The Southeast Louisiana Historical Association remains an important component of the
Center’s public outreach initiatives. The town and gown group enables all of those
interested in our region’s peculiar history the chance to fraternize and exchange
ideas. The most recent meeting took place during the exciting events associated with
Tangipahoa Parish’s commemoration of its sesquicentennial. This year’s annual meeting
occurred on April 17, 2019 at the Regional Arts Center in the Levy Building in downtown
Hammond. As always, the event began with cocktails and scrumptious pulled-pork sandwiches
provided by association member John Jordan. Thanks John! We might need to call on
you again. Once the guests gathered at their tables, the evening’s program commenced
with association president Clark Forrest serving as emcee. Center director Samuel
Hyde and Turtle Cove director Robert Moreau headlined the event which focused on continuity
and change over Tangipahoa Parish’s history. Hyde lightened the mood with a Tangipahoa
trivia contest that came complete with drum-rolls provided by Center graduate assistants
and a mange-ridden geriatric cat as a prize. Long-time Center friend and SELHA member
Vic Couvillon was the “lucky” winner. After the contest, Hyde informed guests of some
of the exciting events planned throughout the parish to commemorate Tangipahoa’s 150th
anniversary. Hyde also held a book signing for those seeking an autographed copy of
the new edition of Pistols and Politics. Moreau followed with an engaging discussion
of current projects underway at Turtle Cove, while highlighting continuing, and newly
emerging challenges to the Manchac Swamp ecosystem in the twenty-first century. A
lively question and answer session followed as guests availed themselves of the opportunity
to ask the scientist for objective answers to their questions regarding climate change
and the environmental impact of elevated carbon dioxide levels. Once the speakers
concluded, the bar reopened and attendees had the chance to discuss the evening’s
lectures or engage in more light-hearted banter. An informal canvas of attendees indicates
that this was one of the more memorable meetings in the association’s long history.
The Center proudly supports the Southeast Louisiana Historical Association, which
anchors our town and gown approach to history. Each year at its annual spring meeting,
the SELHA hosts a scrumptious dinner, serves libations, and features a brief lecture
by prominent guest speakers such as Louisiana’s former secretary of state Jay Dardenne
and current governor John Bel Edwards. Some speakers are so popular with our membership
that we bring them back for an additional conversation. In 2010 Danny Heitman, an
author and award-winning columnist for The Baton Rouge Advocate, was the featured
speaker and shared vignettes from his book, A Summer of Birds: John James Audubon at
Oakley House. Heitman’s lecture brought a number of new faces to our gathering and
entertained all who attended. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response his first
lecture received, Heitman was identified as a speaker we needed to invite back. In
2018 Heitman, much to the delight of our members, agreed to return.
Doors for the meeting opened at 6 pm at our usual haunt, the Hammond Regional Arts
Center. At the commencement of the event, the capacity crowd was brought up to speed
on the association’s future plans by organization president and long time Center friend,
Dr. Clark Forrest. Next came our featured guest Danny Heitman’s remarks. His lecture,
“Writing Local in a Global Culture,” explored how south Louisiana has informed the
essays and other writings he has produced for regional, national and international
audiences. As in the past, Heitman’s wit shined through as he reflected on the impact
not just of region, but also of generation in shaping how one sees the world. “Much
has changed since my journalism career began more than three decades ago,” Heitman
said. “The rise of the internet has done much to collapse boundaries and create a
truly global village. In spite of that — or perhaps because of it — a writer’s relationship
with the region where he lives and works is more important than ever.”
On April 6, 2017, SELHA held its annual spring meeting at the Hammond Regional Arts
Center. As in the past, the event began with spirits and conversation building camaraderie
among members, students, and their guests. A delicious assortment of southern dishes
was provided by long-time member, John Jordan, and enjoyed by all.
Attendees then welcomed Dr. Sarah Hyde, Assistant Professor of History at River Parishes
Community College, as she discussed her recent book, Schooling in the Antebellum South: The Rise of Public and Private Education in Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Alabama, in which she analyzes educational development in the Gulf South before the Civil
War, not only revealing a thriving private and public education system, but also offering
insight into the worldview and aspirations of the people inhabiting the region. Following
her lecture, Dr. Hyde provided guests with the opportunity to purchase a signed copy
of her book.
