About the Exhibit

Compliments of B. F. Phillips.
Postcard
Lemannville Collection
Accession Number 2014.033.001

All paths to discovery of life in the past are a journey. The collection of artifacts, papers and photographs make this history come alive. A speck of dust turned into a pile of dirt protected this collection. It is amazing that the Lemannville School Collection has survived over 60 years in an old shed. Yet, it was turned over to the River Road African American Museum by Willie and Darlene Lamendola in the summer of 2013. Life at the Lemannville School is being resurrected with the exhibition of each item featured in this exhibit. 

There is something magical about these photographs and artifacts when they are seen for the first time. The reality about the daily life for the children, parents and teachers of the rural community is evident in each image. Photographs of children attending rural schools along the Mississippi River are very rare. Rural life in south Louisiana has been documented by photographers for decades, but this collection is distinctive because an African American teacher and photographer recognized the importance of her work and documented it for future generations. The discovery of this early 20th century collection, unveiled the insurmountable talents, gifts and skills of a small rural community and how one woman provided a school for dozens of Lemannville children to get an education.

Please send an email to kathe@aamuseum.org, if you can identify anyone in the pictures featured in this exhibit or if you would like to be interviewed about early life in Lemannville, Louisiana.

→ Next Gallery History of Lemannville

History of Lemannville

Mississippi River Sheet, #26, map 

1896 

Louisiana State Museum Map Collection

Lemannville, Louisiana sits on the boundary of St. James and Ascension parishes.  The community of Lemannville was founded on the site of the Pedescleaux Plantation.  Jacob Lemann purchased the land in 1871 and the community of Lemannville was named for him.

Charles Pedescleaux, featured in the video above, talked about his life in Lemannville, Louisiana. 

→About the exhibit                                 →Next Gallery Education in Lemannville, Louisiana

Education in Lemannville, Louisiana

“I knew that, in a large degree, we were trying an experiment—that of testing whether or not it was possible for Negroes to build up and control the affairs of a large education institution. I knew that if we failed it would injure the whole race.”

--Booker T. Washington,

Up From Slavery

In 1889, twelve public schools were opened in Ascension Parish for African Americans.  These public schools provided a grammar and middle school education. 

Source:  Marchand, Sidney A. 1931. The story of Ascension Parish, Louisiana by Sidney A. Marchand. Donaldsonville, LA: S.A. Marchand.

Unknown group
2014.019.001

→History of Lemannville                             →Next Gallery Education in Lemannville, Louisiana

Birdie Robinson Brittain

Birdie Robinson Brittain
Photograph
2014.113.001

Birdie V. Robinson was born on March 10, 1895.  She was the daughter of Emanuel M. and Augustine Robinson.  Birdie had three siblings Girdie, Henry, and Willie Robinson.  

Education at Leland University

Birdie left her family in Ascension to attend school in New Orleans, Louisiana.  She used postcards to communicate with her family in Lauderdale, Louisiana.

Leland University New Orleans
Postcard from Birdie to her brother Henry C. Robinson, front
2014.016.001

Leland University New Orleans
Postcard from Birdie to her brother Henry C. Robinson back
2014.016.001

Birdie attended Leland University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She graduated in 1913.

Leland University
Graduation Invitation
1913
2014.017.001

Back to Lemannville

Between 1910-1930, Birdie married H. B. Brittain. H. B. Brittain died in St. James Parish in January 1932 at the age of 46 years old.

Lemannville School

In 1925, Birdie Robinson Brittain founded the Lemannville School according to her niece Henrietta Robinson Porter. The 1940 census listed Birdie as a teacher in Lemannville, Louisiana. Birdie's annual salary was reported as $564.

"United States Census, 1940," index and images

FamilySearch 

Birdee Brittain, Police Jury Ward 4, Ascension, Louisiana, United States

Citing enumeration district (ED) 3-6, sheet 12B, family 238, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 1380.

To view a larger version of Birdie Robinson Brittain Census information, click here

→Education in Lemannville, Louisiana             →Next Gallery The Lemannville School

The Lemannville School

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome."-Booker T. Washington 

The Supervisory Program Colored Schools of Ascension Parish Session 1943-1944 titled, "Improved Negro Family Living Among Negroes in Ascension Parish" was developed from a five week conference which focused on five problems in the African American community:

I.    Food Production

II.   Food Conservation, Preparation and Serving Proper Meals

III. School and Community Health

IV. Making, Securing and Using Realistic Teaching Material in Modern Rural Schools

V.  Community Recreation

Ascension Parish Program Procedures
Improvement of Community Living through Education Activities
2014.137.001

Timely Tips on Wartime Care and
Maintenance.  Electric Pump
and Water Systems
1943
2014.053.001

Birdie Robinson was heavily influenced by the teachings of  Booker T. Washington's Tuskegee Movable School of Agriculture.  He was one of the leading educators of the 20th century and founder of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Washington visited Louisiana in April 1915.

The objective of Tuskegee's Movable School was to improve healthcare, teach hygiene and the latest techniques in farm production. Similar to the Tuskegee Movable School, lessons at the Lemannville School were designed to be practical and useful for the rural community.  Students learned carpentry, good hygiene, sewing and domestic services, in addition to, geography, religion, language arts and arithmetic. 

Hand washing lesson
2014.090.001

Franklinville Glee Club 
Unknown members
1915
2014.091.001

School Books

The books below may were used to teach various lessons at the Lemannville School.

