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Title: The
Notarial Acts of Louis André Martinet
Creator: Louis
André Martinet (1849-1917)
Dates:
1888-1917
Size: 2.7
Linear feet
Access:
Access to originals is restricted for preservation purposes.
Microfilm copy is available to registered researchers during research center’s
regular hours.
Biographical Sketch:
A politician, lawyer, educator, activist,
journalist, medical doctor, and notary, Louis André Martinet played a role in
some of the seminal events of the Reconstruction Era, both in New Orleans, and
nationally.
Louis André Martinet was born on December 28, 1849
in St. Martinville, Louisiana, one of eight children of Hipolite Martinet, a
Belgian carpenter, and Marie Louise Benoit, a native of Louisiana and a free
woman of color. In 1882 Louis Martinet married Leona Miller, a native of New
Orleans and a teacher at Southern University with whom he had two children,
Marie Divonne, who died as an infant, and Leslie Louise.
Martinet and Miller divorced sometime around 1900.
While in his early twenties, from 1872 to 1875,
Martinet served as a State Representative from St. Martin Parish. In 1876
Martinet graduated as part of the first class from Straight University Law
School, having already passed the Louisiana Bar in 1875. His achievements in the
field of law were recognized in 1957 when the Greater New Orleans Louis A.
Martinet Legal Society, an organization of African-American legal professionals,
was founded and named for him.
Martinet served on the Orleans Parish School Board
in 1877 and was appointed by Gov. Samuel Douglas McEnery to the Board of
Trustees at Southern University, which he served on from 1889 to 1897.
Martinet’s political connections garnered him various political patronage jobs
which he held throughout the 1880s, including Clerk in Collector of Customs
Office (1882), Deputy Surveyor for Port of New Orleans (1883), and Carrier in
U.S. Post Office (1885). Martinet’s varied talents also extended into medicine,
and he received a medical degree from Flint Medical College in New Orleans in
the 1890s, although the exact date is uncertain
Martinet began his notarial practice in 1888 and
operated it until his death in 1917. Throughout the early years of his practice,
Martinet was also a key figure in the civil rights activities surrounding the
end of Reconstruction. In 1889 Martinet began publishing The Crusader, a first
weekly then daily paper chronicling the struggle for civil rights. In 1891
Martinet was a founding member of the Comité des Citoyens (Citizens’ Committee).
The Comité des Citoyens, comprised of prominent people of color in New Orleans,
sought to end the encroaching practice of racial segregation in the south by
challenging the practice in the courts. Martinet was a key figure in this
challenge, and played a large role in the orchestrated act of Homer Plessy’s
arrest for violating the Separate Car Act, an act that resulted in the landmark
Plessy vs. Ferguson case, the prolonged legal battle which ultimately led to the
1896 Supreme Court decision legalizing the separate but equal doctrine. For
several years Martinet’s political, journalistic, and notarial lives existed
side by side. Indeed, The Crusader was published out of Martinet’s notarial
office, and the Comité des Citoyens’ fight against the Separate Car Act received
donations from organizations that used Martinet’s notarial service.
Sources:
Bethea, Judy. “Louis André Martinet: A Creole Gadfly." Unpublished.
Desdunes, Rodolphe Lucien. Our People and Our
History: Fifty Creole Portraits. Translated and Edited by Sister Dorothea
McCants. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1973.
Nils R. Douglas Papers, Amistad Research Center at
Tulane University.
Medley, Keith Weldon. We as Freemen: Plessy vs.
Ferguson. Gretna, La.: Pelican Publishing, 2003.
Medley, Keith Weldon. “The Sad Story of How
‘Separate but Equal’ was Born.” Smithsonian, February 1994, 104.
A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Ten Year
Supplement 1988-1998. Edited by Carl A. Brasseaux and James D. Wilson. Jr.
Lafayette, La.: The Louisiana Historical Association, 1999.
Charles B. Rousseve Papers, Amistad Research Center
at Tulane University.
Scott, Rebecca. “Public Rights and Public Standing:
Louis Martinet, Plessy V. Ferguson and Access to Law,” Unpublished.
