Upcoming Events

Join the Creole Heritage Center at these upcoming events by the CHC or our friends!

• September 25: The Creole Heritage Center welcomes Opera Créole (Natchitoches, LA)
  • The Créole French Connection: A Celebration of Our Shared Heritage, an evening of opera scenes, arias, and Créole folk songs. Starts at 7:30pm in Magale Recital Hall at Northwestern State University. Tickets are $20 for adults and free for all NSU students and those under age 18. Tickets can be purchased online at creole-french-connection.eventbrite.com, via mail or in person at the Creole Heritage Center (Kyser 118), or at the event. We expect the concert to be livestreamed via NSU’s Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts.

• October 5: Creole Culture’s 3rd Annual Creole Culture Day: “Let’s Talk, but in French” (Grant Coteau, LA)
  • Representatives from the Creole Heritage Center are expected to join this day of culture, music, and fun that includes a live boucherie, genealogy experts, craft vendors, Creole French Bingo and more.

• October 11-13: Augustine Catholic Church Annual Creole Festival (Isle Brevelle, LA)
  • Representatives from the Creole Heritage Center are expected to be present at this long standing event in the heart of the Cane River Creole community.

• November 8-10: Louisiana Creole Research Association’s 20th Anniversary Conference: Research & Remember (New Orleans, LA)
  • An in-person and virtual conference by our friends of LA Creole. Sessions on genealogy, history, and artifacts, as well as a gala dinner and dance to celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and join our mailing list so you don’t miss any announcements!

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Our Vision

To revitalize, mobilize, and empower, for global recognition, Creole people and their contributions.

Our Mission

To preserve, educate, and advocate the value and significance of the vibrant Louisiana Creole people and their culture.

Our Core Values

1. We proudly position ourselves as a leader and foremost authority on ALL things Creole.
2. We pledge to connect and collaborate with our partners to promote and empower expertise and dignity in ALL Creole people.
3. We work hard to ensure our preservation and education efforts are based on accuracy and community accountability.
4. We promise to provide quick and friendly service to ALL people.
5. We recognize and acknowledge ALL who wish to learn about Creole people, their history, and their culture.

Our Background

In 1979, residents of the Isle Brevelle community of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana established the St. Augustine Historical Society (SAHS). This volunteer, non-profit organization sought to preserve, interpret, and uphold the cultural heritage of the people of Isle Brevelle, commonly referred to as the Cane River Creoles.

By the 1990s, residents from Isle Brevelle, as well as other Creoles around the state of Louisiana and the nation, had begun to reconnect and proudly self-identify as Creole. Terrel Delphin, Jr. became a respected leader in this movement, while also serving as President of the SAHS. He was one of many who envisioned how this growing movement needed an entity that represented and empowered all Louisiana Creole communities and diaspora, could serve as a trusted source of information about Louisiana Creoles and their culture, and had a permanent home and staff.

The result was the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center at Northwestern State University (as it was originally titled). After the organization and meeting in May 1997 of an Advisory Council that represented Louisiana Creoles from throughout Louisiana and respected academics, the Louisiana Board of Regents and the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors approved the Center as an official research center at NSU. The Center officially opened its doors on the campus of NSU in the fall of 1998.

Throughout our history, the Center has worked alongside NSU’s other cultural heritage entities the Cammie G. Henry Research Center, the Louisiana Folklike Center, the Williamson Museum, and the now defunct Louisiana Regional Folklife Program; as well as been an active component of the Cane River National Heritage Area. The Center continues to receive salary and infrastructure funding from NSU’s School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs and Division of Academic Affairs, while our programming and publications rely heavily on funding from grants, business & organization sponsorships, and individuals.

