Sign-up now for our next R & R with History!

This "Read and React with History" 5-week series will examine the total war for human rights that Americans waged in WWII. Through both American perspectives and those of its principle Opponents, readers will examine the nature of the Second World War. Discussions will be led by Louisiana Tech University Professor Emeritus of History, Dr. Stephen Webre.

Pages Past: An American History Book Club

Join Pages Past, an American History book club! If you enjoy learning about the people and events that shaped our nation, this is the book club for you. No need to be an expert historian - we are an informal & entertaining group. Refreshments provided.

Copies of the monthly book selection are available for check-out at the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center.

We meet on the first Thursday of every month from 6-7 PM at the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, 2206 Beckett St., Bossier City.

For February, we are reading Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. Pick up a copy today!

R & R with History: "The Great Influenza"

A discussion series on the book, "The Great Influenza" by John M. Barry that connects public health, disease, politics and history during the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. This unprecedented crisis, a.k.a. “the Spanish Flu,” infected an estimated one-third of the world’s population and caused 50 million deaths, about 675,000 in the U.S.

Tuesday evenings

September 4, 11, 18, 25, 2018

6:00-7:30 pm

FREE

Limited books and space, to register call

(318) 746-7717

The discussions will be led by historian and Benton (La.) High School history teacher, Rusty Beckham. Mr. Beckham has an M.A. in History from Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

Documentary Film Series: "Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Movement"

(Rescheduled) The Bossier Parish Library Historical Center presents a talk: “Andre Cailloux—Free Person of Color, Civil War Captain”

In honor of Black History Month and its 2018 theme, “African Americans in Times of War,” the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center presents a talk:  “Andre Cailloux—Free Person of Color, Civil War Captain” by Ann Middleton, Historical Center Director. Ms. Middleton’s talk on Andre Cailloux will be presented as a case study of a long-term genealogy project she began while a genealogy and special collections librarian at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Andre Cailloux, the first black military hero of the Civil War was a French Creole free person of color in New Orleans and an officer in the first black regiment officially mustered into the US Army as well as the first black regiment involved in a significant battle. Cailloux’ brave death in this battle, the Battle of Port Hudson, inspired not only people of African descent in New Orleans where he received an unprecedented military funeral procession on July 29, 1863 (pictured in this woodcut that was published in Harper’s Bazaar) but among African Americans and their white radical allies nationally. As a “culture hero’, according to historian and author Stephen Ochs, Andre Cailloux’ story became elevated “to a near-mythic status.”  Ann Middleton will illustrate for patrons the genealogical research process that can bring his story back to the realm of an authentic human life.

Illustration: Funeral of the Late Captain Cailloux, First Louisiana Volunteers (Colored) from the August 29, 1863 edition of Harpers Weekly.

MARCH SECOND SUNDAY SCREENING

February Second Sunday Screening

Read & React: 1 Book, 4 Evenings

VOA Toiletries Drive for Local Veterans

We are running a VOA toiletries drive for veterans served through the Veterans Program at Volunteers of America, North Louisiana. Please drop off your donations here at the History Center or at the Main Branch of the Bossier Parish Library. The donation boxes will be out all this week (Nov. 11-18).

Veterans and Homelessness - Then and Now

"Generations of Struggle"

Join us for a reading and discussion series, “Generations of Struggle.” Where we will present three critically acclaimed works, one film and two books, that provide a continuum from the aftermath of slavery to contemporary society, posing questions about our institutions, the changes in race relations, and the enduring challenges to equality for all citizens. The series will be facilitated by V. Elaine Thompson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History at Louisiana Tech University. Appropriate for high-schoolers and adults.

Works discussed:
Slavery by Another Name, film
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Every Thursday Starting Sept 7th through Sept 28th, from 6:30 P.M. until 7:30 P.M.

To register call the Historical Center at 318-746-7717 

Free Admission -- you must register to save a seat!

"Generations of Struggle" is presented by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities

Here's What We're Doing At the Spring Festival Tomorrow...

Also, try cleaning seed cotton - by hand! It's easier said than done.

Here's a REAL bale of cotton, at Frogmore Cotton Plantation & Gins near Ferriday, LA in Concordia Parish.