Vincent, Charles. Black Legislators in Louisiana
During Reconstruction. Baton Rouge, La: LSU Press, 1976.
Scope
and Contents:
The Notarial Acts of Louis A. Martinet are held in
8 volumes, dating from March 1888 to January 1917 and bound in volumes
chronologically. The majority of the acts are related to property, including
sale of property and mortgage acts. Approximately one quarter of the acts are
acts of incorporation for benevolent and mutual aid societies. Other acts
include family meetings, last will and testaments, inventory of succession and
power of attorney or procuration. Four of the acts are written in French.
Description:
I. VOL. 1 March 1888 – December
1892
II. VOL. 2 January 1893 – December
1895
III. VOL. 3 January 1896 – December
1900
IV. VOL. 4 January 1901 – November
1904
V. VOL. 5 February 1905 – December 1907
VI. VOL. 6 January 1908 – November
1911
VII. VOL. 7 January 1912 – December
1914
VIII. VOL. 8 January 1915 – January 1917
|
Acts of
Incorporation |
|
Organization |
Date of Act |
Volume |
Act # |
Year |
Variation |
|
Mutual Aid Society La Prevoyance (Société d'Assistance Mutuelle
La Prevoyance) |
11/18/1889 |
1 |
3 |
1889 |
|
|
Sir Knights of the Golden Rule Literary, Athletic and Gymnastic
Club |
8/7/1890 |
1 |
5 |
1890 |
|
|
"La Dignité" Société d' Assistance Mutuelle |
10/3/1890 |
1 |
6 |
1890 |
Act written in French |
|
Afro-American Real Estate Association |
11/24/1890 |
1 |
10 |
1890 |
|
|
Benjamin Harrison Literary and Social Club |
2/20/1891 |
1 |
1 |
1891 |
|
|
La Concorde Mutual Aid Association |
4/17/1891 |
1 |
7 |
1891 |
|
|
Young Female Benevolent Association of Louisiana Number One |
4/25/1891 |
1 |
8 |
1891 |
|
|
Undertakers Cooperative Copartnership |
5/14/1891 |
1 |
10 |
1891 |
Dissolution of Co-partnership |
|
Peoples Aid Association |
6/6/1891 |
1 |
12 |
1891 |
|
|
Mutual Cooperative and Investment Company Limited |
9/7/1891 |
1 |
16 |
1891 |
|
|
Golden Gate Athletic Club |
9/28/1891 |
1 |
19 |
1891 |
|
|
Determination Protective Association |
10/10/1891 |
1 |
20 |
1891 |
|
|
Sons of Orleans |
10/24/1891 |
1 |
23 |
1891 |
|
|
Progressive Mutual Aid and Endowment Association |
11/7/1891 |
1 |
24 |
1891 |
|
|
Servicemen Benevolent Association of Louisiana |
12/9/1891 |
1 |
27 |
1891 |
Amendments to Charter |
|
Assistance of Calvary Benevolent Association |
3/25/1892 |
1 |
2 |
1892 |
|
|
New South Relief Association |
5/6/1892 |
1 |
6 |
1892 |
|
|
Young Friends of Honor Benevolent Association |
9/5/1892 |
1 |
18 |
1892 |
|
|
United Working Brothers Club |
10/20/1892 |
1 |
22 |
1892 |
|
|
Crescent Mutual Benevolent Association |
10/21/1892 |
1 |
23 |
1892 |
|
|
Ladies Co-operative Mutual Aid Association |
1/24/1893 |
2 |
6 |
1893 |
|
|
Ladies St. Remy Benevolent Association |
3/14/1893 |
2 |
7 |
1893 |
|
|
Ladies' and Gentlemen's Perseverance Benevolent Association |
3/25/1893 |
2 |
8 |
1893 |
|
|
Louisiana Co-operative Association Limited |
9/19/1893 |
2 |
13 |
1893 |
|
|
Ladies Excelsior Mutual Aid Association |