Our Staff

• Dr. Kent W. Peacock, Director
• Dr. Pete Gregory, Academic Advisor
• Markita Hamilton-Small, CHC Clerk
• Judy M. Rachal, CHC Clerk

Our Advisory Council

The Creole Heritage Center is guided by an Advisory Council of up to fifteen voting members appointed by the President of Northwestern State University. Members serve up to two consecutive three-year terms and may continue to serve until a successor is appointed.

• Chairperson: James Billeaudeau (Lafayette, LA)
• Vice-Chairperson: Louis Metoyer (Sun City, CA)
• Secretary: Marcus Jones (The Woodlands, TX)
• Treasurer: Michael Fontenot (Lake Charles, LA)
• NSU ex-officio member: Dr. Greg Handel (Natchitoches, LA)

• Carla Roque Allen, Pharm.D. (Maumelle, AR)
• Sandra Billeaudeau (Lafayette, LA)
• Blaise LaCour (Natchitoches, LA)
• Dr. Christophe Landry (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Ashley Porche-Tassin (Baton Rouge, LA)
• David Sigur (Alexandria, VA)

Our Advisory Council Emeritus Members

Emeritus Membership on the Center’s Advisory Council is a way to honor previous and still living voting members and maintain institutional and historical knowledge. Emeritus Members serve at their leisure until they request removal or are no longer living. Thus, the following list may not represent the full list of past Advisory Council members.

• Kathleen Balthazar Heitzmann (Climax, NY)
• Curtis Bordenave, Jr. (Bridge City, LA)
• Gwendolyn Bordenave (New Orleans, LA)
• Pam Breaux (Washington, DC)
• Dr. Kathleen Byrd (Natchitoches, LA)
• Patricia A. Cravins (Arnaudville, LA)
• Winston DeCuir, Sr. (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Daphne Delphin (Natchitoches, LA)
• Lillie Delphin (Natchitoches, LA)
• Theresa Delphin Morgan (Natchitoches, LA)
• Ann Marie Domino (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Donald Gallion (Natchez, LA)
• Linda LeCompte (Lafayette, LA)
• Carolyn LaCour-Llorens (Houston, TX)
• Father James Moran (Rock Hill, SC)
• Paul Donald Nelson (Lake Charles, LA)
• Mary Metoyer Pinkie Rodriguez (Chicago, IL)
• Gregory Osborn (New Orleans, LA)
• Father Chad Partain (Alexandria, LA)
• Vera Severin (Natchez, LA)

Support the CHC

Your support – financial and otherwise – is essential for the Creole Heritage Center to continue its work towards its mission of preserving, educating, and advocating the value and significance of the vibrant Louisiana Creole people and their culture.

The Center does receive financial support for salaries and infrastructure through Northwestern State University, but we rely on the financial support of others to:

• Accomplish our Education, Event & Experiences, Exhibit, and Resource Services Initiatives identified in our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
• Increase accessibility to our resources & programs via Communication & Technology improvements
• Improving collaboration across Creole communities & organizations to empower all Louisiana Creoles

All donations will be processed through the NSU Foundation & Alumni Association for the sole use of the Creole Heritage Center. Gifts made to the NSU Foundation are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. The NSU Foundation is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its Federal Identification Number is 72-6021495.

Become a Member!

To become a member/donate online:

• Visit https://northwesternstatealumni.com/creole

To become a member/donate through the mail:

• Print and fill out our 2024 Membership and Donation Form
• Mail the form and your payment to:
  Creole Heritage Center
  NSU Box 5675
  Natchitoches, LA 71497

Creole Champions Club

Our Creole Champions Club recognizes all individuals who financially support the Center at the level of $150 or more per calendar year. Our immense gratitude goes out to the following who have committed themselves to being Creole Champions!

Business/Organization Sponsorships

Businesses/Organizations can use the online or paper form above to become a sponsor of the Center. All sponsors will have their logos prominently displayed on our website and recognized in publications. Additional recognition/terms of sponsorship can be explored.

Opportunities to sponsor a specific event or initiative are also available. Contact the Center for more information!

