Manuscript Resources on Acadian History
In 1755, a group of French-speaking people were exiled from their homeland by British military tactics in a part of Nova Scotia then known as "French Acadia". Those Acadian immigrants who relocated to Southern Louisiana adapted to the unique challenges the region provided, to become known as the "Cajuns," an ethnic and cultural group much celebrated, and sometimes misunderstood.
The collection of manuscripts pertaining to the Cajuns that may be found in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections (LLMVC) of the LSU Libraries is varied in nature, ranging from the large group of records compiled by the Acadian Handicraft Project to a single French Acadian Music Festival program. Oral history interviews, personal papers, cartoons, photographs, scripts, and other artifacts are present in the manuscripts groups. A range of dates from the late nineteenth to the late twentieth centuries are present (see chronological listing).
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Hamilton, William S. Papers, 1780-1930 (bulk 1807-1861). 3 linear ft., 14 manuscript volumes, 16 microfilm reels. Locations: T:81-87, H:21, OS:H, MSS.MF:H. United States Army officer under General Wade Hampton; slave owner and planter of Holly Grove Plantation, West Feliciana Parish; and politician who served on the first board of trustees for the College of Louisiana and a term in the Louisiana Legislature. While most papers pertain to William S. Hamilton's social, political, and professional life, some papers also pertain to John Hamilton (William S.'s father) and the children of William S. and Eliza C. Hamilton. Papers reflect the administration of United States Army troops in the Territory of Orleans and Mississippi and give an inclusive picture of national and Louisiana politics. Included are descriptions of Southern college facilities and curricula and early medical treatments in hydropathy (hydrotherapy). The papers also document conditions in the United States Army during the Mexican War, land speculation in Texas, and various aspects of plantation life and economy (including purchasing and treatment of slaves). Part of the George M. Lester Collection. Mss. 1209. Referenced in Guides: Spanish, Sugar, Politics, Plantations, New Orleans to 1861, Transportation, Women, New Orleans 1866-, Civil War, Education, Business, Baton Rouge, Acadiana, African Americans, French, Medicine, Natchez, Mississippi
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Honore Daigre and Adelaide Hebert sale, 1856, November 17. 1 item. Location: Misc:H. Honore Daigre and Adelaide Hebert were residents of Iberville Parish, Louisiana. A true copy of sale and adjudication of the sale of the plantation, land, and slaves of Honore Daigre and Adelaide Hebert, Iberville Parish. Includes a listing of their slaves' ages, sex, and family relationships, as well as a description of land and moveable property. In English and French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 4888. |
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Hunter, Edwin. Papers, 1956-2001 (bulk 1970-1980). 2.3 linear ft. Location: T:123-125, OS:H. Practiced law at Smith, Hunter, Risinger and Shuey in Shreveport, Louisiana. from 1940 to 1953; was U.S. Judge originally under President Eisenhower from 1954 to 1993; was Chief Judge, Western District of Louisiana from 1970 to 1976; and presided over federal appellate courts in New York, Texas, Georgia and South Carolina. Papers chronicle a portion of the legal career of Judge Edwin Ford Hunter, Jr. The first half of the collection contains files that include trial calendars for cases presented before Judge Hunter and copies of legal papers with related correspondence. The correspondence addresses issues discussed in the surrounding legal papers, with the principal parties of the correspondence being attorneys and the judge. The topics of the cases mentioned are general in nature and reflect the typical cases assigned to Judge Hunter. The second half of the collection contains information regarding the integration and desegregation of the public schools in Louisiana, specifically Bossier, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, and Rapides parishes. Topics broadly cover the school boards and racial issues for the above mentioned parishes, as well as papers for the Bi-Racial Committee of Calcasieu Parish. Items include copies of correspondence among the school boards, attorneys, and Judge Hunter; statistics of the percentage of African American students in schools; legal documents, such as orders, motions, and briefs; and newspaper clippings. Items for the Bi-Racial Committee include correspondence, membership lists, and meeting minutes. Mss. 4918. |
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Iberville Parish (La.) Parish Court. Probate sale, 1837 February 14. 1 item. Location: Misc:P. A broadside for a probate sale to take place March 1837 in the Parish of Iberville (Louisiana) for the estate of Robert Loyd. The items to be auctioned include the undivided half of a plantation, livestock, and slaves. Slaves are listed by name and their age. The item is signed by John Dutton, Parish Judge. In English and French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 4892. |
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King, Grace Elizabeth. Selected papers, 1864, 1883-1933. 1 linear ft., 2 microfilm reels. Location: UU:31, MSS.MF:K, Vault:1. New Orleans writer and historian. Business and personal correspondence pertaining to Grace King's literary career, European travels, and social and family life; includes some family correspondence, principally of her sister, Annie R. King. Papers also include a copy of an order issued by Richard Taylor concerning the Battle of Mansfield (1864), a program for the memorial service for Jefferson Davis held in New Orleans (1903), and manuscript notes concerning the United States Army occupation of New Orleans (undated). Correspondence from Baron Edouard de Pontabla, Charles Wagner, Henry Vignaud, and Flora O'Gorencees discuss World War I. Partly in French. For further information, see online catalog. Part of the Grace King Collection. Mss. 1282. Referenced in Guides: Politics, Women, New Orleans in the Civil War, New Orleans 1866-, Civil War, Baton Rouge, Acadiana, African Americans, French, LSU, Literature, 20th Century Wars
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