9/26/1893 |
2 |
14 |
1893 |
|
|
Laboring Men Accidental Aid Association |
8/1/1890 |
1 |
4 |
1890 |
|
|
American Mercantile Company, Limited |
10/5/1893 |
2 |
15 |
1893 |
|
|
Louisiana Emigration, Land and Improvement Company, Limited |
11/8/1893 |
2 |
18 |
1893 |
|
|
Young Mens United Investment, Enterprising and Workers Club,
Company, Limited |
1/20/1894 |
2 |
1 |
1894 |
|
|
Les Amis de L'aveuir Société d'Assistance Mutuelle |
3/8/1894 |
2 |
9 |
1894 |
|
|
Ladies Laboring Benevolent Association Number One |
3/22/1894 |
2 |
10 |
1894 |
|
|
Young Friends of Charity Benevolent Association |
3/21/1894 |
2 |
15 |
1894 |
|
|
Old Folks African Methodist Episcopal Home Association |
5/7/1894 |
2 |
17 |
1894 |
|
|
Lilly of the Valley Council Number 3 |
7/24/1894 |
2 |
22 |
1894 |
|
|
Adequate Installment Benevolent Company |
7/ 31/1894 |
2 |
23 |
1894 |
|
|
Saint Matthew Methodist Episcopal Church |
8/ 10/1894 |
2 |
25 |
1894 |
|
|
Ladies of Good Shepherd Mutual Benevolent Association |
8/11/1894 |
2 |
26 |
1894 |
|
|
Screwmen's Benevolent Association of Louisiana |
8/20/1894 |
2 |
30 |
1894 |
Amendments to Act of Incorporation |
|
First Street Methodist Episcopal Church |
8/ 24/1894 |
2 |
31 |
1894 |
|
|
Central Congregational Church |
11/23/1894 |
2 |
38 |
1894 |
|
|
Winans Chapel Home Mission Benevolent Society |
12/4/1894 |
2 |
40 |
1894 |
|
|
Young Men's Mutual Protective Benevolent Association |
12/6/1894 |
2 |
41 |
1894 |
|
|
Lafon Old Folks Home of the Methodist Episcopal Church |
1/29/1895 |
2 |
3 |
1895 |
|
|
Cosmopolitan Mutual Aid Association New Orleans |
4/25/1895 |
2 |
7 |
1895 |
|
|
Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias of the State of Louisiana |
5/ 10/1895 |
2 |
8 |
1895 |
|
|
Ladies of Peace Relief Association |
6/4/1895 |
2 |
11 |
1895 |
|
|
First District Baptist Association of the State of Louisiana |
7/ 5/1895 |
2 |
15 |
1895 |
|
|
Baptist Ministers Aid Society of the State of Louisiana |
3/ 2/1896 |
3 |
6 |
1896 |
|
|
District Grand Lodge No. 21 of the Grand United Order of Odd
Fellows of the State of Louisiana |
3/21/1896 |
3 |
9 |
1896 |
|
|
Cotton Yard Mens' Business League Company, Limited |
5/26/1896 |
3 |
14 |
1896 |
|
|
Milneberg Benevolent Association |
7/21/1896 |
3 |
15 |
1896 |
|
|
People's Benevolent Society |
7/27/1896 |
3 |
16 |
1896 |
|
|
Prompt Secours Association d'Assistance Mutuelle |
5/13/1897 |
3 |
6 |
1897 |
|
|
Juvenile Co-operator's Fraternal's Benevolent Mutual Aid
Association |
10/1/1897 |
3 |
16 |
1897 |
|
|
Afro-American Mutual Aid Protective Association |
2/3/1898 |
3 |
1 |
1898 |
|
|
Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention |
2/ 7/1898 |
3 |
2 |
1898 |
|
|
Morris Brown Congregational Society |
7/1/1898 |
3 |
9 |
1898 |
|
|
International Commercial Association of Louisiana Limited |
11/14/1898 |
3 |
22 |
1898 |
|
|
Société Les Francs Coeurs |
12/15/1898 |
3 |
24 |
1898 |
|
|
Broadway Mission Baptist Church |
3/14/1899 |
3 |
7 |
1899 |
|
|
