TGS Newsletter
Vol. 25 No. 5 July 2006

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 At the June meeting we were treated to not one but two visual presentations. First, Darryl ESCHETE, Head of the Reference Department of the Main Library, gave us a brief overview of the new machine that would benefit microfilm researchers in the Genealogy Room. It is a microfilm/microfiche reader with a computer-type display. It not only displays in a digital form, but the image can be printed through a computer with improved quality and it can be imported into a Photoshop® type program and enhanced in a number of ways. A researcher using this machine could export the image to a floppy disk, a CD, or email, besides printing it out right then and there. Darryl asked the Society for help in its purchase. Every one of the members present agreed that it would be a benefit to the Genealogy Department.
 Then Charlotte BOCAGE, one of our California members with Louisiana ties, gave us a PowerPoint® show which she planned to present to her family at the reunion scheduled to take place this month in Houston. She had put a tremendous amount of work into its production, and is to be commended for a “job well done.” She should be an inspiration to all of us to put down some of our family stories and publish family pictures before they get lost in the next disaster.
DEATHS: It is with sadness that I report the death of Janet GOULD ABBOTT, member of our society since 1998. She will be sorely missed. Janet, a native of Algiers and a resident of Houma for the past 43 years, died at 6:10 a.m. on Thursday, 15 June 2006 and was buried in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No. 2. She is survived by one son, Neil “Tony” L. ABBOTT Jr. and wife, Vanessa, of Bourg; three daughters, Mary Lynne MARQUARDT and husband, Douglas, of Natchitoches, Ann CHAMPAGNE and husband, Patrick, of Houma, and Ellen CLICK and husband, Dean, of Houma; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Neil L. ABBOTT Sr.; her parents, Nicholas E. GOULD and May FEENEY GOULD; and one granddaughter, Kate Marie CHAMPAGNE. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church Ukulele Band, the BellSouth Telephone Co., LeBayou Pioneer Club, and the U.S. Marine Corp Auxiliary, and a parishioner of St. Bernadette Catholic Church.
Ray Cyprian VOISIN, husband of long-time member Barbara KNIGHT VOISIN, died at 8:10 p.m. July 12, 2006, after a lengthy illness. He was buried in St. Eloi Catholic Church Cemetery. Besides his wife, Barbara, he is survived by five sons, Terry VOISIN of Theriot, Keith VOISIN and wife, Kim, of Houma, David VOISIN and wife, Diane, of Theriot, Ted VOISIN and wife, Melinda, of Theriot, Lynn VOISIN and wife, Jeré, of Bayou Dularge; one daughter, Anne VOISIN BONVILLIAN and husband, Charles BONVILLIAN Jr., of Houma; seven granddaughters, one grandson, two step-granddaughters; one step-grandson; a step-great-granddaughter; three sisters, Ruth VOISIN GRABERT of Raceland, Ethel VOISIN BRUNET and husband, Kirvie, of Theriot and Gloria VOISIN CHAMPAGNE of Theriot; two brothers, Nolan VOISIN and wife, Dorothy, of Theriot, and Ronald VOISIN and wife, Joanne, of Lafayette; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cyprian and Theresa DUPRE VOISIN and four brothers, Andy, Wilbert, Chester, and Ruby VOISIN. In 1982 he became one of the partner-owners of Terrebonne Lumber, later Morrison Terrebonne Lumber Center and Terrebonne Concrete LLC.
Our belated sympathies go out to member Madalyn Ann BOURG CATO of Seattle, WA, who lost her father, Gussie BOURG, native of Belle Rose, LA, who died in February, 2005. He is survived by his wife, Katie, five children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Mildred LANGLOIS of New Roads, LA, and a brother, Joseph RIVET of Belle Rose, LA.
GENEALOGY SEMINAR: On August 5, 2006, from 9:30 to 12:30, the Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library in Baton Rouge is hosting a seminar on “Updating Your Genealogy Tool Box.” It will include talks on DNA testing, blogging, database info and online publishing. The location is not that far from some of us, just a couple of miles off Interstate Highway 10 (I-10) at the Bluebonnet Blvd. exit. Tammy PRUET NORTHRUP who is a DNA specialist with the Louisiana State Police will be the featured speaker. She will introduce DNA testing, how it works, what it can be used for, and how it can be helpful to genealogists. Another presenter will be Colleen FITZPATRICK, forensic genealogist on forensic photo dating. Bop on over to her website at http://www.forensicgenealogy.info/ and for more information on the seminar you may contact Cassie FEDRICK, Genealogy Reference Librarian, Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810, or phone (225) 763-2285 or email cfedrick at ebr.lib.la.us
LAFOURCHE HERITAGE SOCIETY SEMINAR: The 30th Annual History and Genealogy Seminar will be presented at the Envie Restaurant & Banquet Facility, Highway 308 and North Canal Boulevard, Thibodaux, LA. Speakers and topics include Marjorie BARKER, “The History of Lafourche Parish Schools”; Judy RIFFEL, “Genealogical Resources for Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes at the Louisiana State Archives”; Paul NEWFIELD, III, “The Canary Islanders of Louisiana”; and Clifton THERIOT, “Lafourche Parish Courthouse Records Project.” Registration is $28 and includes lunch. For more information, contact Cliff THERIOT at (985) 448-4621. Be there. You won’t be sorry, I gar-ahn-tee.
ALL DAY SEMINAR: The East Texas Genealogical Society presents an all day seminar with Trevia WOOSTER BEVERLY on September 9, 2006. “Gateway to History: Tennessee Research” “Getting Your Family Research into Print” and “Research in the Clayton Library” are just three of the topics to be covered in this seminar. It will be held in the Smith County Historical Society Auditorium, 125 South College Ave., Tyler TX 75702, (Old Carnegie Library across from Tyler Public Library) in the 2nd Floor Auditorium (903) 592-5993. Cost: $25.00 per person if registered before Sept. 1, 2006, and $30.00 after that date. Cost of box lunch is not included ($10). For more information contact Scott FITZGERALD at (903) 592-6576 or 597-7865 or email scottfitzgerald at tyler.net
PLAINS OF ABRAHAM DOCUMENTARY: Rebecca Snow is helping produce a one-hour documentary for History Television about the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. It is part of a larger three-part series exploring historic Canadian conflicts through a genealogical perspective. These films will focus on the search for living descendants of participants of the conflicts, to be guided by internationally recognized historians and genealogists. They need to find living descendants of those involved in the 1759 events. It is not necessary that they have extensive knowledge of their ancestor or the history, just that there is proof of ancestry and that a kernel of curiosity is there regarding their role in the event. It would help if there is a wealth of family legend about the individual, but they will be employing professional genealogists and historians to uncover the missing links in story and family as they relate to the ancestor. Don’t hesitate to contact Rebecca if you have any questions or information. Her email address is rsnow at yapfilms.com and please send a cc to her colleague, Robin, at rwaite at yapfilms.com Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?