Manuscript Resources on Baton Rouge History
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was first discovered and named by the French explorer Iberville in 1699, almost three centuries ago. In the eighteenth century, it was ruled successively by the French, British, and Spanish. Incorporated in 1817, Baton Rouge became the state capital in 1849, though it lost that status during the Civil War and would not regain it until 1882.
This guide to manuscript resources on Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish, of which it is a part, includes a wide variety of materials on the history of the area, among them the papers of Baton Rouge families; the records of businesses and organizations; photographs; newspapers; maps; and oral histories. Although Louisiana State University has been a major part of Baton Rouge for many years, collections relating to LSU are included only if they also relate explicitly to Baton Rouge--for example, the papers of an LSU professor who was also active in community organizations and whose papers documented those organizations. Similarly, the papers of individuals in state government are not included unless they also relate explicitly to Baton Rouge.
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Baton Rouge Civil War images, 1863. 3 items. Location: E:73. Three images (cartes-de-visite) taken in Baton Rouge during the Civil War: an African-American male in a wagon pulled by mules; a military encampment (possibly Pikes Hall); and a tree-lined street (Garrison Lane). The first is by McPherson and Oliver, and the other two are probably their work as well. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 3272. |
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Baton Rouge Community Concerts Association. Records, 1931-1983. 0.5 linear ft., 3 printed volumes. Location: OS:B, UU:197. Records, chiefly printed materials, document the activities of the Baton Rouge Community Concerts Association. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 4592. |
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Baton Rouge Council on Human Relations. Records, 1965-2000. 1.5 linear feet. Location: W:123-124. Minutes, newsletters, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and committee records document the activities and concerns of the Baton Rouge Council on Human Relations, a non-profit civic organization created in 1965 that promoted racial desegregation and better race relations by counteracting prejudice and discrimination based on religion or ethnicity. Concerned specifically with the Baton Rouge community. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 4813. Referenced in Guides: Baton Rouge, African Americans
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Baton Rouge Foreign Mission Association. Scrapbook, 1877. 1 ms. Vol. Scrapbook compiled by Cecil H. Hackney, president of the Baton Rouge Foreign Mission Association. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 2087. Referenced in Guides: Religion, Baton Rouge
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Baton Rouge Garden Club. Records, 1938-1989. 4 linear ft. Location: 51:. Club organized in 1928 by members of the Baton Rouge Civic Association. It sponsors flower shows, lectures, courses in flower arranging and gardening, and civic beautification projects. Records include nine scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, programs, award ribbons, and other materials, for the years 1938-1941, 1952-1963, 1969-1971, and 1981-1983. Additional materials pertain to flower shows, awards, and study groups. A typescript of the club's history from 1929-1989, compiled by Beulah E. Bates, is included. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 4191. Referenced in Guides: Baton Rouge
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