09.23.24
For this week's Monday Motivation, we’re sharing some of the Old State Capitol's image ideas, listed by city, parish, or area. We hope this list, which was compiled by the OSC staff, motivates you to learn more about our state’s role in both practicing and challenging racial segregation and inspires you to research other locations for the January 2026 LPS exhibition.
Just a reminder, Stacey will be at the State Library of Louisiana located at 701 N. Fourth Street in downtown Baton Rouge (only a few steps from the Capitol) next Monday, September 30th, from 12 noon to 2:00 pm to help you research your project. This will be the last day she’ll be at the library.
— George, Linda, Marilyn, and Stacey
Alexandria
-Orient Hotel, Greystone Hotel, and McClung Tourist Home: former businesses in central Louisiana listed in The Green Book ... https://www.thetowntalk.com/.../bygone.../5899107001/
Baton Rouge
-Kress Department Store (445 N. 3rd Street) and Sitman's Drug Store: sites of the March 28-29, 1960 Civil Rights sit-ins ... https://www.wafb.com/.../baton-rouge-sit-ins-were.../
-USS Kidd: separate sleeping and bathing quarters and it wasn't until the early 1950s that naval vessels were desegregated. Photographers interested in examining the Kidd's interior can contact Tim Nessmith at 225-342-1942 (office) or 225-247-4273 (cell).
-The Hotel Lincoln (400 Eddie Robinson Sr. Dr., near Government Street): provided lodging for iconic Black performers and touring Jazz and Blues musicians.
-City Park Pool (now Baton Rouge Gallery): once segregated, was the site of a July 1963 swim-in where five activists were jailed. BREC later permanently closed the pool and filled it in ... https://www.225batonrouge.com/.../baton-rouge-gallery...
Edgard
-Evergreen Plantation: many former slaves who worked on the Evergreen Plantation stayed after the Civil War. Still, their hopes for equality remained a dream. While the plantation was rebuilt, the "Quarters Village" remained the same—no water or electricity—up until the 1940s. Evergreen holds this country's highest historic designation ... https://www.evergreenplantation.org
New Orleans
-St. Louis Hotel Slave Exchange (Omni Royal Orleans Hotel): above the columns near the parking garage, the word "CHANGE," a remnant from "EXCHANGE" is clearly visible.
-St. Augustine Church: first black church in Louisiana and the first black Catholic Church in the US.
-McDonogh 19 and William Franz Schools: first schools to be integrated in New Orleans in 1960.
-City Park: all park amenities, including the playground, were restricted to white residents until 1958. African American children and families were banned from entering the park.
-Lincoln Beach (near 13904 Hayne Boulevard): amusement park and resort for the Black community from 1939-1964. Remnants of the park are still visible.
-Charity Hospital: when built in 1939, had separate wings for black and white patients.
-F.W. Woolworth's Department Store (site of Hard Rock Hotel collapse) and McCrory's Department Store: sites of the first sit-ins in New Orleans in 1960; see images from Amistad Research Center at Tulane University; CORE protest April 1961.
-Streetcars: segregated, see images at the Historic New Orleans Collection.
Opelousas
-Mount Pleasant Baptist Church: one of three churches firebombed in 2019.
Multiple Cities and Locations Throughout the State
-Rosenwald Schools: https://64parishes.org/in-search-of-a-rosenwald-school
-Burial Grounds: Debbie Martin (225-276-4337 or martinmania@att.net) in West Baton Rouge has researched difficult-to-find burial grounds for enslaved people freed after the Civil War; benevolent cemeteries.
Alexandria
-Orient Hotel, Greystone Hotel, and McClung Tourist Home: former businesses in central Louisiana listed in The Green Book ... https://www.thetowntalk.com/.../bygone.../5899107001/
Baton Rouge
-Kress Department Store (445 N. 3rd Street) and Sitman's Drug Store: sites of the March 28-29, 1960 Civil Rights sit-ins ... https://www.wafb.com/.../baton-rouge-sit-ins-were.../
-USS Kidd: separate sleeping and bathing quarters and it wasn't until the early 1950s that naval vessels were desegregated. Photographers interested in examining the Kidd's interior can contact Tim Nessmith at 225-342-1942 (office) or 225-247-4273 (cell).
