This is the 6th installment in our Faces From the Album series. In this installment, we profile 7 New Orleans female social organizations from the 1940s. These groups were randomly selected. The photos are far from perfect, but they were all taken from reels of old newspaper clippings from The Louisiana Weekly, the only local paper that featured people of color in a positive light in the Jim Crow Era. Hopefully, you may find a relative or family friend below.
Leland College Homecoming
The charming ladies shown above constitute the royal court on Homecoming Day, November 1941at Leland College. They are:
Standing, left to right: Katherine Wilridge, Jesssie M. Richards, Mattie Marshall, Bernice Booker, Ceola Billoups and Maude Weeks.
Seated from left to right: Josephine Laws, Audrey Bivens, Genevieve White, the queen, and Mary E. Dennis.
Luncheon at Hayes Chicken Shack
Pictured above are the several lovely ladies who attended a luncheon given by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hayes, proprietors of Hayes Chicken on Monday afternoon, August 19, 1940. The table held a center-piece of daisies, and Mrs. Hayes served a special menu. The lovely affair was given for Misses Cecelia and Elaine Brazier, daughters of Dr. Joseph Brazier, nieces of Mr. Hayes, whose sister was the late Mrs. Brazier.
Seated from left to right are: Rhoda Smith, Cecilia and Elaine Brazier (honorees), and Dee Ione Bowers.
Standing left to right: Helen Gabriel, Margaret Bart, Julia Cross, , Shirley Randolph, Maxine Holtry, Yvonne Mason, and Lavida Hardin.
Belle Alcelon Thanksgiving Party
Many familiar faces were seen at the beautiful Nile Auditorium on Wednesday evening, November 24, 1948. Delicious sherbert punch was served and music was rendered by the Joe Phillips Orchestra. Each member proved herself a charming hostess to her invited guests. Meet the members as shown above:
Left to right: Marjorie H. Lewis, Iris G. Winslow, Vivian D. Roussell, Julia B. Dejoie, Geraldine G. Birchette, Onelia B. Jones, Isabell E. Carter, Thelma C. Boutte, and Carmen B. Gregoire.
Also, members not in the above picture are Lois L. Faustina and Mae G. Ives.
Altruistic Club’s Barn Dance
Above are members of the Altruistic Club who sponsored a barn dance at the Autocrat Club on May 14, 1949. In the above photo are:
Left to right: Naomi Borikins (treasurer), Marjorie DeCuir (president), Leonella Terrell (secretary), Alma Alexander, Emma Broussard, Alice Chevalier, Daisy Hatter and Hilda Rhodes.
Les Charmants Bridge Club Dance
Meet the charming hostesses of Les Charmants Bridge Club:
Seated, first row: Marguerite Fernandez and Doris F. Joseph.
Standing: Alberta Medley, Hilda Lucas, Mildred Hains, and Lucille D. Smith.
Not pictured but also members are: Maude Fournier, Rose Girard and Marion Jones. The event took place on May 28, 1949 at the Nile Auditorium.
AKA Sorority Reception at Dillard University
Beta Phi members pictured above are:
Seated: left to right : Sorors– Emma Davis, Annette Montegut, Maude E. Brown, Mae B. Rhodes, Neomi Lavizzo.
Standing: left to right: Noella Rogers, Lilly LaSalle, Noyemon Shaik, Helen Guenveur, Bernice Allain, Elaine Riveras, Katherine Martin, Ruth Bartholomew, Louise Guenveur, and Margaret Burt.
The Beta Phi Chapter of the AKA’s entertained with a breakfast in honor of Miss Maude E. Brown (center-seated) of Louisville, Kentucky who is Regional Director. The affair was followed by the local AKA’s at Peck’s Hall, Friday night, November 21, 1941.
Delta “Queen of Hearts” Contest
The annual “Queen of Hearts” contest of the Jabberwock sponsored by the local chapter of Delta Theta Sorority highlighted an evening of entertainment at Booker T. Washington Auditorium on Friday, April 30, 1943. The local beauties are:
Seated: left to right: Norma Fletcher, Blanche Daniels, Edith Pierce, Dorothy Lamb, Mary Williams.
Standing: left to right : Jacqueline Mathieu, Anne Harleaux, and Doris Humphrey.
The lovely ladies shown above represented the leading beauticians of the city in the contest for the coveted title of “Queen of Hearts.”
Sources: The Louisiana Weekly: 24 August 1940 p.3; 29 November 1941 p.4; 06 December 1941 p.4; 27 March 1943, p.1; 11 December 1948 p. 12; 28 May 1949 p.4; 11 June 1949 p.4
Lolita V. Cherrie
Another rich account of life and events and culture of African-American lifestyles in its various hues in cosmopolitan New Orleans.
Another great job Lolita Villavaso Cherrie!
I really enjoy the reporting of historical events involving African Americans in early Louisiana. In this issue, I was interested in the article involving New Orleans’ Charity Hospital My mother died in a charity hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1958 and I hadn’t realized this until approximately twenty years ago when I requested and received her death certificate! Thank you for the tremendous job that you do!
Beta Phi member, Helen Guenveur, was a dentist, and had her office in Berkeley, Ca. in the 1950’s. She was the very first dentist I ever went to when I was a young child. I am now 74 years old, and was born in Oakland, Ca., but both of my parents knew her from New Orleans, and she was their dentist too.
I am just amazed by this! I was not aware anything like this existed. Brings back so many memories. Louisiana has such a rich and unique culture. It truly is like no other. This was sent to me by a friend, as it features my Mother, Aunt and several of their friends.
Very good 👍 thank you for your email and thank you for sending me this email 📧