French-Language Manuscript Materials
The imprint of French culture on Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi Valley has been deep and long lasting. French explorers and colonists were among the earliest Europeans to arrive in the region, beginning in the seventeenth century. Louisiana, named for Louis XIV, belonged to France for much of the 1700s and again from 1800 until it was sold to the United States in 1803. French settlers came to Louisiana both directly from France and indirectly from other areas. The latter included Acadians expelled from present-day Nova Scotia in the mid-eighteenth century and refugees from St. Domingue (present-day Haiti) in 1804. Some followers of Napoleon arrived in Louisiana after their leader's defeat in 1814. Other French immigrants came to Louisiana for a variety of reasons throughout the nineteenth century.
The French-language manuscript resources in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections (LLMVC) at LSU touch upon all these sources of French cultural influence. This guide to these resources includes descriptions of the papers of early colonists, French-speaking planters and free people of color in the nineteenth century, and residents of cities and towns like New Orleans and Natchitoches. The documents it describes came from farmers and merchants, writers and artists, women and men, the famous and the anonymous.
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Manne, Fran?ois. Papers, 1788-1795. 4 items. Location: C:8. Resident of Opelousas Parish, Louisiana. Papers pertaining to the settlement of his estate. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 278, 756. Referenced in Guides: French
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Manuel-Richaud Family Papers, 1862-1873, 1892-1918, undated 57 items. Location: UU:110. Residents of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Letters, bills, receipts, and other related items of the Manuel and Richaud families containing information from relatives in France, and furnishing prices of articles and charges for services. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 1480. Referenced in Guides: French
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Marcou, Adeline. Papers, 1835. 3 items. Location: Misc.:M.Widow of Francois Marcou of New Orleans, Laouisiana. Papers consists of a petition to sell slaves belonging to the estate of Francois Marcou, with authorization by probate court; recorder of mortgages certificate; and certificate of auctioneers with a newspaper clipping, in French, announcing the auction. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 281. |
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Marigny, Bernard. Document, 1823 November 29. 1 item. Location: Misc. Resident of New Orleans. Certification of receipt of the will of Bernard Marigny signed by P. Pedesclaux, notary public. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 282. Referenced in Guides: New Orleans to 1861, French
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Marigny, Pierre. Letter, 1796. 1 item. Location: Misc.:M. French Creole planter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Personal letter from Pierre de Marigny to Olivier de Nezin of Attakapas, comments on a good harvest and the recovery of his son, Bernard, from a serious illness. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 282. |
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Marionneaux, Marie Doralise. Certificate, 1855. 1 item. Location: Misc. Copy of birth and baptismal certificate of Marie Doralise Marionneaux (baptized in 1815) from the registers of births and baptisms of St. Gabriel's Church, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, 1855. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 893. |
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Martin, Eugene. Manuscripts, 1851-1867. 5 items, 4 volumes. Location: A:16. Writings of an educator of a private school in New Orleans, Louisiana. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 2138. |
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Masicot, Augustin. Document, 1837. 1 item. Location: Misc.:M. Resident of St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. Inventory (copy) of land and slaves of the estate of Augustin Masicot. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 668. Referenced in Guides: African Americans, French
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Mather, George. Accountb0Books, 1782-1845. 4 volumes, 11 items. Location: G:18, MISC:M. Planter of St. James Parish, Louisiana. Account books pertain to plantation expenses, slave labor, sugar, taffia, and cotton. Volume one (1782-1845) contains some entries in French. Volume two relates to Mather's sugar operations and the taffia sold on the German Coast in present-day St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana (1798-1832). Entries in volume three contain memos on loans made and payments received (1813-1822). Entries in volume four also note cotton shipments to Liverpool and a letter in French to Tousaint Fauve of La Rochelle, France (1806-1817). Loose items consist of financial papers and three clippings. The collection is also available on UPA Microfilm 5322, (Records of ante-bellum southern plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War. Series I, Selections from Louisiana State University ; pt. 1, Louisiana sugar plantations, reel 8. Mss. 283, 568. |