2016 – Southeast Louisiana Historical Association Meeting
In 2016, the association returned to its roots with an emphasis on local history.
Eric Johnson, head of the Sims Library at Southeastern Louisiana University and Kathy
Tijerino, also with the Sims Library, agreed to provide a slide presentation from
their recent publication “Images of America: Hammond.” The Center for Southeast Louisiana
Studies is always happy to promote the work of local authors, especially when the
Center’s holdings are used extensively in related publications. Day-after-day for
several months in 2015- 2016, Kathy and Eric descended on the Center to sift through
the myriad of images related to the history of Hammond in our holdings. For the authors,
the toughest job was picking a few dozen of the thousands of pictures on hand to fit
the needs of the publisher. The quality of the final product speaks for itself. The
book is available locally and on popular online vendors such as Amazon.
As in the past, the organization held its meeting in the Levy Building–home of the
Hammond Regional Arts Center–across the street from the historic Columbia Theater.
The location is perfect for the group’s needs and all rental expenses for the facility
help to fund area art programs. Its a win-win scenario for the group. Once the speakers
were chosen, the date selected, and the venue booked, our next call went to Marilyn’s
Catering which has provided sumptuous, home cooked meals at the event for the past
few years. The gathering drew a big crowd that was not disappointed by the exciting
presentation on Hammond’s past. Tangipahoa native Jason Thompson was also present
at the event to offer an update on his research on area Indian Mounds– a topic that
always attracts the attention of our members. A lively question and answer session
followed the formal presentation after which attendees had the opportunity to fraternize
in a less formal manner with the presenters over cocktails.
2015 – Southeast Louisiana Historical Association Meeting
The Southeast Louisiana Historical Association is known for many things, including
an impressive academic journal The Southeast Louisiana Review, a robust membership representing a cross-section of the Florida Parish population,
and an always lively spring meeting that often features noted scholars and local politicians.
Each year, organization leaders strive to keep its members satisfied and searches
for methods to broaden membership. In 2014, then state legislator John Bel Edwards
was scheduled to speak but owing to the unfortunate death of his father Frank on the
morning of the meeting, he respectfully asked to be released from his speaking obligation.
Naturally, we quickly found a replacement and accepted Edwards’ promise to reschedule.
A lot changed over the course of the next year. Edwards was actively pursuing the
Louisiana Governor’s Mansion and he was polling surprisingly well in a field of well-known
Republican challengers. Considering that his campaign was in full swing we did not
expect that Edwards would be able to schedule a time convenient for us to have him
speak to the association. We should have known that Edwards would honor his commitment.
Rather than ask us to work around his plans, he told us to select a date and he would
adjust his schedule to accommodate our needs. With 16 April selected, we eagerly began
preparations for the gathering which would feature Representative Edwards.
As in previous years, the Hammond Regional Arts Center, located in the Levy Building
in downtown Hammond served as host to the event in which Edwards discussed his family’s recent induction into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame and other topics
related to the state of Louisiana. Before a standing room only crowd, Edwards addressed
numerous subjects and even worked in a few campaign plugs. As always, the festivities
began with a meet and greet social, followed by a buffet dinner catered by Ms. Marilyn
Harrison. Edwards not only delivered his remarks, he also answered all questions,
and stayed to speak with whomever wanted an audience. There was no rushing to another
engagement. Edwards, an Amite native, was clearly happy to be with the people he had
represented for a number of years. Of course much has transpired since that April
day when Edwards spoke. Several months later he was elected as the new governor of
Louisiana! Today he occupies the Governor’s Mansion and is charged with trying to
right the state’s economy which has been ravaged by neglect and poor planning. We
wish him well.
