Uncomfortable Entries: Documenting Enslaved and Free Persons of Color in Catholic Church Records
Sacramental records are among the most important resources available to
scholars researching the lives of enslaved and free persons of color. In order to
truly appreciate what is in the records, one must be familiar with the laws,
traditions and practices used in the registers prior to 1865. This presentation will
highlight these sacramental entries, what laws effect the records in Louisiana and
how access to these records benefits research.