Thursday, February 3, 2011

Historical records of Archdiocese of New Orleans released

This undated photo released Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, by the Office of Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, shows a 1799 record of baptism, written in Spanish and French. Sacramental records that date back before Louisiana's statehood of April 30, 1812, are being made available online by the New Orleans Archdiocese. Sacramental records include baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages and deaths. The archdiocese says their availability will help more people research their family history. The records are without surnames which, the archdiocese says, means they encompass mostly slaves and free people of color.


Here is the link for the site.  http://www.archdiocese-no.org


NEW ORLEANS — In a development that one expert calls a "monumental contribution" to historians, the New Orleans Archdiocese is making available online the sacramental records for slaves and free people of color that date back before Louisiana's 1812 statehood.


"Our sacramental records here in the New Orleans Archdiocese are some of the most detailed you will ever find," Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.
All the records, dating from 1718 to 1812, will be available in the next two years, archdiocesan archivist Emilie Leumas said Tuesday.

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