2014 – Southeast Louisiana Historical Association Meeting
Each year, the Southeast Louisiana Historical Association strives to bring its members
first-rate scholarship in the organization’s journal The Southeast Louisiana Review
as well as top-notch entertainment at its annual meeting. The latest edition of the
Review will be addressed in a later article. As for the 2014 spring meeting, most
members thought it would be difficult to match our 2013 speaker Lieutenant Governor
Jay Dardenne. After considerable discussion, the association extended an invitation
to Representative John Bel Edwards whose family had just been inducted in to the Louisiana
Political Hall of Fame. Edwards graciously accepted the invitation–and as the announcements
regarding the 17 April 2014 event started hitting the public the response was overwhelming.
Few people who live in Louisiana’s Seventy-Second District have not in some way been
positively influenced by Edwards. A much larger than expected crowd was planned and
excitement mounted for the meeting scheduled to be held at the Levy Building in historic
downtown Hammond. On the day of the event, tragedy befell the Edwards family as its
patriarch and long time Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Frank M. Edwards succumbed after
a long illness. John Edwards graciously called the Center in his time of grief and
apologized that he would not be able to make it to the event. The association quickly
mobilized to find a replacement just as it mourned the loss of an old friend. One
of the first people to come to mind as a replacement was Jason Thompson, an expert
on Louisiana Indians, a guest on the Florida Parish Chronicles, and a recent contributor
to the Southeast Louisiana Review. It is not easy to convince someone to be a keynote
speaker at a dinner function that will be hosted just a few hours from the time one
receives the call. But Mr. Thompson is not an ordinary person, and he graciously accepted
the invitation.As the crowd waited, it fell to the association’s acting secretary and treasurer,
Keith Finley, to announce to those gathered of the unfortunate circumstances that
befell the featured guest for the evening. Attendees were informed that Edwards expressed
his desire to honor his commitment to the organization. After informing the crowd
about Edwards, Finley introduced the group’s new speaker. Mr. Thompson went on to
regale the enthusiastic crowd with stories of uncovering Indian artifacts throughout
the Florida Parishes. Many of these tales included run-ins with snakes and angry relic
hunters bent on destroying Louisiana’s Indian heritage at gunpoint if necessary. Thompson
turned out to be a hit and the evening proved most enjoyable. As always, the event
featured a cocktail reception both before and following the meeting and as usual,
the association retained the services of the wildly popular Marilyn’s Catering.
2013 – Southeast Louisiana Historical Association Meeting
In an effort to expand its membership, the SELHA in 2013 opted to select a regionally
recognized figure to serve as its speaker. It did not take long to decide that Louisiana’s
Lieutenant Governor, history buff, and friend to higher education, Jay Dardenne represented
a perfect choice. At the spring 2013 gathering held, as on many previous occasions,
at the Hammond Regional Arts Center, Dardenne entertained the packed reception hall
with humorous anecdotes that shed light on Louisiana’s unique history. The capacity
crowd raved at the well rehearsed performance. Sharing the spotlight with Dardenne
was Southeastern professor and history department chair William B. Robison, The Tudors
on Film and Television, which he co-authored with long time SELHA member Sue Parrill.
2012 – Southeast Louisiana Historical Association Meeting
The Southeast Louisiana Historical Association has evolved considerably since its
first official gathering in 1974. Members have come and gone over the years, but the
group’s goal has remained largely unchanged. Preserving and celebrating the history
of southeast Louisiana is and always will be at the forefront of its activities. Today,
the association has revitalized its scholarly academic journal in the form of the
Southeast Louisiana Review to replace the now defunct Southeast Louisiana Historical Papers, just as the association has made every effort to expand its membership.
Whether one’s historical interests are local, state wide, or even national in scope
our annual dinner meeting has something for all tastes. This year’s gathering proved
no different as recent Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies staffer Cody Scallions
enlighted and entertained association members.
The backdrop for the 2012 dinner was conveniently located at the Alumni Building on
Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus. Attendees were treated to a sumptuous
southern style home cooked meal provided by Marilyn’s Catering Service as they enjoyed
potent drinks served up by Center employees and good conversation provided by the
membership. Organization president Clark Forrest gaveled the meeting to order. Following
the rapid dispensation of association business, Cody Scallions took the floor. In
what was both an enlightening and entertaining performance, Scallions regaled the
standing room only crowd with stories of the short-lived Republic of West Florida.