-The Hotel Lincoln (400 Eddie Robinson Sr. Dr., near Government Street): provided lodging for iconic Black performers and touring Jazz and Blues musicians.
-City Park Pool (now Baton Rouge Gallery): once segregated, was the site of a July 1963 swim-in where five activists were jailed. BREC later permanently closed the pool and filled it in ... https://www.225batonrouge.com/.../baton-rouge-gallery...
Edgard
-Evergreen Plantation: many former slaves who worked on the Evergreen Plantation stayed after the Civil War. Still, their hopes for equality remained a dream. While the plantation was rebuilt, the "Quarters Village" remained the same—no water or electricity—up until the 1940s. Evergreen holds this country's highest historic designation ... https://www.evergreenplantation.org
New Orleans
-St. Louis Hotel Slave Exchange (Omni Royal Orleans Hotel): above the columns near the parking garage, the word "CHANGE," a remnant from "EXCHANGE" is clearly visible.
-St. Augustine Church: first black church in Louisiana and the first black Catholic Church in the US.
-McDonogh 19 and William Franz Schools: first schools to be integrated in New Orleans in 1960.
-City Park: all park amenities, including the playground, were restricted to white residents until 1958. African American children and families were banned from entering the park.
-Lincoln Beach (near 13904 Hayne Boulevard): amusement park and resort for the Black community from 1939-1964. Remnants of the park are still visible.
-Charity Hospital: when built in 1939, had separate wings for black and white patients.
-F.W. Woolworth's Department Store (site of Hard Rock Hotel collapse) and McCrory's Department Store: sites of the first sit-ins in New Orleans in 1960; see images from Amistad Research Center at Tulane University; CORE protest April 1961.
-Streetcars: segregated, see images at the Historic New Orleans Collection.
Opelousas
-Mount Pleasant Baptist Church: one of three churches firebombed in 2019.
Multiple Cities and Locations Throughout the State
-Rosenwald Schools: https://64parishes.org/in-search-of-a-rosenwald-school
-Burial Grounds: Debbie Martin (225-276-4337 or martinmania@att.net) in West Baton Rouge has researched difficult-to-find burial grounds for enslaved people freed after the Civil War; benevolent cemeteries.
There’s no questioning that jazz music is part of our culture here in Louisiana. After all, New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and Louis Armstrong’s name adorns a museum, an airport, and a tennis stadium.
Armstrong endured challenges because of his skin. Still, he broke many barriers, including having film roles and a nationally sponsored radio show. Despite his musical success, some—blacks and
whites—refused to accept Armstrong, even in his hometown. At the Suburban Gardens in the Big Easy in 1931, white announcer Charles Nelson refused to announce Armstrong and walked off. When the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club named Armstrong “King of the Zulus,” at the 1949 Mardi Gras, many in the black press criticized him for wearing blackface. Armstrong was undeterred and, throughout his career, insisted on integrating his bands.
However, sixty-seven years ago next week, in 1957, New Orleans-born Louis Armstrong put his entire career on the line. Armstrong did not mince words when he spoke out against Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus’ attempt to prevent nine Black children from integrating into a local high school. Some believe Satchmo’s brave stance led President Eisenhower to take action to ensure the children’s safety.
We’ve heard, read about, and experienced our state’s rich musical history. We’re fortunate to live in a state where we celebrate musical culture. Still, many Black musicians endured racially motivated hardships on the way.
For this week’s Monday Motivation, dive into Louisiana’s jazz, blues, and zydeco cultures. Locate clubs and venues listed in The Green Book. Research the Chitlin’ Circuit or a musician famous in the Jim Crow era and see if you might find your topic!
Just a reminder, Stacey will be at the State Library of Louisiana located at 701 N. Fourth Street in downtown Baton Rouge (only a few steps from the Capitol) on Mondays in September from 12 noon to 2:00 pm to help you research your project.
