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
Tag: Ouachita Parish Public Library
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!
Ouachita Parish Public Library
The original look of the Ouachita Parish Public Library. Did you ever wonder why the Main Branch Library on 18th street has a Stubbs Avenue address? When the building was first built in 1958, it's entrance faced Stubbs Avenue. As you can see in the photo, it has been extensively remodeled over the years. The … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Public Library
Miss Frances Flanders
The above photo is another one from the collection of the Ouachita Parish Public Library. It shows Library Director Frances Flanders reading Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to a group of children at storytime. It shows the interior of the Anna Ruth Meyer home on Jackson street that most area baby boomers remember from … Continue reading Miss Frances Flanders
Ouachita Parish Public Library
Ouachita Parish Public Library's second home on Jackson Street. The above photo was taken probably in the 1940's in front of the former home of Anna Ruth Meyer. She had donated it to the city of Monroe for use as a public library. It was eventually torn down in the 60's and a new facility … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Public Library
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 