MS.00096 1 ST. JOHN S EPISCOPAL CHURCH COLLECTION (1842-2011) MS.00096 Revised September 2011 Bio/History Built between 1843 and 1844, St. John s Episcopal Church is one of the oldest Episcopal churches west of the Mississippi. Located on the corner of Jackson and West Seventh Streets in Thibodaux, La., St. John s was constructed on land donated by George Seth Guion. The church was consecrated 16 March 1845 by the Right Reverend Leonidas Polk, who was instrumental in its construction. Polk was the bishop of the Diocese and the missionary bishop to the southwestern United States. David Kerr became the church s first rector and presided over a congregation of almost thirty people that consisted of the local white residents and their slaves. In 1856, parishioners performed various upgrades to St. John s by constructing a new front, vestibule, and choir gallery. They also created a rectory out of a two-room house that they moved onto the church property. In order to ensure the preservation of St. John s historical significance to Lafourche Parish, its members have undertaken several major renovations during the 20 th century, the latest occurring in 2001. Since its inception in 1843, St. John s congregation has grown to approximately 200 members. Located behind the church, St. John s cemetery is the resting place for many prominent Louisiana families including Gov. Francis T. Nicholls and the Guion family. Both the church and its cemetery are on the National Register of Historic Places. St. John s Georgian style architecture is one of the few remaining in the U.S. Scope and Content This collection covers 1.5 linear feet and spans 1842-1990 with the bulk of material dating 1911-1990. It includes documentation on church history and the National Register of Historic Places. It also contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Church history contains legal documents involving the church s construction, programs, research information on St. John s history, articles about the church, and a list of rectors, wardens, and officers from 1845 to 1967. The National Register of Historic Places contains nomination forms, correspondence relating to the nomination of St. John s, and a list of historic sites throughout Louisiana. The general correspondence in this collection contains letters between various people pertaining to personal matters and church history. Correspondence also includes letters between Rev. Thomas R.B. Trader and his brother concerning family, financial, and church matters from 1853 to 1859. The original newspaper clippings are housed separately from their photocopies. Correspondence between Rev. Trader and his brother include originals and transcriptions. The collection is arranged chronologically.
MS.00096 2 Series List Page Church History 3 Programs 3 Legal Documents 3 Research Information 3-4 Articles 4 Rectors, Wardens, Officers 4 National Register of Historic Places 5 Nominations 5 Correspondence 5 Historic Sites 5 Correspondence 5-6 Newspaper Clippings 6 Photographs 7-8
MS.00096 Inventory Series 1: Church History (1842-1983, n.d.) 3 Box 1 FF 1 Programs (1944-1954) 1 1944 Dedication of a Monument erected to the memory of the Right Rev. Leonidas Polk at St. John's Episcopal Church, on 15 October, 1944. 2 1954 The Order of Service for the making Deacon of George Franklin Wharton, III in St. John's Episcopal Church on 2 July, 1954. FF 2 Legal Documents (1842-1871) 1 1842 Bishop Polk's purchase of Leighton 2 1842-1854 George S. Guion's Act of Donation (photocopies of original amended version) 3 1843 Contract for the Construction of St. John's Church. 4 1843 An Act of the Legislature (photocopy in English and French) 5 1871 Excerpt of meeting minutes of Episcopal Church s special meeting concerning a lot on Jackson St. FF 3 Research Information (1976, n.d.) 1 1976 Response from National Archives and Records Service for census request on C.F. Hawley 2 n.d. Quotes from an Economic Survey of Lafourche Parish. 3 n.d. Handwritten brief history of St. John's Episcopal Church. 4 n.d. Handwritten notes used to write the brief history of St. John's Episcopal Church. 5 n.d. Photocopied pages from the Leonidas Polk Papers used in writing the brief history of St. John's Episcopal Church.
4 Box 1 FF 3 Research Information (1976, n.d.) continued 6 n.d. Photocopied typed version of the description of the structure of St. John's Episcopal Church with three note cards attached. 7 n.d. A photocopied research paper describing the Architectural Features of the original materials used to build the St. John's Episcopal Church. (includes Architectural Inventory Worksheet). 8 n.d. Provenance of St. John s Communion Service (includes excerpts from 1881 correspondence) FF 4 Articles and Brochures (1888-1983, n.d.) 1 1888 "The Diocese of Louisiana: Some of its History, 1838-1888. 2 1926 "Archibald Alison Mackenzie, Priest and Doctor," The Diocese of Louisiana. 3 1956 "The Beloved Cadet," FORTH 4 1967 "History of St. John's Episcopal Church," Town and Country Weekly 5 1976 "Thibodaux, Louisiana." 6 1983 "Church of the Fighting Bishop." St. John Episcopal Church. 7 n.d. Interesting Facts. St. John s 8 n.d. "St. John's Episcopal Church." 9 n.d. St. John s Episcopal Church brochure FF 5 Rectors, Wardens, Officers (1962, n.d.) 1 n.d. A handwritten list with dates of the Rectors of St. John Episcopal Church. 2 n.d. A typewritten list with some handwriting added to it concerning the Rectors of St. John's Episcopal Church, Thibodaux, LA. 3 n.d. A typewritten list of the Wardens and Officers of St. John's Episcopal Church, Thibodaux, LA. (from 1843 to 1962)
Series 2: National Register of Historic Places (1972-1983, n.d.) 5 Box 1 FF 6 Nominations (1972-1976) 1 1976 Nomination Forms (2 copies) FF 7 Correspondence (1972-1983) 1 1972-1977 Letter from National Park Service concerning standards for nomination and tax benefits (includes booklet) 2 1983 Letter from La. Office of Program Development to Mrs. John Pugh (2 copies) FF 8 Historic Sites (1973, n.d.) 1 1973 List of historic sites in La. 2 n.d. Landmark Map (Houma to Donaldsonville) Series 3: Correspondence (1853-1990) Box 1 FF 9 Correspondence Trader Family (1853-1859) 1-8 1853-1859 Letters between Rev. Thomas Richard Bayly Trader and his brother, Joshua H. Trader concerning family, financial, and church matters. FF 10 Correspondence (1956-1990) 1 1956 Correspondence between Mrs. H.B. Crea and Roland B. Howell. The envelope contains some information on St. John's Episcopal Church. 2-12 1980-1990 Correspondence between Maurice R. Mackenzie and Mrs. Dorothy Pugh concerning history of St. John s church and personal matters. 13 1983 Note from Grace Charbonnet to Charles.