Other Ways to Support the CHC

You can support the Center in various ways beyond a financial gift. Contact the Center if you are interested in any of the following:

• Volunteering with the Center
• Serving as a consultant with the Center
• Recording your family stories with the Center
• Inviting the Center to be present at an event/give a presentation
• Donations of archival materials or collections of family history
• In-kind donations

2023-2026 Strategic Plan

In 2021 a variety of supporters of the Creole Heritage Center called for the Center to evaluate and reconfirm its role in serving Louisiana Creoles and promoting understanding and appreciation of Louisiana Creoles and their culture. The Center could not do this alone, thus throughout the past two years it engaged numerous stakeholders including staff, our Advisory Council, longtime supporters, members of the NSU community, and representatives from cultural heritage, political, business, and educational entities. We also shared a public electronic survey in the summer of 2022, which collected over 500 responses.

The Center is proud to share the results of this entire process. Our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan begins with a revised and more succinct mission statement and an articulated vision and core values. The plan then identifies goals in five thematic areas, four we classify under “Programs & Services” and the fifth deals with the day-to-day operations of the Center. Striving for and attaining these goals will enable the Center to continue to be an efficient and responsive leader and foremost authority on all things Creole as it enters its next twenty-five years.

The Center cannot achieve the goals in this plan without you. We encourage you to read the plan, ask us questions about it, tell others about the Center, utilize and grow our resources, and more so together we can preserve, educate, and advocate the value and significance of the vibrant Louisiana Creole people and their culture.

This plan was graciously financially supported by the Cane River National Heritage Area.

Genealogy Basics

Just starting to research your family’s history? Seems like the paper trail has run out for one of your ancestors? Review our resources below and reach out to the Creole Heritage Center at creolecenter@nsula.edu or 318-357-6685 with any questions about our genealogical resources.

Metoyer Genealogical Listing Book

In June 2017, the Creole Heritage Center published the results of our efforts to construct a family tree of the descendants of Claude Thomas Metoyer & Marie Therese Coin-Coin, whose descendants began the Creole community in Isle Brevelle, LA and have spread throughout the nation. The book may be purchased through the Creole Heritage Center at the cost of $50.00. Order via our online donation form (choose custom amount and note you are purchasing the book in the Comment box) or via cash, check, or money order sent to the Center. Payment must be received before the book will be shipped.

National Creole Family Database

One of the Creole Heritage Center’s ongoing projects is the creation of a database with vital information on Louisiana Creole ancestors from every Creole community within Louisiana and throughout the United States. This is an ever-expanding database; the absence of an individual is not meant to state an individual’s lineage is not Creole nor that they did not exist.

ACCESS and SEARCH the National Creole Family Database

The searchable, online version of this database reflects verified information on individuals born BEFORE 1951. Verified means staff at the Creole Heritage Center has confirmed the publicly available information through written sources.

How to Add or Update Individuals in the Database

1. Click the “Pencil” button under “Update” for the Individual you wish to update.
2. If the Individual is not currently listed in the database, click the “Pencil” button under “Update” for any existing individual to access the “Request an Update” form.
3. Fill out the “Request an Update” form with your name and email, and as much information as you know about the individual and how you know this information. Use the “Additional Comments” box as needed.
4. Click the “Send Request for Update” button at the bottom of the form.
5. The Center will be notified of your submission and work to verify and update the database. We will contact you if additional questions or information is necessary.

Creole Individuals Collection Folders

Alongside the production of the National Creole Family History Database, the Center has collected photographs and documents such as baptismal, marriage, and death records; funeral cards and programs, military records, census records, succession papers, letters, and more on Creole individuals and families. The collection is organized by name and has over 1,200 folders. The folders are currently available for research at the Center only.

You can help others learn about their Creole heritage!

The Center is continually looking for items to add to its holdings and maintain its efforts to preserve Creole family histories. It accepts originals and copies (electronic or paper) of any documents and photos of Creole individuals. Contact the Center with any questions or to make your donation!