Ex-Slave Mutual Relief Bounty and Pension Association of
Louisiana |
6/22/1899 |
3 |
20 |
1899 |
|
|
Free Will Free Baptist Association of Louisiana |
8/31/1899 |
3 |
29 |
1899 |
|
|
General and United Order of Brothers and Sisters of Love and
Charity |
11/18/1899 |
3 |
37 |
1899 |
|
|
Jeunes Amis Benevolent Association of New Orleans, La |
11/ 23/1899 |
3 |
38 |
1899 |
Amendments to Charter |
|
Hopeful Land Company Limited of New Orleans |
11/ 23/1899 |
3 |
39 |
1899 |
|
|
Ladies Friends of Progress Benevolent Association |
2/20/1900 |
3 |
2 |
1900 |
|
|
Crescent City Baking Company Limited |
9/30/1899 |
3 |
32 |
1899 |
|
|
Dames et Demoiselles La Sagesse (sous l'invocation de St Pierre)
Société de Bienfaisance Mutuelle |
5/9/1901 |
4 |
7 |
1901 |
|
|
Afro-American Woman's Club Visiting Nurses' Association |
5/20/1901 |
4 |
8 |
1901 |
|
|
Louisiana and Brazoria Oil and Investment Company Limited |
5/20/1901 |
4 |
9 |
1901 |
|
|
Ladies Co-operative Mutual Aid Association |
5/27/1901 |
4 |
12 |
1901 |
Amendments to Acts of Incorporation |
|
Perseverance Benevolent Association of Algiers |
8/22/1901 |
4 |
15 |
1901 |
|
|
Ladies of Honor Benevolent Association |
10/28/1901 |
4 |
17 |
1901 |
|
|
Mount Hermon Baptist Church |
7/28/1902 |
4 |
8 |
1902 |
|
|
Ladies True Friends Benevolent Mutual Aid Association |
8/30/1902 |
4 |
9 |
1902 |
|
|
Ladies of Humanity Society |
9/22/1902 |
4 |
13 |
1902 |
|
|
Progressive Baptist Church |
12/2/1902 |
4 |
16 |
1902 |
|
|
Mount Airy Baptist Church |
3/22/1904 |
4 |
11 |
1904 |
|
|
Ladies Bakers Benevolent and Mutual Aid Society |
5/19/1904 |
4 |
16 |
1904 |
|
|
Ladies of Determination Benevolent Mutual Aid Association |
11/30/1904 |
4 |
30 |
1904 |
|
|
Union Athletic and Pleasure Club |
11/28/1904 |
4 |
32 |
1904 |
|
|
Ladies of Veterans of 1862 and 1865 Number One |
5/29/1905 |
5 |
6 |
1905 |
|
|
Ladies of Nathaniel Benevolent Mutual Aid Association |
6/16/1905 |
5 |
10 |
1905 |
|
|
Children Ladies Progressive Friends Benevolent Mutual Aid
Association |
7/20/1905 |
5 |
19 |
1905 |
|
|
Ladies of Sincerity Benevolent and Mutual Aid Association |
3/1/1906 |
5 |
3 |
1906 |
|
|
Queen Anne Temple Number One Independent Order of Sisters of
Mysterious Ten |
5/26/1906 |
5 |
8 |
1906 |
|
|
Ladies of Deliverance Benevolent and Mutual Aid Association |
6/14/1906 |
5 |
9 |
1906 |
|
|
Juvenile Sons and Daughters Veterans Benevolent Mutual Aid
Association |
6/15/1906 |
5 |
10 |
1906 |
|
|
Ladies of Sunrise Benevolent Mutual Aid Association |
6/19/1906 |
5 |
11 |
1906 |
|
|
Ladies of Progress Benevolent Mutual Aid Association No. 2 |
7/23/1906 |
5 |
15 |
1906 |
|
|
Colored Young Men's Christian Association of New Orleans |
2/6/1907 |
5 |
2 |
1907 |
|
|
Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias of the State of Louisiana |
4/27/1907 |
5 |
12 |
1907 |
Amendments to Acts of Incorporation |
|
Myrtle Wreath Lodge No. 29 Knights of Pythias |
5/28/1907 |
5 |
16 |
1907 |
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