I want to share two thoughts for this week’s Monday Motivation:
(1)
Let’s hope Francine fizzles out!
(2) Let’s remember the words, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Many attribute this adage to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, although I don’t know if it’s been proven. Regardless, every journey—no matter the length or intent—begins with a single step. That step leads to another; soon, we’re on our way to our destination!
Think of the Old State Capitol Project as a journey. A process. Try not to worry about how the extended caption will be written. We will write the captions so that they are consistent across the exhibition. And please don’t worry about how our images will be hung and displayed. We have many experienced galleryists in our club!
If you’re interested in contributing to this Project—a project that will be on display for thousands to see—you must first take a single step towards making a photograph. Whether your first step is to read one of the many articles posted here, watch one of the many documentaries, or type a simple search term into Google, you’ll open yourself to new and challenging experiences by taking that single step. You’ll also open yourself to becoming a partner with the Old State Capitol in this historically significant endeavor.
08.18.24
This week’s Monday Motivation delved into another helpful resource found at the library—The Green Book. The Green Book was an annual guidebook published by New York City mail carrier Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1967. Called “the bible of Black travel,” Green’s guide listed hotels, restaurants, businesses, and gas stations in each state that were friendly to African American travelers during the era of Jim Crow laws. Use the book's table of contents to find "Louisiana," and there you'll see a list of establishments by city.
You might also be interested in the East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s Baton Rouge Room and its Special Online Collections, like the Baton Rouge Civil Rights History exhibit and the Baton Rouge Swim-In exhibit.
Explore the East Baton Rouge Parish Library's digital archives as well as the digital archives in other areas of the state. For example, the Bossier Parish Library system posted about The Green Book: A Remnant of a Segregated World. Photographer Kevin Shannahan seems like he’d be a great resource!
08.05.24
We hope you’re starting to narrow down your area of interest, and that’s where the State Library of Louisiana and Samuel Ayers come in.
The State Library of Louisiana is located at 701 N. Fourth Street in downtown Baton Rouge, only a few steps from the Capitol. Samuel is an archivist and documents librarian, and he works on the 5th floor. His e-mail is: sayers@slol.lib.la.us, and his direct line is 225-342-2791 Ext. 211. The hours are 10 am-2 pm, Monday through Thursday.
You might be asking “What does an archivist and documents librarian do?”
Samuel can better answer that question, but for your individual photography project, call or e-mail him and tell him what you’re interested in photographing. Is it an event? A place? What parish is it in? Samuel can take the information and begin pulling old articles and documents for you to look through. You’ll find a wealth of information in those articles and documents.
07.29.24
The most common comment I hear is, “I want to work on the project, but I’m unsure how to go about it.”
First, familiarize yourself with these sites that offer a baseline understanding of segregation in Louisiana:
https://civilrightstrail.com/state/louisiana/
https://www.louisianacivilrightstrail.com
https://64parishes.org/entry/jim-crowsegregation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEIxst5hVkY [LPB’s Troubled Waters documentary]
Next, do a simple Google search of the parish or area you’re interested in with the word “segregation." For example, search “Plaquemines Parish segregation.” You may be surprised by what information pops up.
After that, think about what topic interests you. Are you interested in education? Google "school desegregation Louisiana." Music and entertainment? Google the "Chitlin' Circuit." Protests/marches/ sit-ins/police? Supreme Court cases? Churches? Military? You get the idea.
Google is your friend! Doing these things will lay the foundation for your contribution and hopefully spur more than a few ideas.
Still, one more thing you can do now is get a copy of Photographer Richard Frishman's book Ghosts of Segregation. Frishman's exhibit at the David J. Sencer Center for Disease Control (CDC) Museum in Atlanta prompted the Old State Capitol to ask our group to undertake
this important Project. His book will give you an idea of how our images will eventually be paired with a brief narrative.
