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March 9, 2002, MEETING OF THE IMPERIAL ST. LANDRY GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, held in the Opelousas General Hospital auditorium, at 10:00 AM.
President Estelle Perrault called the meeting to order.
She then asked members of other area genealogical societies to stand and
be recognized. Gursie Daigle and
Thelma Richard, of La Pointe de l’Eglise (Church Point), the Genealogical and
Historical Society of Acadia Parish, spoke briefly about the services available
through their society. They have
published five volumes of Acadia Parish cemetery files, and list marriages and
probate records on their web site. Juergen
Amling, webmaster for the Imperial St. Landry Genealogical and Historical
Society, will include a link to the Acadia Parish web site.
The Acadia Parish group meets on the second Saturday of February, May,
August and November (every three months), in the Crowley, Louisiana, Library.
Charles Guilbeau, president of the St. Pierre
Genealogical Society of Carencro, stated that his society publishes two
magazines a year on the history of St. Pierre (Carencro).
He is presently computerizing the 1912 church records, which will then be
made available to the public. The
Carencro group meets at 1:30 PM on the first Saturday of March, June, September
and December, in the auditorium building near St. Pierre Church in Carencro.
Larry Bodin, Travis and Diana Callahan were
introduced as members of the Bodin Family Association.
Mr. Callahan, webmaster for the family’s website, expressed that they
were pleased to have been invited to attend this meeting.
Charles Guilbeau then presented an introduction to
his ideas on the proposed Acadian/Cajun CD, which he plans to produce, with
input from the St. Landry genealogical group.
He played a short sample tape of some of the music that he wants to
include in the CD. The committee,
which was appointed previously, will be working closely with Mr. Guilbeau, as
the project progresses.
Glenda Schoeffler, featured speaker, was then
introduced. She stated that her
father, William Schoeffler, holds thirty oil related patents.
During the course of tracking land titles connected with his oil related
business, he recorded many cattle brands. Mr.
Schoeffler incorporated his sketches of the brands with his artistic rendition
of area landmarks, etc., and his collection has grown to include over four
thousand individual brands, which have been re-recorded.
The brands include early Louisiana surnames listed from the 1700’s and
the 1800’s.
Ms. Schoeffler pointed out that the family ties are
evident in the brand designs, with the original brand being slightly altered to
indicate the related son, daughter, or other family member.
She stated that her father’s extensive collection includes 211
re-recorded brands of free persons of color, as well as those of a large number
of early Acadian families. While
these two groups make up a large portion of the collection, other ethnic
surnames are included, as well.
In an effort to promote support for establishment of a
statewide museum featuring the brand collection, along with associated genealogy
and agriculture, Ms. Schoeffler has met with state dignitaries and local
officials, across the state. Seeking
a location for a permanent exhibit, she is hopeful that the museum will become
a reality during her father’s lifetime.
Miss Perrault announced that the next society meeting
will be held at Opelousas General Hospital on Saturday, April 13, 2002, at 10:00
AM. JoAnne Savoie will show a film
on the Acadian Expulsion.
Society members were asked to contact JoAnne Savoie,
Juergen Amling, or Sylvia Morel if they know of Acadian internet web sites.
Thelma Richard announced that a Gaspard family reunion
will be held in August in Abbeville, Louisiana.
She also stated that new information on the Fruge family will be
available in the near future, as a result of research being done in France.
Jim Douget spoke about the Sunset Community
Library, and he asked that we contact the librarian who is in the process of
ordering books for the genealogy department.
He stated that the library wants to provide the research books that the
public wants.
Miss Perrault stated that we also need to turn in
suggestions for the books and CD’s that we would like to include in the
proposed heritage center.
Meeting adjourned at 11:30 AM.
Everyone was invited to visit with Ms. Schoeffler and other guests and
members.
(Personal Note from Sylvia:
Estelle will undergo knee surgery on Monday, March 11.
She will be forced to take “some time off”, and we wish her a speedy
recovery. Your patience and consideration will be greatly appreciated, I am
sure.)
Submitted by:
Sylvia David Morel
Recording Secretary