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. I did a program on the Ouachita Parish Public Library's Facebook page about Women's Suffrage to mark the anniversary. You can watch the replay on the page. While doing research, I found this little article about the first woman to register in … Continue reading First Woman Registered to Vote →

Northeast Louisiana During the Civil War

Google books is a beautiful thing! I found this book: https://www.google.com/books/edition/British_and_American_Claims/pT9HAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Tuesday night and I am fascinated by it! Basically, it is full of testimony of people living in Northeast Louisiana (and South Arkansas) during the Civil War talking about Federal and Confederate raids in the area. The widow of John Calderwood was suing the … Continue reading Northeast Louisiana During the Civil War →

Armistice Day Celebration Program, November 11, 1937

This one is incredible! It is a program of the Disabled American Veterans group for Armistice Day, celebrated at the old Monroe Colored High School. Some of the names of the speakers are big ones! https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A71

Voting ballots of Ouachita Parish

Among the items my colleague has found going through the vertical files are some very old political items. Among them are some old sample ballots: April 7th, 1931 Democratic Primary ballot https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A73 January 16, 1940 Democratic Primary ballot https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A77 January 16, 1940 Democratic Primary ballot Ward 10 https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A76 Sam Jones campaign sample Second Primary Democratic … Continue reading Voting ballots of Ouachita Parish →

The Hour Glass

Want to know what was going on in Monroe in 1933? You would have picked up the magazine called "The Hour Glass". I think of it as the grandmother of Delta Style and Bayou Life magazines! I'll let my boss' description tell you what is in it: Volume one, number six issue of Monroe magazine … Continue reading The Hour Glass →

Monroe Illustrated

This is another book I have posted pictures from. Last week I encouraged my boss to scan it and put it on the Louisiana Digital Library. I know of no other copies in existence and even with it's poor condition, it is a rare treasure. It was published by the Monroe Progressive League (forerunner to … Continue reading Monroe Illustrated →

Monroe Photos

Take a look at the photos in this little booklet! See how many buildings you can identify. There is even one of the old Selman field airport! https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A20

Another early booklet about Monroe.

The photos in this one are incredible! https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A17

1940 Chamber of Commerce Brag booklet

The Junior Chamber gave us a lot of their old scrapbooks a few months ago, and this was a pamphlet included in the collection. It details what the Chamber had done in the past year for the city of Monroe. I call it a "brag" booklet. That is just what it does! What I like … Continue reading 1940 Chamber of Commerce Brag booklet →

Monroe Blue Book

On January 23, 1941 in the Monroe News-Star, there appeared the following notice: "Plans for listing the names of all families in the Monroe area who are identified with Monroe's social life, are under way here, it was learned today. The work will be in book form, handsomely printed and bound in blue cloth, with … Continue reading Monroe Blue Book →