Eric Williams and Jeremy Collins

Photograph of African-American Students in the Fajoni Lanier

I would like to know what school this photograph was taken at. There is no little information and pictures on the African-American schools before integration. It had been very complicated and hard to find any historical information and photographs of the schools in the Louisiana Florida Parishes. If anyone can tell me about this school, please email me at; nurtuingourroots@gmail.com

Children Photographs in the Lanier Fajoni Collection

This folder was labeled as "children" I didn't find a lot of images in that files. I shared the ones I did find. If anyone know any of the people in these images. Please email me at; nurturingourroots@gmail.com

 

African American Images of Men in the Lanier Fajoni Photograph Collection

 If anyone recognize any of the men in these photographs. Please contact me by email at; nurturingourroots@gmail. com 

African-American Women Pictures in the Lanier Fajoni Collection

 

Unidentified African-American Photographs Lanier Fajoni Collection

Two decades ago, I met a woman by the name of Phylis in Amite, Louisiana. Phylis was teacher at that time. She also wrote a column for the local newspaper about local people. She contacted me about identified photographs of African American people who used Lanier Fajoni photographer services. Here are some of the photographs she shared with me. If anyone recognized any of the people, please email me at; nurturingourroots@gmail.com.

 

 

Britten Family Unidentified Photograph Collection at the Louisiana State Archives

Britten Family Collection
Louisiana State Archives
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

There are many unidentified photographs in the Britten Family collection at the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you are a Britten or have an older family member in the Britten family that can help identified the photographs. Please email Dr. Antoinette Harrell at nurturingourroots@gmail.com. 

Unidentified Photograph
Source: Louisiana State Archives
Britten Collection

Unidentified African-American Photographs at Louisiana State Archives in the Britten Collection

Unidentified
Source: Louisiana State Archives

Last week while conducting genealogy research at the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge, La., Bill Stafford, Louisiana State Archives Research Library Administrator, went into his office and came out with a box of unidentified photographs of African-Americans from the Britten Family Collection.

I was delighted to see the beautiful unidentified photographs. I did recognize an original postcard of the  Tangipahoa Parish Training School for the Colored in  Kentwood, Louisiana. I took photographs of some of the pictures to share on my social media sites. I decided to Live-Stream a special video on my Facebook page asking anyone who knows the Britten family to contact me concerning this collection. 

Bill said that someone dropped them off at the archives. At least the family didn't throw them away. That evening, Eric Williams and Ann Hurst reached out to the Britten family to see if the Britten's they know could help us identify anyone in the photographs. 

Unidentified
Source: Louisiana State Archives

Unidentified
Source: Louisiana State Archives

Louisiana State Archives Genealogy Research

Eric Williams 
Louisiana State Archives Research
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

One of the lessons I wanted to teach Eric Williams was how to use microfilms to research his ancestors' death records that could provide a lot of helpful information for him. Eric found information that answered some questions for him. Once, I instructed him how to fill in the research form that required the deceased person's name, date, certificate number, and the page number. 

Our trip to the Louisiana State Archives was very successful and rewarding for both Eric and me. We both were very pleased with our accomplishments that day. On the way home, we discuss how essential death records are to genealogy research. 

We didn't have enough time to do all that we wanted to do. We didn't have enough time to do all we wanted to do on this five-day research trip. Eric will return back to Louisiana to research at the St. Helena Parish Courthouse and Pike County Courthouse. He was researching the Walls, Tobias, Williams, Burton, Strickland, and Bated family surnames. 

Teaching Others to Find Their Ancestors Before 1870

Eric Williams
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Anyone researching their family lineage can tell you that it could be very challenging and time-consuming. But it's all worth it because you want to know more about your family history. There is one thing for sure, and that is your research will never end.

Mainly for African-Americans whose ancestors were enslaved in the United States.  Most who are researching their enslaved ancestors say they hit a brick wall before 1870. Eric Williams has genealogical ties to Amite County, Mississippi, Tangipahoa, and St. Helena Louisiana Parishes. 

I received a phone call from Eric Williams about our DNA connections. After we spent hours upon hours talking by phone, we decided to schedule a trip to the Amite Courthouse to research slavery inventory. It was Eric's first time researching in the Amite Courthouse for slavery records. We spent the day looking at Probate records, marriage records, wills, and other records in the courthouse. 

Eric found his ancestors who were enslaved in the inventory of the person who owned them. Eric's emotions were written all over his face. I know that feeling because I experienced it when I started researching my family history. Afterward, we went to the local library to finish our genealogy research for the day. 