The Grade Teacher
March 1951, F Whitaker, The Mill Pond
The Professional magazine for classroom teachers of all grades
2014.005.001

Hayes New Geography of Europe with Outline Maps, Tests, & Drills.
Elevelyn and Orville Rudolph
Published by Hayes School Publishing Co., Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
ca. 1948
2014.006.001

Framing the Declaration of Independence
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company of Boston, MA
Copyright, 1926
Published by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company
2014.007.001

Health & Happiness Mother Goose Rhymes

R. W. Hamilton

University of Kentucky

Published by Bureau of School Service, University of Kentucky as a part of an experiment in applied economics

2014.008.001

Bible Thoughts with Questions and Answers
By William Hick, B. A., B.D.
Shreveport, LA.
Nashville, Tenn:National Baptist Publishing Board
2014.009.001

George Washington: First President of the United States
1933
John Hancock Life Insurance Company
2014.010.001

How
Nannie H. Burroughs
Lincoln Heights,Washington
2014.059.001

Nannie H. Burroughs (1883-1961) was an educator and civil rights activist. Burroughs gained national recognition for her 1900 speech "How the Sisters Are Hindered from Helping," at the National Baptist Convention. Burroughs was also one of the founders of the National Association of Colored Women.

Witnessing for Christ
Ethel Hudson Williams
Nashville, TN
Southern Baptist Convention
1936
2014.061.001

Music Notation and Terminology
Karl W. Gehrkens
Revised Laidlaw Brothers
1930
2014.064.001

Introduction to Musical Knowledge

Archie N. Jones & Floyd P. Barnard

Schmitt Music Company, Minneapolis

1935

2014.064.001

Bible
2014.058.001

→ Birdie Robinson Brittain Gallery               →Next Gallery Lemannville School: Activity Book

Lemannville School: Activity Book

Lemannville Activity Book

Photograph album of  Lemannville School classroom activities.

Wood

2014.001.001

Poultry Lesson
Photograph
2014.001.002

Lemannville School Front View
Photograph
2014.001.003

Exercise for Health
1949
Photograph
2014.001.005

Workshop
Young men attending a carpentry workshop class.
Photograph
2014.001.006

Lemannville School Class Photograph
Lower grades
1949
Photograph
2014.001.007

Lemannville Class Photograph
Middle grades
Photograph
2014.001.008

Clean Shoes
Shoe cleaning lesson.
Photograph
2014.001.009

Clean Teeth
Photograph
2014.001.010

Lemannville 4-H Club
Photograph
2014.001.011

Poultry Lesson with Students
Photograph
2014.001.012

Benefit Supper
Photograph
2014.001.013

Benefit Supper
Photograph
2014.001.014

Ex Students of Lemannville Return to Paint
Photograph
2014.001.015

Joe Robinson Busline Donaldsonville
Photograph
2014.001.016

A Living Valentine
Photograph
2014.001.017

Lemannville 4-H Club
Lemanville 4-H club along the river road.
Photograph
2014.001.018

Clean Hands Inspections
Photograph
2014.001.019

Lemannville School Class Photograph
Upper Grades
Photograph
2014.001.020

In the Classroom
Lemannville School
Photograph
2014.001.021

Botany Lesson
Photograph
2014.001.022

→ The Lemannville School                 →Next Gallery Sewing Lessons & State Fair Competitions

The Lemannville School: Sewing Lessons & State Fair Competitions

Students attending the Lemannville School learned home economics and industrial art skills such as sewing, crocheting, wood-working and cooking.

Crochet Teachers Manual
2014.022.001

E. I. Scallopers Rulers
10 cents
Patent No. 2250718
Used to make scallops in dress hems and spaces for buttons

Butterick Sewing Pattern Transfer Sheet 3

2014.011.001

Wood-working Pattern 

2014.123.001

The Fleisher Years: Every Color in the Rainbow.
Knitting Pattern Cover. The Dedham Sweater
2014.085.001

Crochet Circle
Multi color
2014.037.001

Red Crochet Hat
2014.038.001

Crochet Potholder

This crochete potholder was entered in the Ascension Parish Negro Fair

2014.039.001

Green & White Crochet Potholder

This crochet potholder was entered in the Ascension Parish Negro Fair

2014.039.001

White Crochet Hat
2014.041.001

Small Multi Color Crochet Hat
2014.042.001

Brown Crochet Hat

2014.043.001

Yellow Crochet Hat
2014.044.001

Pink Crochet Hat
2014.045.001

Gold Crochet Hat
2014.046.001

Orange Crochet Bootie
2014.047.001

Mutli Color Crochet Hat
2014.048.001

Pink & Yellow Crochet Hat
2014.049.001

Green Crochet Hat
2014.050.001

Heart Pillow
2014.056.001

White Hat
2014.071.001

Gray Crochet Hat

2014.072.001

State Fair Competitions

Lemannville students entered their crafts into several state fair competitions including the South Louisiana State Fair held in Donaldsonville, Louisiana State Negro Fair, and the Ascension Fair Association.

Second Premium
South Louisiana State Fair
Donaldsonville Louisiana 1954
2014.069.001

1st Prize Louisiana State Negro Fair
New Orleans, May 26th and May 27th
1951-1952
2014.070.001

Worthy
Ascension fair Association
2014.073.001

→ Lemannville School: Activity Book                                →Next Gallery Student Assignments