Volume 2013 Issue 9

 19 September 2013 Meeting

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~lalgs/

The September 2013 meeting of the Lafayette Genealogical Society was held in the Meeting Room of the Southside Branch of the Lafayette Public Library on September 19, 2013 at 6:00 P.M. The meeting was called to order by President Pat Snyder. A moment of silence was requested for our military, our ancestors, and LGS member Yvonne Carter who died July 22, 2013. The Pledge of Allegience was given by members.

All members were requested to plan their 5-generation Pedigree Chart for inclusion in the annual CD publication to be given out at the annual Christmas Banquet. A seperate list of surnames each member is researching was requested and will be available in a separate publication as a society fund-raiser. Member Warren LeBlanc is collecting this information.

Visitors were recognized: Maggie Donlon, Kate Redford from Oregon , Mary Cooper, Bryan Biagase, Tiffany Hildago, Anna Boudreaux, and John Lafleur. Member Glenda Shaw thanked LGS members for their thoughts and prayers for her daughter who had been in a serious automobile accident.

The LGS August 2013 meeting minutes will be available online. Treasurer Warren LeBlanc reported that LGS has a bank balance of $3,245.27; sixty dollars in dues have been collected since last month. For the 2013 year there have been 10 new members and 15 members have unpaid dues.

A request has been received looking for information about Paul Martial or Paul Martin who married a Celestine lady (c. 1860-1870) in St. Martin Parish, LA. Contact: Pat Snyder.

The guest speaker was introduced. Alex Lee from Beaumont , TX spoke of researching his biracial family and of the journey it has taken him on. As a teenager who was bringing his grandfather to visit a sister in the Opelousas area, he observed a picture on the aunt’s wall of a light man with white features. Alex was told that the man was his two times great-grandfather. So began his journey of researching his family. Through Facebook and the sharing of pictures many, many people responded and shared family stories. He traveled frequently from Texas to Louisiana to interview relatives, always bringing his computer and scanner (for pictures and documents). He started with the Southwest Louisiana Records and the parish courthouses. His ancestor, Martin Donato, at one time owned the most land in St. Landry Parish. His father, Donato Bello, a quadrone (1/4th African descent), freed his slaves in his extensive documented and legal last will. Mr. Lee spoke of other outstanding ancestors prominent in establishing schools for African Americans, in the arts and literature. And there was also a culture of caring for family members. An e-mail address was given as [email protected] (this may need clarification). Mr. Lee’s power point presentation and storyboard of many pictures of family members were educational and informative.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed and refreshments were served.

Respectfully Submitted,
Brenda Fuselier, Substituting