NOTE:  All donated materials (originals or copies) become the property of the Creole Heritage Center and may not be duplicated or used for any purpose without written permission of the Creole Heritage Center. Restricted public access for donated materials can be accommodated.

Resource Library

The Creole Heritage Center’s Resource Library houses print, audio, and visual items related to the genealogical and historical study of Louisiana Creoles and their links nationwide. The library exists to assist researchers searching for information on Louisiana Creoles and their culture and to preserve the research, projects, and publications completed by the Creole Heritage Center.

Highlights include recordings of Creole Heritage Center events, published books on Creole and Louisiana peoples and culture, Creole Individuals Collection Folders, photographs of Creole individuals and places, and recorded oral histories of Creole individuals.

The Resource Library is a nonlending library and items in it are available for use at the Center only. Please contact the Center for more information and to make an appointment for exploring these resources.

Other Creole Research Resources

Many of the Creole Heritage Center’s NSU partners and local friends have additional holdings on Louisiana Creoles that may be of use to researchers. These include:

• The Cammie G. Henry Research Center (part of NSU University Libraries)
• Louisiana Folklife Center at NSU
• Natchitoches Genealogical Library
• Natchitoches Parish Courthouse/Clerk of Courts

If the people, communities, or history you are investigating fall outside of Natchitoches Parish, libraries and courthouses in those locations may hold the most relevant information for you. The Center is happy to help you identify relevant resources and their location(s), although it does not have the ability to visit or conduct research for others.

Louisiana Creole Resources

The Creole Heritage Center is one of numerous organizations whose missions are specific to or include empowering Louisiana Creoles and educating all about them and their heritage.

These organizations are great resources for anyone looking to find information about their family and/or Louisiana Creole heritage in general.

Are we missing or need to update your organization? Let us know! While we always encourage your support of Creole-run businesses and Creole-produced products, the resources here are registered not-for-profit or government entities, museums, and community organizations.

Louisiana Creole-specific organizations

	Chinbo, Inc. Website: https://www.chinbo.org Facebook: ChinboInc Location: Baton Rouge, LA A non-profit devoted to the reclamation of Kouri-Vini, Louisiana’s endangered Creole language. To achieve this mission, they provide educational and learning resources to the Louisiana community and its diaspora.
	C.R.E.O.L.E., Inc. Website: https://www.creoleinc.net Facebook: lacreoleinc Location: Lafayette, LA A non-profit organization founded in 1987 whose mission is to preserve and promote the numerous aspects of the Creole culture of Southwest Louisiana, including language, music, art, dance, food, architecture, and literature.
	LA Creole (Louisiana Creole Research Association) Website: https://www.lacreole.org Facebook: LA Creole Location: New Orleans, LA A non-profit organization founded in 2004 which advances family research, provides education, and celebrates Creole history and culture.
	Mobile Creole Cultural and Historical Preservation Society Website: http://mobilecreolesociety.weebly.com Facebook: MobileCreolePreservation Location: Mobile, AL A non-profit organization continuously promoting and improving understanding of the culture and history of the Creole community of the Mobile (AL) region and facilitating the research efforts of those exploring their ancestral connection to this community.
	Zydeco Historical & Preservation Society, Inc. Website: https://www.zhps.org Facebook: thezhps Location: Opelousas, LA A non-profit organization founded in 2000 and dedicated to the preservation, understanding, and development of Zydeco music, history, and culture as well as rural black Creole culture of Southwest Louisiana and Texas.

