Cemeteries are more than a final resting place. They are echoes of the past that allow those who have passed on to live anew in stories told and retold across generations. In rural Louisiana, the small-town cemeteries of St. Landry Parish house those who have lived lives of acclaim and tragedy. With gold medal Olympians, Grammy-winning musicians, and even Napoleonic-era military tacticians, St. Landry Parish has long been a cradle for the talented and the extra-ordinary. Their graves become a reminder of their great feats.

Grand Opening for the Election and Archives Center The St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court Archives Department has an extensive collection of historical documents available to the public. Some of those documents date back to the 1700s and include marriage records, civil documents, and even conveyance records which paint a picture of the history of slavery in the area. On Friday, September 26th at 11 a.m., Charles Jagneaux, St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court, will cut the ribbon on the new Election and Archives Center located at 306 West Landry Street in Opelousas which will house these important documents and help connect the stories found therein to the present. The Election and Archives Center will be more than just a home for over 200 years of historical documents. Archivist and anthropologist, Larry J. Caillier II holds monthly workshops to assist the public with genealogical research and search for property deeds, wills, family successions, and more records, all stored both digitally and physically. In their new location, they’ll be able to host larger and more regular events and continue their efforts to digitize this large collection. Check the Charles Jagneaux Archives Facebook Page for upcoming workshop dates. The new center will [...]