NEXT MEETING: July 30, 2011 1:00 p.m., Main Branch 151 Library Dr. Houma , LA 70360

Bill Elzey was our speaker last month. He is not a genealogist but he does write articles, for the Houma Courier, that have historical value and involves some of our local families, which is very valuable to us. Like Patty says, “You can’t turn a historian to a genealogist, but you can turn a genealogist into a historian.” This is so true. I have found this out myself, while in school I did not see the value in studying history, but now I find myself wanting to know more about what was happening, in history, at the time my ancestors lived and wonder what they were doing. Bill has written many historical articles and he does not research the individual families involved but he does research the event and who was involved with that event. So if you read an article his has written and see the mention of someone in your family, you may want to add that particular event to your own family history story.

GUEST SPEAKER
Do you have any Italian ancestry? Come to our meeting this month to hear Alan GAUTHREAUX who was born in Marrero, Louisiana, and raised in Algiers. He went to college at the University of New Orleans where he graduated with a degree in history. It was while at the University that he published his first article. After receiving his bachelor's degree, he taught for eight years in the Jefferson Parish Public School System. After receiving his master's degree in May 2007, in history (with honors), he left the school system to work for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. While at the museum, he was responsible for national outreach where he taught WWII history through videoconferencing. While working at the museum, Mr. Gauthreaux learned that his master's thesis, "An Inhospitable Land: Anti-Italian Sentiment and Violence in Louisiana," would be published in the Winter 2010 edition of the Louisiana Historical Association's Journal. In 2009, he left the museum to work for the Louisiana Department of Education as an educational program consultant. After expanding the master's thesis, he submitted the manuscript to various publishers until the book was released in March 2011. However, there were several mistakes that appeared in the final manuscript; Mr. Gauthreaux has since signed a contract with an academic publisher and assures us that a new edition of his original book, An Extreme Prejudice: Anti-Italian Sentiment and Violence in Louisiana, 1855-1924, will be appearing sometime in the spring of 2012."

SEMINARS
The Lafourche Heritage Society 35th Annual History & Genealogy Seminar will be on Saturday, August 6, 2011, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Envie Restaurant in Thibodaux, LA. Members will receive a register form. Registrations are also accepted on the Saturday morning on the day of the seminar at 8:30 a.m. but lunch will not be provided. You must pre-register to be included in the lunch buffet by Aug 3, 2011. To pre-register, please send your name and check to the Lafourche Heritage Society, P. O. Box 913, Thibodaux, LA 70302. There will be speakers and displays of family trees, bring your 15 generation tree to display. More information will come. We hope you will be there.

DEATHS
Tessa Belle MATHERNE BROWNLEE, 81, wife of our member Henry F. BROWNLEE for 59 years, June 18, 2011, from Audubon Health & Rehab in Thibodaux. She was born in Houma, raised in Bayou Blue, and lived in New Orleans, Gretna, Algiers, and finally to Bayou Blue. Interment in Matherne Cemetery. In addition to her husband, she leaves behind two daughters, Bonnie B. MARTINY and husband, Bill, of Thibodaux and Nancy Lynn BROWNLEE of St. Francisville; five grandchildren, Major Caleb MARTINY and wife, Gillian, of Tinker AFB, Okla., Erin MARTINY HEBERT and husband, Shane, of Napoleonville, Joshua David MARTINY of Thibodaux, Candice CANTRELLE VEAZEY and husband, Joshua, of Thibodaux, and Lawrence S. DUGAS of Houma; and seven great-grandchildren, Madeline "Maddy" and Henry "Hank" MARTINY, Jai Paul, Wesley Jo, and Emaly Michelle VEAZEY, Aidan and Hannah HEBERT. Another great-granddaughter is expected to join the Hebert family in October. Tessa is also survived by two sisters, Mona M. BOQUET of Franklinton and Thelma M. TRAHAN of Bayou Blue; her sister-in-law, Nobby BABIN of Houma; and scores of cousins, nieces, nephews and greats. In Heaven, she will be joining her parents, Loveless John and Beulah SAVOIE MATHERNE; her mother-in-law, Irma Lee BLOODWORTH; three brothers, John, Whitney, and Stephen MATHERNE; two sisters, Elaine MATHERNE and Isabelle M. HEBERT; five brothers-in-law, Harry BOQUET, Fulton TRAHAN, Julius HEBERT, Norman BROWNLEE Jr. and Robert H. BROWNLEE; two sisters-in-law, Nell BERGERON MATHERNE and Marguerite Barrett BROWNLEE; three nephews, Lloyd HEBERT, John HEBERT and Maurice MATHERNE; two nieces, Juie HEBERT NAQUIN and Charmaine MATHERNE MCDURMON; her grandparents, Ursin Napoleon and Clenda PICOU MATHERNE, and Albert Paul and Arcade TOURELLE SAVOIE; and many uncles, aunts and cousins.

Inez T. ADAMS, 89, (Former member) a native and resident of St. John Community of Thibodaux, died, July 2, 2011. Burial at St. John the Evangelist Cemetery in Thibodaux. She is survived by her nephew, O'Neil CLEMENT and wife, Lorraine BANEY CLEMENT; her niece, JoAnn ADAMS BARBIER and husband, Lynn; and a host of great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anatole Ives ADAMS and Elizabeth Felicie MIRE; one brother, Ives Richard ADAMS; and one sister, Dorothy ADAMS CLEMENT. She was a member of Lafourche Heritage Society and loved to travel.

BOOK COMMITTEE
Can’t find a genealogy or family history book at the Terrebonne Parish Library and you would like to have it there. Jot down the title, author, publisher and if you now where it can be purchased; get that information to Sondras SAUCIER. She can be reached at (985) 688-6792 or email svbs3@yahoo.com. If you call leave a message of why you are calling her.

NEW BOOKS
It’s here!! South Louisiana Vital Records Vol. #14. Get your copy today. See attached order form.

LOST
We have misplaced our tablecloth and the president’s gavel. We put someone in charge of bringing it to the meeting, but not sure who it was. Please help us find them!!

QUARTERLIES FOR SALE
Jess has some past issues of the Life Lines for sales, some single issues and some full year issues. Email Jess at jessndot@bellsouth.net to see if he has the issues you need and cost for the ones you need.

MEETING SCHEDULE
Meetings are the last Saturday monthly except for November and December. These are the dates for the rest of this year: July 30, August 27, September 25, and October 29, 2011 all at Terrebonne Parish Main Library. On December 10, 2011 we will hold our annual social holiday gathering at Terrebonne Parish North Branch Library. All meetings start at 1:00 p.m. Join us.