Ghosts of Segregation is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the library. Here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Segregation-American-Racism-Hidden/dp/1250831687
We have a Field Trip scheduled for September 14th, but remember, each member should think about how they can contribute a unique image. The Project won't benefit from multiple photos of the same location, so our Field Trips may look and feel a little different. Choosing and shooting your image will take individual effort, but it can be rewarding to buddy up with someone else or a small group to get feedback.
Start forming your small groups now and maybe take a field trip of your own. The Civil Rights Trail has even prepared an itinerary for you here: https://civilrightstrail.com/wp-content/themes/uscrt/assets/pdf/Louisiana_itinerary_v2.pdf
07.22.24
On previous Mondays, we've learned about the New Orleans Four and elementary school desegregation in New Orleans, as well as the 1953 bus boycott and 1960 lunch counter sit-ins in Baton Rouge—all efforts to integrate public facilities.
Please take a look at this 2008 Louisiana Public Broadcasting documentary titled "Baton Rouge's Troubled Waters," which chronicles Baton Rouge's Black community's efforts to integrate public transportation, schools, City Hall, playgrounds, and swimming pools.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEIxst5hVkY
Think about how the practice of segregating public facilities like swimming pools, playgrounds, and beaches was also challenged in areas outside of Baton Rouge. How can you turn that information into a compelling image? Can you take a portrait of someone who was a child at the time? What about a landscape or ICM image of a playground or beach?
07.15.24
We read how Southern University students used lunch counter sit-ins in early 1960 as peaceful means to draw media attention to the injustices of Jim Crow laws and segregation. Later that year, much younger students, known as the “New Orleans Four,” became the first Black children to desegregate New Orleans schools.
Most of us are familiar with the racism first-grader Ruby Bridges endured because we’ve seen the iconic photograph of US Marshals accompanying her down the front steps of the then-all-White William Frantz Elementary School. But, six-year-olds Leona Tate, Tessie Provost, and Gail Etienne endured similar racism when they were the first Black children to attend McDonogh 19 Elementary School, also in New Orleans.
You can learn more about the New Orleans Four here: https://voicesofthecivilrightsmovement.com/articles/new-orleans-4
Leona Tate purchased the McDonogh 19 school building in 2020. She created the Tate Etienne and Prevost (TEP) Interpretive Center, a space to learn about desegregation, civil rights, and restorative justice. Ruby Bridges’ classroom, Room 2306, has been restored to how it would have looked when she attended William Frantz and is open to the public.
Tessie Prevost died last week at the age of 69.
07.08.24
Last week, we learned about the 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott, the nation’s first large-scale bus boycott challenging segregation, and how Reverend T.J. Jemison shared tactics and lessons learned with Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. as King was planning the 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest.
In 1960, blocks away from the site of Baton Rouge’s bus boycott, Southern University students staged lunch counter sit-ins at Kress Department Store (445 N. Third Street), Sitman’s Drugstore, and the Greyhound bus station. When sixteen students were expelled for participating, more than 1,000 students marched in protest from the university to the State Capitol.
Boycotts, sit-ins, and marches were peaceful means to draw media attention to the injustices of Jim Crow laws and segregation, and images of these demonstrations serve as reminders of the participants’ bravery and courage.
You can read more about the Baton Rouge Sit-Ins here: https://civilrightstrail.com/attraction/sh-kress-department-store/
This week, do a simple Google search of your area and segregation. For example, type in “Tangipahoa Parish segregation” and see what you can find out.
We hope reading this article motivates you to learn more about our state’s role in both practicing and challenging racial segregation and inspires you, as a photographer, to explore how you can contribute to the January 2026 “Ghosts of Louisiana Segregation” project at the Old State Capitol.
07.01.24
As a segue from our June meeting’s “Tip of the Month” on using information from a historical photograph to compose a new image, we're sharing this 64Parishes article on the 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott—the nation’s first large-scale bus boycott challenging segregation: https://64parishes.org/entry/baton-rouge-bus-boycott
We hope reading this article motivates you to learn more about our state’s role in both practicing and challenging racial segregation and inspires you to compose a new image for the January 2026 LPS exhibition at the Old State Capitol.