Ouachita Parish History Mural

Back in 1958, Frances Flanders, Director of the Ouachita Parish Public Library, was in the middle of construction of the new Main Branch Library. Ms. Flanders wanted a statement piece to hang over the circulation desk of the new library. With the permission of the library board, Ms. Flanders commissioned Hubble Reed McBride, a Dallas … Continue reading Ouachita Parish History Mural →

Selber Brothers Department Store Groundbreaking – 1967

It was recently announced that the Main Branch of the Ouachita Parish Public Library will be moving next year into a building that was once part of the Twin City Mall. I remember the building as the original location of Stein Mart. Older residents will remember it as the old Selber Brothers Department Store. Here … Continue reading Selber Brothers Department Store Groundbreaking – 1967 →

A History of Library Service to the African-American Community in Ouachita Parish

I have found another digitized thesis! This one was written in 1967 by Ms. Shirley Rush at Atlanta University. It details the history of the establishment of the Carver Branch library on a level I have never seen before! Many influential names in the African-American community are mentioned. https://radar.auctr.edu/islandora/object/cau.td:1967_rush_shirley_c

Ouachita Parish Public Library Historical Photos

I just wanted to take a moment and highlight what my boss has been working on. She has set up a new section on the Louisiana Digital Library to upload historical photos of the Ouachita Parish Public Library. I especially love the photo of Carver Library with the Miller-Roy Building in the background! Check it … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Public Library Historical Photos →

Ouachita Parish Public Library

This real photo postcard shows the main branch library after it was built in the late 1950's. The front entrance faced Stubbs Avenue, which is why it still has a Stubbs address. The front entrance has been remodeled to open on 18th street, those front windows were removed and new space added to make more … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Public Library →

A New Genealogy Page for the Ouachita Parish Public Library

A few weeks ago, the library launched a new webpage at http://www.oplib.org. If you look at the top right section of the home page, you will see a link to Family and Local History. That leads you to our page, which has a lot of useful links at the bottom. The Databases page links to … Continue reading A New Genealogy Page for the Ouachita Parish Public Library →

A Documentation of a Movement.

Back in 1967, Ms. Shirley Cross Russ wrote a thesis for her study at Atlanta University, documenting the movement in Monroe to give library service to the African American community. This is one of the most detailed accounts I have found about the founding of Carver-McDonald Library. You can read it online here: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/30605734.pdf .

Site of the old library on Jackson.

I took this from a window of the hospital parking garage. This was the site of the old Anna Meyer home, which became the second Monroe library building. Made me a little sad to see the building gone.

Talking Headstones: Louisa Lamy McGuire

The final video is of Cathy Airhart Webb playing Louisa Lamy McGuire. She has left us since then and now runs her own local theater! https://youtu.be/eAVp1-w091w

Ouachita Parish Library Summer Reading certificate

OPPL Summer Reading program just finished up over the weekend. On a related note, I found this copy of a summer reading certificate from 1953 in my files yesterday. I scanned it and erased the name for privacy issues. Look! It was even signed by Miss Flanders!