Group helps with genealogical goals

• By DAMON VEACH
• special to magazine
• Published: Nov 9, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The Louisiana Creole Research Association (LA Creole) is a New Orleans-based, non-profit genealogy and family research organization with more than 200 members across the nation. It was founded in August 2004 for the purpose of assisting Creoles in researching their ancestry, educating the general public about the Creole culture, and celebrating the contributions and legacy of a “forgotten” people. Creoles as defined here are the offspring of European, African and/or Native American settlers in colonial Louisiana.

In keeping with its purpose, LA Creole will be hosting its 4th Annual Conference Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 15-16, at the DoubleTree Hotel, 300 Canal St. in New Orleans. The theme of this year’s conference is: “Louisiana Creoles of Color: Resistance and the Cause for Racial Equality.”

The conference agenda will include many captivating speakers, lively panel discussions, exhibits, vendors and a Sunday jazz brunch. (Brunch seating is limited). The conference will include a wide range of topics. Members of the Sisters of the Holy Family and Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament will speak on their revolutionary foundresses, Henriette Delille and St. Katherine Drexel, who worked on behalf of people of color. There will also be a panel discussion including representatives of New Orleans historic Creole newspapers, among them the Louisiana Weekly.

There will also be a lecture on the fight that Creoles of color led in the mid-19th century for integrated seating in the French Opera House. A period operatic performance by acclaimed soprano Giovanna Joseph will follow the lecture. Two highlighted panels are titled “Race and Reconstruction,” and “Creole: An Endangered Culture?” Topics also include the history of New Orleans and Straight Universities and the Native Guards.

Conference registration of $35 includes all of the above events on Saturday. The Sunday jazz brunch is $40 by reservations only, as seating is limited. For more information,  contact Jennifer Ellsworth at (504) 241-1439, ellsworthii@aol.com or Lolita Cherrie at (504) 453-5922, lolitac454@aol.com. Visit LA Creole online at http://www.lacreole.org.
Reunion planning
It’s never too early to start planning for a big family reunion. Right now, the Ory/Oury/Owrey 2010 Descendants Reunion is just going off experiences of prior reunion itineraries. However, even though they are a year and a half away, they are laying the foundation for another gathering of this group of individuals. Actually, a conference with some of the main people working on the project is set for January to hammer out details. From this point on, it will involve lots of planning.

The event will be held in Gonzales, and the costs will be announced later as well as a complete agenda. Right now, Christian R. Watts is eagerly requesting assistance. You can contact him at christianwatts@yahoo.com or (225) 715-3050. Early participation is appreciated.

La Societe des Cajuns
La Societe des Cajuns was organized in September 1979. Its main goals are to preserve Cajun history, genealogy, language and culture. The group also compiles and publishes records of genealogical or historical nature, with emphasis given to the records of Lafourche and surrounding parishes.

Applications for membership should be addressed to the society at P.O. Box 433, Larose, LA 70373. The membership year begins in January and extends to January of the following year. Annual dues, including a subscription to their quarterly (Les Memories du Bayou Lafourche), are $15 and are payable as of Jan. 1 of the new membership year. Queries are free to members and will be published as space becomes available.

Regular meetings of the society are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Galliano branch of the Lafourche Parish Public Library. Guests are always welcome, and the group’s December meeting is their Christmas party.

Les Memories du Bayou Lafourche is published in March, June, September and December of each year. Back issues are available in annual sets per year, except for 1980, which is only $3 because only one issue was published that year. All other years of the quarterlies are $13.50 for the entire year except the years of 2003 and 2004, which are $15.

Velton P. Guidry is president and editor, and Wildred Ougel is secretary/treasurer. Most of the latest review issue consists of descendants of Honore Gautreaux, submitted by Guidry, and a continuation of the 1930 census by Carolyn Smith. For more information, go to their Web site at http://www.vienici.com/lasociete.com. Their webmaster is Brian Oster.

Allen publication
The Allen Genealogical and Historical Society is responsible for the publication of Crossroads, which covers Oakdale, Oberlin, Kinder, Elizabeth, Reeves, LeBlanc, Mittie, and surrounding communities. Their address is P.O. Box 789, Kinder, LA 70648.

Monthly society meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month in the Genealogy Room of the Kinder Branch of the Allen Parish Library, located at 833 4th St. Members are always willing to help visitors with research and endeavor to answer their questions.