6 Box 1 FF 10 Correspondence (1956-1990) continued 14-17 1984 Letters between Mrs. Ralph Kalish and Mrs. Pugh concerning the donation of correspondence from the early church years between Rev. Thomas Richard Bayly Trader & his brother, Joshua H. Trader. (See FF 9) Series 4: Newspaper Clippings (1964-1988, n.d.) Box 1 FF11 Newspaper Clippings photocopies (1964-1988, n.d.) (See FF 12 for originals) 1 1964 Sunday Advocate Gov. Nicholls: Soldier, Governor, Hero 2 1971 The Delta Gazette Ante-Bellum Homes, Episcopal Church Are Open On 1971 Tour and St. John s Episcopal Church Built by Fighting Bishop 3 1971 The Daily Comet Historic St. John s Preserved (2 copies) 4 1975 The Times-Picayune St. John s Architecture Rare 5 1984 The Daily Comet Church part of city s history 6 1988 The Bayou Catholic Thibodaux Episcopal Church building dates to year 1843 7 1988 The Daily Comet 5 Churches founded in 1800s and Polk began early parishes (See Box 2 for original) 8 n.d. View of St. John s interior in 1894 with caption 9 n.d. Advocate, Baton Rouge Fund to protect St. John s 10 n.d. The Valiant Dr. Leacock FF 12 Newspaper Clippings originals (1964-1988, n.d.)
7 Series 5: Photographs (1911-1923, n.d.) Box 1 FF 13 Photographs (1911-1912) 1 ca. 1911-1912 Two mounted photographs with negatives of St. John's Episcopal Church. (Taken after Easter services) Left to right: W. E. Howell, John J. Shaffer, A. A. Mackenzie (Rector), Morgan Williams, Whitmel P. Martin, and William Jeffnes. FF 14 Photographs (1923, n.d.) 1 1923 A. A. Mackenzie, Hannah Mackenzie and Eleanor English (Stimson), their granddaughter. 2 n.d. 3X4 postcard of St. John Episcopal Church. 3 n.d. Alice Malhiot Billiu: organist at St. John's Episcopal Church. 4 n.d. Photocopy of Jackson Avenue in Thibodaux La. (On the right side of the photograph is the Schneider's Lunch House) 5 n.d. 8X10 photograph of the St. John's Episcopal Church cornerstone. 6 n.d. Three 8X10 photographs of St. John's Episcopal Church exterior. 7 n.d. 8X10 photograph of interior of St. John's Episcopal Church. The photograph was taken from the upstairs looking down on the altar of the church. 8 n.d. Three 8X10 photographs of St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery. 9 n.d. Leighton Plantation (home of Leonidas Polk). FF 15 Photographs (n.d.) 1-12 n.d. Twelve 5X7 photographs of interior/exterior of the church with description of stained glass window over altar.
8 Box 1 FF 16 Photographs (n.d.) 1 n.d. Rectory of St. John's Episcopal Church with negative. 2 n.d. Mounted photograph and negative of Rectory. Maurice and Helen Mackenzie are standing on the porch. FF 17 Photographs (n.d.) 1 n.d. Mounted photograph of St. John's Episcopal Church with negative and description. Box 2 1 1988 Special Sesquicentennial Edition of The Daily Comet (10 March 1988) 2 1991 Topographic survey of St. John s Episcopal Church 3 2011 Topographic survey of St. John s Episcopal Church
Index Terms Guion, George Seth (1806-1861) Leighton Plantation (Thibodaux, La.) Polk, Leonidas, (1806-1864) St. John s Episcopal Church (Thibodaux, La.) History 19 th century St. John s Episcopal Church (Thibodaux, La.) History 20 th century Thibodaux (La.) History 19 th century Thibodaux (La.) History 20 th century Thibodaux (La.) History Religious aspects Episcopal Church Trader, Thomas R.B. Cemeteries Louisiana Thibodaux Photographs Church buildings Louisiana Thibodaux Photographs Church dedication Louisiana Thibodaux Church facilities Louisiana Thibodaux Photographs Dioceses Louisiana Thibodaux Episcopal Church Louisiana Thibodaux History 19 th century Episcopal Church Louisiana Thibodaux History 20 th century Historic buildings Conservation and restoration Louisiana Thibodaux Historic sites Conservation and restoration Louisiana Thibodaux 9 Genre Application forms Articles Black-and-white photographs Brochures Church bulletins Clippings Dedications (ceremonies) Legal documents Notes Personal correspondence Photocopies Programs Topographic surveys Tourist maps