Louisiana Creole-Related Organizations

	Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans Website: https://www.af-neworleans.org Facebook: afneworleans Location: New Orleans, LA The Alliance Française offers top quality French language classes for all levels and ages and events that immerse New Orleanians in francophone cultures. The New Orleans location often offers courses in Louisiana Creole.
	Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches Website: http://www.melroseplantation.org/aphn Facebook: APHNLA Location: Natchitoches Parish, LA APHN was organized in 1944 and works to promote and preserve an understanding of the rich cultural heritage of Natchitoches and the Cane River area. In consonance with that mission, its purpose is the long-term preservation of areas of historic value, sites, cultural landscapes, artifacts, archives, and cultures of the people. The organization manages Melrose on the Cane and the Lemee House.
	Cane River Creole National Historic Park Website: Cane River Creole National Park Facebook: canerivercreoleNPS Location: Natchitoches Parish, LA Established in 1994, Cane River Creole National Historical Park serves to preserve the resources and cultural landscapes of the Cane River region. The Park serves to educate individuals on the Cane River Creole culture and history through the people, places, stories and museum collections of Oakland and Magnolia plantations.
	Cane River National Heritage Area Website: http://www.CaneRiverNHA.org Facebook: CaneRiverNHA Location: Natchitoches, LA Established on November 2, 1994 by Public Law 103-449; 16 U.S.C. 410. Its mission is to protect, preserve, and promote the historic character and sustainability of the Cane River Heritage Area region.
	Center for Louisiana Studies Website: http://cls.louisiana.edu Facebook: centerforlouisianastudies Location: Lafayette, LA A part of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette since 1973, the center is dedicated to researching, publicizing, promoting, and preserving Louisiana’s culture and history.
	Central Louisiana African American Historical Society Website: https://claahs.org Facebook: CLAAHS Facebook Page Location: Central Louisiana A non-profit founded in 2022 committed to documenting, promoting, and preserving African American history and culture in Central Louisiana and beyond, through programs, events, and the preservation of artifacts and architecture; and to encourage and facilitate research that fosters appreciation and understanding of America’s historical and cultural diversity.
	Historic Natchitoches Foundation Website: https://www.nhfla.com Facebook: NatchitochesHistoricFoundation Location: Natchitoches, LA Dedicated to the preservation of historic sites throughout Natchitoches Parish. HNF oversees the Pacalé-Roque House and Cunningham Law Office building.
	Historic New Orleans Collection Website: https://www.hnoc.org Facebook: THNOC Location: New Orleans, LA Founded in 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to the stewardship of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South.
	L’Assemblée de la Louisiane Website: https://www.assemblee.la Facebook: assembleelou Location: Louisiana An entity for the charitable, cultural, educational, and economic benefit of the people of Louisiana. Their purposes include maintaining, developing, and promoting the language, culture, and identity of the people of Louisiana and preserving and ensuring the long-term survival and widespread normalization of heritage Louisiana French and Louisiana Creole languages.
	Laura Plantation Website: https://www.lauraplantation.com Facebook: creolelauraplantation Location: Vacherie, LA A restored Louisiana Creole plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi River that dates to 1804.
	Le Musée de f.p.c. Website: https://www.lemuseedefpc.com Facebook: LeMuseedefpc Location: New Orleans, LA Historical house museum dedicated exclusively to preserving the material culture and telling the story of free people of color.
	Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Website: https://leh.org Facebook: LouisianaHumanities Location: New Orleans, LA The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities acts as a steward and supporter of Louisiana’s diverse and vibrant culture and history. It is dedicated to ensuring access to the humanities, offering and broadening pathways for a lifetime of learning for people of every generation and from every walk of life to enrich the lives of all Louisianans in all 64 parishes.