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Mather, Louise. Notebook, 1875. 1 vol. Location: M:20. School notebook containing essays. In French and English. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 794. |
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Mazant book of poems, 1848-1859. 1 ms. vol. Location: M:18. Lieutenant colonel and aide-de-camp to the governor of Louisiana. Manuscript volume of French poems inscribed "Monsieur Le Chevalier de Mazant, Lieutenant Colonel, aide de Camp du Gouverneur de l'Etat de la Louisiane". In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 850. Referenced in Guides: French, Literature
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McIlhenny, John S. Papers, 1876-1996 (bulk 1928-1989). 4 linear ft., 1 volume. Locations: 75:, OS:M. Son of John A. (Avery) McIlhenny and Anita McIlhenny. Philanthropist of academia and scientific research and donated to many organizations, including the Louisiana State University (LSU) Foundation and Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Papers document his personal life, philanthropic and professional endeavors, and educational pursuits. Materials include correspondence, printed items, photographic items, stamps, coins, and artwork. Mss. 4962. |
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McKowen-Lilley-Stirling Family. Papers, 1797-1921 (bulk 1877-1901). 829 items (on microfilm). Location: MSS.MF:M. Thomas William Lilley founded Springfield Plantation in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. His daughter Edith married John Stirling. John McKowen, an Irish immigrant, was a resident of Jackson, Louisiana. Papers include Lilley-Stirling legal documents and financial papers; McKowen family correspondence; and legal papers, and medical correspondence of John C. MacKowen, a Louisiana physician. Other papers relate to McKowen's property in Anacapri, Italy. Some items in Spanish, Italian, French, and German. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 4356. |
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McMullin, Thomas. Document, 1828 July 13. 1 item. Location: Misc. Affidavit of McMullin, made before Jean Pierre Dubois, justice of the peace of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, concerns an assault upon him by Henri Baler. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 849. Referenced in Guides: French
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Méjan, Eugène. Letter, 1859 Jan. 11. 1 item. Location: Misc. Letter from Count Eugène Méjan, French consul in New Orleans, to Gerald Stith, mayor of New Orleans, recommending Mr. Bruguiere. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 289. Referenced in Guides: New Orleans to 1861, French
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Menard, James. Letter, 1829 April 10. 1 item. Location: Misc.:M. Letter by James Menard of Baton Rouge, La., endorses the recommendation of Charles C. Comme as notary. In French. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 303. Referenced in Guides: Baton Rouge, French
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Metoyer, Adeleda. Papers, 1845-1897. 52 items. Location: A:1, MSS.MF:M. Free woman of color, Isle Brevelle, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Bills and receipts (1845-1860) are for medical care, taxes, freight, and merchandise. Included are statements of account (1873-1874), from Miltenberger & Pollock, New Orleans factors, to Mrs. Philomene Metoyer. Some items in French. Available on microfilm 6061: University Publications of America Records of Southern Plantations from Emancipation to the Great Migration, Series B, Part 2, Reel 1. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 836, 837. Referenced in Guides: New Orleans to 1861, Women, New Orleans in the Civil War, New Orleans 1866-, African Americans, French
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Metoyer, Louis. Document, 1823. 1 item. Location: Misc. Free African American of Isle Brevelle, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Act of conveyance of sale of land by Metoyer to Augustin Metoyer. In French. Available on microfilm 6061: University Publications of America Records of Southern Plantations from Emancipation to the Great Migration, Series B, Part 2, Reel 1. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 849. Referenced in Guides: African Americans, French
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Meullion family. Papers, 1776-1906 (bulk 1776-1866). 0.2 linear ft., 1 microfilm reel. Location: U:230, OS:M, MSS.MF:M. Free African American family of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Louis Augustin Meullion and his son Jean Baptiste (whose mother was a slave) were slaveholders; the son owned a plantation on Bayou Teche. Collection includes slave bills of sale, land sales, and other financial records; manumission papers for Maria Juana and her son Baptiste Meuillon; and an amnesty oath taken in 1865 by Miss Belazaire Meuillon. In French, English, and Spanish. For further information, see online catalog. Mss. 243, 294. |
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Meullion family. Papers, 1869-1915. 61 items. Location: W:3. A family of free people of color prior to the Civil War. The collection consists of post-Civil War personal correspondence, accounts, tax receipts, and printed religious material. A note stating the boundaries of a tract of land in Acadia Parish, which was owned by the estate of Alphonse Meullion is also present. Mss. 3627. |