Creole Roots: Stories of Freedom in the Family Tree
Schedule
Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 05:30 pm
UTC-05:00Location
The Cabildo | New Orleans, LA
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The Louisiana State Museum invites you to visit the Cabildo on May 7, 2026 for a night dedicated to uncovering forgotten family legacies. Join presenters Dianne Honoré and Leonard Smith III, as they detail their personal investigations into their families’ Creole genealogy, and the unknown stories of freedom they uncovered along the way. Dianne’s presentation will focus on her research into the lives of her ancestors during Spanish colonial Louisiana, including Catiche Destrehan, who was able to self-purchase her freedom, while Leonard will discuss how he discovered the story of his third great-grandmother Louise, a formerly enslaved woman in antebellum Louisiana who won her freedom through an eleven-year court battle. He will also give tips for amateur historians hoping to uncover their own unique history using archival resources.
From 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., enjoy Creole jazz performed by Don Vappie. The presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m., with time for questions after. Light refreshments will be available courtesy of the Louisiana Museum Foundation.
This evening is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Click here to register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/atmgduk
For questions, please email Katie Trevino at [email protected].
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Where is it happening?
The Cabildo, 701 Place John Paul Deaux,New Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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