A lively question and answer session followed.
2011 – Southeast Louisiana Historical Association Meeting
Members of the Southeast Louisiana Historical Association know that the group’s spring
meeting comes complete with lively conversation, good food, and a keynote speaker
whose research sheds light on the region’s past. Those in attendance at the April
19, 2011 gathering had high expectations and they were not disappointed. Once again
the Hammond Regional Arts Center served as the backdrop for the event that featured
the expected cocktail reception and an assortment of non-Association sponsored eye-popping
paintings festooning the walls. This year, the association departed from its usual
food selections and hired Marilyn’s Catering. Guests raved over the delicious homemade
food choices. Due to popular demand, we plan on retaining Ms. Marilyn’s services for
the 2012 spring gathering of the association. As members feasted on the sumptuous
meal, they listened as long-time Center staffer and Association member, Kieth M. Finley
led a spirited discussion of his award winning book, Delaying the Dream. Finley’s presentation highlighted how the actions of southern United States senators
in the fight against civil rights legislation affected social developments at the
local level, including Louisiana’s Florida Parishes. A question and answer session
along with additional food and spirits followed.
2010 – Southeast Louisiana Historical Association Meeting
Each spring the Southeast Louisiana Historical Association gathers to conduct its
business, learn a little local history, and to socialize. Often, the meeting includes
a guest speaker. Previous presenters have been as diverse as the association’s membership.
This year we were fortunate to retain the services of award winning Advocate columnist
Danny Heitman who recently published A Summer of Birds: John James Audubon at Oakley
House with LSU Press.
As soon as the SELHA announced its speaker the Center was inundated with calls from
the community asking for tickets. Many callers knew the author and his Ponchatoula
family personally and wanted a chance to catch up on old memories. Others read his
family values oriented news column in the Advocate and wanted a chance to meet him.
Regardless of the reason for attendance, all present got the chance to hear a fine
presentation on the inspiring season Audubon spent as a personal tutor at Oakley House
in West Feliciana Parish. During that summer, Audubon found the inspiration to complete
his magisterial and comprehensive pictorial record of American birds that ultimately
made him famous. For the SELHA, the increased attendance also translated into an increase
in membership as many who attended solely to hear Heitman also joined the organization,
finding the camaraderie of the group appealing. Following the presentation, Heitman
autographed books and visited with his many fans. Like all association events, this
one also came complete with a meal and an open bar serviced by Center staffers.
2009 – Southeast Louisiana Historical Association Meeting
The SELHA is known for its lively dinner lecture series featuring regional and national
scholars who have addressed a wide range of topics. In 2009, attendees at the association’s
spring meeting were greeted with the usual food and spirits and privileged to hear
the north-shore’s most loquacious historian Donald Sharp, who discussed the influence
of the U.S. Naval presence in our region based on his more than forty years of research.
Following the presentation, he fielded questions from the interested audience. From
James Rumsey and the steam boat to gunboats on the Amite River, Sharp gave the crowd
something to think about as well as debate at the cocktail reception that followed.
In this case, it can truly be said that a good time was had by all.
The SELHA experienced an exciting 2008 with the initiation of new programs, along
with the continuation of old ones. The year started with our annual membership drive. During
that period we urged members to sign up for another stint with the organization and
hinted at the revival of a regional scholarly journal. Membership in the organization
soon reached an all time high with many old friends returning and many new ones joining
for the first time. Next came the announcement that our spring 2008 dinner/lecture
event would feature nationally known scholar Dr. Jon Kukla, author of the critically
acclaimed book A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America . To house its growing membership, the organization’s executive committee scheduled
its meeting at the historic Columbia Theater.
