Few of our state's 64 parishes have first-rate published histories available about them. How marvelous that Pelican should have seen fit to republish this superlative book!--Shreveport forum news From the banks of the Mississippi River to the edge of Bayou Barataria to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana�s Jefferson Parish encompasses a diverse and historic region. This comprehensive, illustrated volume reconstructs the natural and human history of the parish, tracing its evolution from the earliest times of prehistory to the modern era. Betsy Swanson spotlights the area�s early Indian life and archaeological sites and historic landmarks, extinct and extant, and the roles they played in the progress of the region. Colorful historical figures who appear in these pages include the pirate Jean Lafitte, revolutionary Nicolas Chauvin de la Freni�re, and the reclusive philanthropist John McDonogh. Historic Jefferson Parish also features a treasure trove of early sketches, rare maps, and vintage photographs.

Metairie does have a rich history all its own. What was once described two centuries ago as "a tongue of land to lend pasturage" has become the second largest unincorporated city in the nation.

Along the fertile banks of the Mississippi River across from New Orleans, planter Camille Zeringue transformed a mediocre colonial plantation into a thriving gem of antebellum sugar production, complete with a columned mansion known as Seven Oaks. Under the moss-strewn oaks, the privileged master nurtured his own family, but enslaved many others. Excelling at agriculture, business, an ambitious canal enterprise, and local politics, Zeringue ascended to the very pinnacle of southern society. But his empire soon came crashing down. After the ravages of the Civil War and a nasty battle with a railroad company the family eventually lost the great estate. Seven Oaks ultimately ended up in the hands of distant railroad executives whose only desire was to rid themselves of this heap of history. Lost Plantation: The Rise and Fall of Seven Oaks tells both of Zeringue's climb to the top and of his legacy's eventual ruin. Preservationists and community members abhorred the railroad's indifferent attitude, and the question of the plantation mansion's fate fueled years of fiery, political battles. These hard-fought confrontations ended in 1977 when the exasperated railroad executives sent bulldozers through the decaying house. By analyzing one failed effort, Lost Plantation provides insight into the complex workings of American historical preservation efforts as a whole, while illustrating how southerners deal with their multifaceted past. The rise and fall of Seven Oaks is much more than just a local tragedy-it is a glaring example of how any community can be robbed of its history. Now, as parishes around New Orleans recognize the great aesthetic and monetary value of restoring plantation homes and attracting tourism, Jefferson Parish mourns a manor lost. Marc R. Matrana, Westwego, Louisiana, is a local historian and preservationist. See the author's site.

ì Few of our stateís 64 parishes have first-rate published histories available about them. How marvelous that Pelican should have seen fit to republish this superlative book!î --Shreveport forum news From the banks of the Mississippi River to the edge of Bayou Barataria to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Louisianaís Jefferson Parish encompasses a diverse and historic region. This comprehensive, illustrated volume reconstructs the natural and human history of the parish, tracing its evolution from the earliest times of prehistory to the modern era. Betsy Swanson spotlights the areaís early Indian life and archaeological sites and historic landmarks, extinct and extant, and the roles they played in the progress of the region. Colorful historical figures who appear in these pages include the pirate Jean Lafitte, revolutionary Nicolas Chauvin de la FreniËre, and the reclusive philanthropist John McDonogh. Historic Jefferson Parish also features a treasure trove of early sketches, rare maps, and vintage photographs.

An illustrated history of the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, paired with histories of the local companies.

Louisiana has sixty-four parishes, and many of them are as individual and different as the state itself is different from others in the Union. St. James Parish, a small parish of 249 square miles, is not only one of the oldest settlements in the state, but it is different in its population make-up and is important historically. Cabanocey . . . is a splendid history of the Parish of St. James. . . . Lillian C. Bourgeois captured the spirit that animates the population, which is descended from French, Spanish, Acadian, German, and Creole peoples. Bourgeois writes of the population's customs, beliefs, language differences, and folklore. Cabanocey is not a collection of dry facts and dates; rather, it vividly describes how, more than one hundred years ago, the people of St. James Parish lived, who they were, and what they contributed to their parish and their state. Before the Civil War, St. James Parish was the educational center of Louisiana, and Jefferson College was the first important college in the state. Founded in 1830, it had fine buildings, a well-equipped laboratory, and an impressive library. The Convent of the Sacred Heart (1835) for girls was well-known by prominent families in Louisiana, Mexico, and Central America, who sent their daughters there. Cabanocey contains St. James genealogies and thousands of names of early settlers, including the soldiers, taxpayers, officials, prominent families, and the first settlers and their children. From the early censuses and church and court records, descent is traced for many names. The censuses of 1766, 1769, and 1777 are complete and were obtained from the archives in Seville, Spain.

From the accounts of 18th-century travelers to the interpretations of 21st-century historians, Jumonville lists more than 6,800 books, chapters, articles, theses, dissertations, and government documents that describe the rich history of America's 18th state. Here are references to sources on the Louisiana Purchase, the Battle of New Orleans, Carnival, and Cajuns. Less-explored topics such as the rebellion of 1768, the changing roles of women, and civic development are also covered. It is a sweeping guide to the publications that best illuminate the land, the people, and the multifaceted history of the Pelican State. Arranged according to discipline and time period, chapters cover such topics as the environment, the Civil War and Reconstruction, social and cultural history, the people of Louisiana, local, parish, and sectional histories, and New Orleans. It also lists major historical sites and repositories of primary materials. As the only comprehensive bibliography of the secondary sources about the state, ^ILouisiana History^R is an invaluable resource for scholars and researchers.