of Tangipahoa & St. Helena Parishes
Preserved at Southeastern Louisiana and the Amistad Research Center
For the past seventeen years I have spent my life and time conducting genealogy research on my family history in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. I have embarked upon a rich collection of primary documents, family heirlooms, photographs, newspaper articles, and other research materials. Both collections can only provide educational research opportunities for scholars, students, and other researchers.
I have climbed into attics, went into dusty old basements, and other places looking for any materials that good be used as genealogy research materials, and historical study aids of African Americans in Tangipahoa & St. Helena Parishes. For the record I didn’t mind the spiders, snakes and other creepy crawling insects. Thank goodness I didn’t run across an angry skunk. Insects like silverfish are having a hefty meal on these records that are thrown away or store away in these uninviting places.
Many people don’t know what to do with their historical documents and photographs. So they packed them up in boxes and store the boxes in a dark and damp place, or simply just throw them away. I contacted the Southeastern Louisiana Studies Department and spoke with Dr. Samuel Hyde, Jr. Ph.D., Director for the Center for Louisiana Studies to discuss with him the possibilities of me starting a collection on the rich untold history of African American people in Tangipahoa & St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. After presenting some of the documents, photographs, personal letters, and other sources I had in my collection to him during our first meeting. He was delighted to assist me with starting a collection entitled
“Antoinette Harrell African American Collection of Tangipahoa & St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.” He said that there isn’t enough historical information about the events, cultural and history of African Americans in these parishes in Southeastern Louisiana University History Department and Library. And that this collection would provide value information to researchers, scholars and students.
These priceless photographs, documents and other records can be damaged and destroyed by humidity, pests, insects, heat, and water when not stored and preserved. A huge part of our history would be lost if these documents and other records aren’t preserved. If you would like to donate your family documents, photographs, church records, school documents, organizational records to these collections. Please contact Antoinette Harrell at 504.858.4658 or email me at HYPERLINK “mailto:afrigenah@yahoo.com” afrigenah@yahoo.com. You can also follow me at to learn more African American History in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parish, Louisiana: @ HYPERLINK “http://www.facebook.com/PreservingOurHistoryin” www.facebook.com/PreservingOurHistoryinTangipahoa&St.Helena.com.
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