	Louisiana Folk Roots Website: https://lafolkroots.org Facebook: louisianafolkroots Location: Lafayette, LA A non-profit organization that nurtures, shares, and perpetuates Louisiana’s traditional cultural expressions with an emphasis on our Cajun and Creole Heritage through performances and related educational activities. Among its initiatives and resources are the Balfa Music Camp in Eunice, LA, Kids Camps, and Blackpot Festival.
	LA LA (Louisiana to Los Angeles Organizing Committee) Website: https://www.latola.org Facebook: LAtoLA504 Location: Los Angeles, CA A charitable and social organization established in 1988 to raise educational funds for local youth and to preserve the rich Louisiana Mardi Gras culture. It helps to produce events such as the Crawfish Festival (formerly known as Long Beach Crawfish Festival) and provides college scholarships.
	Maison Creole de Freetown (True Friends Society of Lafayette) Website: https://maisonfreetown.org Facebook: maisonfreetown Location: Lafayette, LA A non-profit organization and museum founded to document and preserve the history of Freetown Lafayette and to educate others on the historical, cultural, and linguistic contributions of African Americans and people of color in this neighborhood and beyond.
	Multicultural Center of the South Facebook: mccsouth Location:Shreveport, LA A community center and interpretive facility which features a wide array of exhibits on the many different cultures represented in Shreveport’s and Louisiana’s population, including Louisiana Creoles.
	New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Cultures Website: https://www.nous-foundation.org Facebook: nousfdn Location: New Orleans, LA A non-profit organization founded in 2020 that works on cultural revitalization and showing that Louisiana’s French and Creole heritage are firmly anchored in the 21st century. It includes a cultural center, a creative studio, and Francophone fund to support its programs and make sure French and Creole cultures not only survive but thrive in new generations.
	Opera Créole Website: https://www.operacreole.com Facebook: operacreole Location: New Orleans, LA Opera Créole gives voice and life to the music of classical and operatic composers of African descent, particularly those from New Orleans.
	River Road African American Museum Website: https://africanamericanmuseum.org Facebook: RiverRoadAfricanAmericanMuseum Location: Donaldsonville, LA The museum promotes research and education on the contributions of African Americans who lived and worked on the plantations along the Mississippi River.
	St. Augustine Historical Society Facebook: St.AugustineHistoricalSociety Location: Isle Brevelle, LA A non-profit organization formed in 1979 to preserve the faith-based history and Creole heritage of the Isle Brevelle community. The society is dedicated to preserving all aspects of the creole heritage and the restoration of the Badin-Roque house. The society produced the original Creole Heritage Day Celebrations in the 1990s and early 2000s.
	Télé-Louisiane Website: https://telelouisiane.com Facebook: telelouisiane Location: Louisiana Founded in 2018, Télé-Louisiane is the multi-lingual media platform by and for the people of Louisiana, i.e. Louisianans or les Louisianais—whether in the State or in the diaspora. We work with private and public sector partners to produce and distribute media focused on breathing new life into Louisiana’s languages, cultures, and people in addition to providing related professional services.
	Vermilionville Historic Village Website: Vermilionville Historic Village Facebook: Vermilionville Location: Lafayette, LA A living history museum working to increase appreciation for the history, culture, and natural resources of the Native Americans, Acadians, Creoles, and peoples of African descent in the Attakapas region through the end of the 1800s. Through historic interpretation and conservation along the Bayou Vermilion, it strives to educate guests on the interactions of these groups and the connections between past and contemporary folklife, thus empowering guests to apply these lessons from our shared histories.