Councilwoman Roslyn McKay- Batiste and I Are Related

Photo Courtesy
Rosalind McKay-Batiste Facebook Page

When you shake that family tree, you never know what surname can fall off the tree. Several months ago, I had a conversation with Ponchatoula, Louisiana Councilwoman Rosalind McKay Batiste about her McKay surname. She informed me that she descends through the Thomas McKay branch. After researching the McKay line, I found that Thomas and my Monroe were brothers. Their parents were Charles and Rinner McKay. I can't wait to tell her that we are related. The fantastic thing is when I first met her, we bond instantly. Well, that explains it. 

Willie Kidies Gordon, Jr. of Amite, Louisiana

Photo Courtesy of Shan Gordon

Willie K. Gordon, Jr.,  was the son of Willie K. Gordon, Sr. and Alma Mandy Richardson Gordon.  He married his sweetheart Priscilla Pope Gordon and they were the parents of one beautiful daughter named Renee. Willie was an educator in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. He was known for his delicious barbecue goat sandwiches, and his delicious homemade barbecue sauce. 

Willie Kidies Gordon, Sr. Registration Card

The Registration Card can provide a lot of genealogical information. Such as the person's name, were they lived. Their age and date of birth. You will also find their place of occupation and the business location. On line seven it states the name of a person who will always know the address of the person who is filling out the Registration card. 

Source: Ancestry

The Famous "G" Club in New Orleans, LA

Clarence E. Harrell
Photo Courtesy: Juanita Harrell Stewart
 collection

The club was founded in 1927 and  was formed to bring a closer relationship among members and engage in civic activities. The club's motto: "Pleasure through friendship and services." The members dressed so distinguishably in their white jacket, green vests, black tuxedo, and green ties. 

My cousin Clarence E. Harrell loved the "Famous G" and always supported the causes financially. I  enjoyed being around him, he was such a gentleman. I remember him being dressed all the time. He was a man of standard and class. 

Every holiday he and his sister along with four of his double first cousins would visit my mother's house. Mama enjoyed cooking and having her Harrell first cousin over for dinner. Cousin Clarence was known for bringing drinks. I  miss his big smile and friendly ways.

He served in WWII and his father Edgar harrell served in WWI. Clarence was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parent Edgar and Minnie Nolan Harrell lived at 3939 Third Street. After his only sister, Juanita came to live with me and we started cleaning out her house, I found some beautiful handwritten letters he wrote to his parents and sister Juanita. 

His father and my grandfather Jasper were brothers. My grandfather didn't want to leave Amite, Louisiana because he didn't want to raise his children in the city. So he and my grandmother stayed on his mother Emma Mead Harrell homestead. However, Uncle Edgar continued to visit and bring boxes of fruit and other treats to his brothers and mother. 

Uncle Edgar and his brother Shelton married two sisters. Uncle Edgar married Minnie Nolan and Uncle Shelton married Ada Nolan. The Nolan girls were from Canton, Mississippi. Their father was an AME Minister and came to Louisiana. The Harrell brothers and the Nolan girls met while picking beans one summer in Tangipahoa and the rest is history. Both brothers raised their families in New Orleans. Uncle Shelton built his home on Toledano Street. Uncle Edgar and Aunt Minnie had two children and Uncle Shelton and Aunt Ada had five children. 

 

 

Lucy J. Hickerson of Darlington, Louisiana

Lucy J. Hickerson Headstone
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

Lucy Jane Wright  Hickerson was born in 1862 in Darlington, Louisiana. She lived one year in slavery. She was married to Rashar Hickerson. Lucy parents were Harrison and Canzetta Wright. She and Rashar had fourteen children and she had two daughters from a previous relationship. She died in 1945 at the age of eighty. 

Guy and Millie Wright of Darlington, LA

Mille Small Wright Headstone
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

Several years, back Mrs. Myrtis Johnson took me and my colleagues to an abandoned cemetery in St. Helena Parish. We found serveral headstones that were in very good condition. One of the headstones was for a Millie Wright, the wife of Guy Wright. Millie's maiden name was Small. 

According the Military Registration Card, Guy Wright was from Darlington, La. He was born in 1886 and worked as a farmer for O.J. Matthews in Darlington, Louisiana. Guy's parents were Harrison and Kansetta Wright.

I decided to research him and his wife and found that Jane Holiday had posted some information on Guy. Guy and Millie had nineteen children. He died in 1974 at the age of eighty-seven years old. 

Black Indian Genealogy Research with Angela Walton-Raji

Black Cemeteries

Honoring Women in Our Harrell Family

A Tribute to Our Mother Isabel Harrell Cook