GERTRUDE M. BEAUFORD PAPERS

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SUMMARY

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE

The French House, also known as La Maison Francaise, is a Renaissance-style Normandy château on the Baton Rouge campus of Louisiana State University. In 1934, James F. Broussard, Dean of Romance Languages, proposed the construction of the center to perpetuate the French traditions and culture of Louisiana. The Louisiana State Legislature allocated $75,000 to the project. The French House officially opened in September 1935 as a language immersion center and residence hall for women with Anita Olivier Morrison as the first head resident. It served that purpose until 1959 when it became a dormitory for graduate students, then undergraduates, before its closure in 1968. Gertrude M. Beauford, a resident of New Orleans, La., is a former student of Louisiana State University. While at the University in the late 1950s, she resided at the French House under the guidance of Anita Olivier Morrison. Beauford was instrumental in promoting the restoration and preservation of the French House in the 1970s. Partly through her efforts, the building was restored in 1980. The University rededicated the French House in a 1981 ceremony. It was renovated in 1981 for the office of LSU Press, the national office of Phi Kappa Phi, and a French-style market and café. It was renovated again in 1999 to become the home of the Honors College.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

Papers are comprised of correspondence, newspaper clippings, journal articles and photographs relating to the history and restoration of the French House, and to the publication of Tiger Bait Recipes, a cookbook published by the LSU Alumni Federation in 1976. Papers pertaining to the cookbook also include recipes.

LIST OF SERIES AND SUBSERIES

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I. LSU French House Papers, 1936-1981, undated.

Subseries 1. Papers, 1947-1981, undated.

Papers contain correspondence, newspapers clippings, journal articles and two drafts of A Dream Begun and Ended, the memoirs of Anita Olivier Morrison (1958, 1973). In her letters, Gertrude Beauford discusses articles that have featured the French House, and she proposes future stories. Beauford also seeks funding and support for its restoration from politicians and University administrators. Newspaper clippings and journal articles report on Morrison’s role as head resident, social events, and the history and restoration the French House. A history of the French House appears in the Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate (May 25, 1975). An article taken from the Times Picayune gives a biography of Anita Olivier Morrison (May 27, 1973). In her memoirs, Morrison recounts her experiences during her 25-year tenure as head resident. She gives detailed descriptions of the building’s interior, and the furnishings and décor. Morrison also writes about the resident students and visiting guests. She was assisted in this endeavor by Marietta Millet and Gertrude Beauford, who was a student resident at the time. This collection also contains transcripts of three oral history interviews with Morrison conducted by Beauford between 1972 and 1974. In addition, papers include a sketch of the building’s surrounding landscape (undated). A booklet on the history of the French House accompanies an invitation to the 1981 rededication ceremony.

Subseries 2. Photographs, 1936-1956, undated.

This subseries is comprised of copy prints made from photographs and pages from a photograph album. They show images of Anita Olivier Morrison, unidentified students, group photographs, and social events.

Series II. Tiger Bait Recipes, 1972-1978, undated.

Correspondence, recipes, lists, journal articles and newspaper clippings relate to the cookbook, Tiger Bait Recipes, which was published by the LSU Alumni Federation in 1976. In her letters, Gertrude Beauford submits recipes, and she offers funding suggestions. Recipes are those submitted by alumni and friends of Louisiana State University. Clippings include recipes and articles on the book.

INDEX TERMS

CONTAINER LIST