Creole-related Scholarships for NSULA Students

The Creole Heritage Center is proud to highlight the following scholarships available to assist Northwestern State University students meet their educational costs. These scholarships honor a member of the Louisiana Creole community and/or align with the Center’s mission. The Creole Heritage Center is not involved in the selection of scholarship recipients and all donations to a scholarship go directly to that scholarship.

The scholarships are administered through the NSU Foundation & Alumni Association. Donations to continue the availability of these scholarships for NSU students can be made online at https://northwesternstatealumni.com/creole/.

If you are a current or incoming student at NSU and interested in applying for any of these scholarships, please complete the Scholarship Application online at https://northwesternstatealumni.com/form/. Additional scholarships are available through NSU’s Office of Financial Aid and the NSU Foundation and Alumni Association.

The Creole Heritage Center does not currently offer scholarships to students at other colleges and universities, nor does it currently have scholarships available for those wishing to conduct research in its Resource Library or other Louisiana Creole-related repositories.

Leah Chase Scholarship

The Leah Chase Scholarship is for a student pursuing the culinary arts concentration in NSULA’s Hospitality, Management, and Tourism program. The student must excel in culinary arts studies after a minimum of nine credits of culinary content and display leadership and teamwork in and out of the classroom.

Leah Chase (1923 – 2019), the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” was a long-recognized advocate for African American art and Creole cooking. Her restaurant in New Orleans, Dooky Chase, was known as a gathering place during the 1960s among many who participated in the Civil Rights Movement and continues under the leadership of the Chase family. Chase was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America in 2010 and earned the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.  She was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Southern Foodways Alliance in 2000, received honorary degrees from numerous institutions, and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans named a permanent gallery in her honor in 2009.

Dr. Susan Dollar Endowed Scholarship and Dr. Susan Dollar Program Enhancement Fund

The Dr. Susan Dollar Endowed Scholarship is for a sophomore, junior or senior student majoring at NSU in history, anthropology, or sociology, preferably to provide support for an internship in those fields. The Dr. Susan Dollar Program Enhancement Fund is for the enhancement of the Cammie G. Henry Research Center and will be administered by the head librarian/archivist for the preservation of documents and organization of archival materials related to historic preservation within the Cane River National Heritage Area.

Dr. Susan Dollar (1959 – 2021) was a professor of history at NSU. Throughout her life she was heavily involved in preserving and telling the heritage of Natchitoches Parish, working with the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, the National Park Service, the Creole Heritage Center, the Cane River National Heritage Area, and the Natchitoches Genealogy Association. In 1998 she published the book The Freedman’s Bureau Schools of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, 1865-1868 with NSU Press and her 2004 dissertation focused on the Creole community of Isle Brevelle, Louisiana. After earning her bachelor’s degree from NSU she taught French and English at Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport and then earned a MA in cultural resource management and history from NSU, a second MA in history from Texas A&M, and a PhD in history from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. To her and everyone’s pleasure, an unsurprising return to NSU’s history department followed where she taught for the remainder of her career.

Terrel A. Delphin, Jr. Scholarship

The Terrel A. Delphin, Jr. Scholarship is for a student classified as a sophomore or above with a 2.5 grade point average. Preference will be given to a student with a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

Terrel A. Delphin, Jr. (1938 – 2012) was the “Father of the Creole Renaissance-Resurrection” and his advocacy led to the establishment of the Creole Heritage Center at Northwestern State University. He served as Chairman of the Center’s Advisory Council for many years as well as president of the St. Augustine Historical Society, co-chair of the Cane River National Heritage Area Commission, and a board member of the Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission. He received an honorary doctorate from Northwestern State University in 2011, the Natchitoches Policy Jury presented him with the People’s Involvement Award for his work in Creole heritage preservation in 2006, was named a Natchitoches Treasure in 2007 and in 2011, and the City of Natchitoches declared March 29, 1997 as Terrel Delphin Day. Delphin grew up on Cane River, served as one of the first non-white police officers in Natchitoches Parish and went on to a 25-year career with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and then became assistant director of the Natchitoches Parish Office of Emergency Planning and Homeland Security.

Mary Gunn Johnston Magnolia Scholarship

The Mary Gunn Johnston Magnolia Scholarship is a four-year scholarship to be awarded to a Black undergraduate student who maintains a 2.5 grade point average or higher. Preference will be given to students from Natchitoches Parish or descendants of Natchitoches Parish residents, and to those who have participated in community service.