At the April 17 event, the department of history also recognized two of Southeastern
Louisiana University’s most beloved historians, Dr. Michael Kurtz for his service
as a faculty member and as Dean of the Graduate School and Dr. Roman Heleniak for
his service as a faculty member, Department Head, and as a Scholar in Residence in
the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies. The moving ceremony culminated with the
awarding of certificates to the honored guests. Kukla’s engaging presentation followed
by the usual food and libations, served as the perfect ending for a perfect evening. The pending retirement of Southeast Louisiana Historical Association President Dr. Roman Heleniak placed the organization’s annual events on hold. During
this brief hiatus, the group reorganized and reinvented itself to even better serve
the needs of the region.Launching the new “SELHA” took place at the unveiling of the Center’s latest exhibit
consisting in part of a photographic display titled “100 years 100 photographs,” on
loan from the Varnado Store Museum in Franklinton. The pictorial exhibit underwritten
by a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities revealed the centrality
of the railroad in the development of Washington Parish. In conjunction with the photographic
display, the Center staff organized a corollary exhibit that highlighted the growth
and influence of the railroad in Tangipahoa Parish. The Center showcased a wide array
of railroad related artifacts and paraphernalia many of which are from the Judge Leon
Ford, III Collection. Whether rail-fan, local historian, or just curious, the Center’s
new exhibit offered something for everyone.
A meeting of the Southeast Louisiana Historical Association coincided with the exhibit’s
opening. Dr. Keith Finley, Interregnum Head of the Organization, opened the meeting
by introducing the group’s new President Dr. Clark Forrest, a long time member and
former director of the SELHA. Dr. Forrest informed the crowd of many new plans for
the organization. It was released that the historical association would once again
publish a refereed scholarly journal accessible to both scholars and amateur historians
that will offer a multi-disciplinary examination of the Florida Parishes.
Southeast Louisiana Historical Association functions always promise good food, good
times, and more often than not, good scholarship. As the Spring 2006 meeting approached,
the organization’s leadership debated potential speakers. Graduate students and faculty
members conducting research in regional history were all considered. A short list
of names slowly took shape and a date-27 April–was selected.At the same time preparations were being made, the Center’s EPA funded film neared
completion. It would be ready in time for a showing at the SELHA gathering. Organization
President, Roman Heleniak promptly shifted the evening’s focus and embraced the notion
of premiering the film titled, “The Manchac Swamp: Man-made Disaster in Search of
Resolution” at the spring meeting.As a new plan emerged, it became necessary to make the event’s festivities less formal
to ensure that adequate chairs were available for the larger than normal crowd expected. Organization
members were honored that the important film would have its first public showing at
their event. The crowd, which was the largest gathering of the Association in a decade,
was treated to the premier of the Mancha Swamp film.Two years previous the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies had received a $63,000
grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to write a narrative and to produce
a documentary film highlighting the long-term consequences of human habitation in
the northern and western Pontchartrain basin. This film was the culmination of this
major project. The crowd was not disappointed the production highlighted the causal
chain that precipitated the ravaging of the Manchac Swamp, an area that many of our
members have cherished since childhood. Guests at this meeting dined on a variety
of delicious foods that included po-boy sandwiches from the “Crazy Pig,” jambalaya
from “Jambalaya Company” and Hungarian pastries from the “Old World Bakery.” The History
Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta, also inducted its new members at the event. It proved
a fitting venue for welcoming new scholars into the fold.
“The Manchac Swamp: Manmade Disaster in Search of a Resolution” has since been selected
to appear in the New York International Film Festival on 17 September 2006 and aired
statewide on Louisiana Public Broadcasting 3 September 2006.
For the Winter meeting on December 14, 2005, food, spirits, and frivolity once again
prevailed as SELHA members visited with old friends and made new ones over a hearty
assortment of barbecued items compliments of Wilbert’s of Covington. On May 25, 2005, former Southeastern graduate student and current Washington Parish
public school teacher, Ms. Dera Talley provided SELHA members with a memorable dinner
lecture. Her comments on the development of the Washington Parish Fair clearly moved
many in the crowd who remembered their past, pleasant experiences at what the events’
coordinators call America’s “largest free fair.” Complimenting Ms. Talley’s remarks was a sumptuous spread that included abnormally
large cuts of homemade roast beef prepared by then SELHA President, Dr. Roman Heleniak.