Mary Gunn Johnston grew up in the Natchitoches area and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School. She began her college education at NSU where she studied Dietetics and was involved in numerous activities, including student government. Her first post-college job was working at NSU as a school dietician prior to marrying her husband, former U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston.  She has always credited Northwestern State University with providing her the educational foundation and life lessons to be successful. Johnston is a member of NSU’s Long Purple Line, the University’s alumni hall of distinction. Throughout her life she has been active in a variety of civic and humanitarian efforts in Louisiana and Washington, DC and projects to preserve Louisiana’s culture and heritage.

Mary Ann Lyles Memorial Scholarship

The Mary Ann Lyles Memorial Scholarship is for a student pursuing a career in business administration or nursing at NSU or Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) – Natchitoches campus.

Mary Ann Lyles (1946 – 2016) was a Natchitoches native and graduate of the Natchitoches Area Vocational-Technical College. Her years of service working for programs designed to improve life quality in the community spanned nearly five decades and included employment with the U.S. Social Security Administration, Natchitoches Area Action Association, Inc., Louisiana Association for Community Action Programs, Northwestern State University, and the Natchitoches Parish Council on Aging. She was well-known in her community and, not having children of her own, treated other children like they were her own.

Felix “T-fra” Monette, Jr. Scholarship

The Felix “T-fra” Monette, Jr. Scholarship is for a sophomore or junior pursuing a degree in history with a concentration in folklife. Preference will be given to a Louisiana native and the recipient must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or better.

Felix “T-fra” Monette Jr. (1930-2013) grew up near Cloutierville, LA in a time when his friends and family commonly spoke a broken dialect of French.  A born storyteller, he loved meeting people and telling jokes. Always with the well-being of his community in mind, he set aside portions of his catches and harvest to give to friends, family and neighbors. In 1971, he joined Northwestern State University as a plumber and soon became involved in University-supported efforts to preserve Louisiana Creole culture. He became a resident historian for the Cane River area, participating in many panel discussions organized by the Creole Heritage Center, interviews for many documentaries, articles, and Louisiana cultural studies projects; Le Tableau Francais aux Natchitoches, a local French language preservation group; and, as one of the last fluent Louisiana Creole French speakers in the area, multiple interviews by Dr. Thomas Klingler, Director of Linguistics at Tulane University. In October of 2013, he was awarded the Creole Heritage People’s Choice Award from the Creole Heritage Center.

Robert W. Neuman Scholarship

The Robert W. Neuman Scholarship is for a student majoring in anthropology, sociology, or history. The student must be at the sophomore, junior, or senior level. Sophomores must maintain a 2.5 or better grade point average. Juniors and seniors must maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average. Preference will be given to students engaged in an internship related to anthropology, sociology or history.

Robert W. Neuman (1930 – 2019) graduated from Tulane University and Louisiana State University with degrees in anthropology. His career as an archaeologist included 11 years for the Smithsonian Institution followed by 27 years at Louisiana State University. Neuman published widely while with the Smithsonian on many topics. Although he worked at all types of prehistoric sites, his primary research interest was the Woodland manifestations on the Great Plains, particularly burial mounds and campsites in Nebraska and the Dakotas. In 1984, he published An Introduction to Louisiana Archaeology, a compilation of his research and those of others into the state’s prehistoric human past, and the first full-length book devoted to Louisiana archaeology. He was also an early member of the Louisiana Archaeological Society, was editor of Louisiana Archaeology, the bulletin of the society, and in 2003 he received the James A. Ford Award, the highest honor that the Louisiana Archaeological Society can bestow on one of its members. He retired and moved with his wife, Dr. Kathleen Byrd, to Natchitoches in 1995.

Past Events

Since opening its doors in 1998, the Center has produced a variety of educational and celebratory events that brought Creoles together, gave them opportunities to share their voice, and taught all about their heritage and resilience. Pictures and information on just some of the Center’s past events are highlighted here.

Visit the Creole Heritage Center at Northwestern State University Store!

10% of your purchase price of each item will go back to the Center so it can continue its mission of preserving, educating, and advocating the value and significance of the vibrant Louisiana Creole people and their culture!