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

 

Juveniles of Saint Katherine Benevolent Association

9/24/1907

5

30

1907

 

Perseverance Benevolent and Mutual Aid Association

10/10/1907

5

31

1907

 

The Children of St. Mary Benevolent Mutual Aid Association

5/12/1908

6

11

1908

 

New Ladies of Order Benevolent and Mutual Aid Association

8/9/1908

6

23

1908

 

Female Benevolent Association of Louisiana No. One

10/4/1909

6

17

1909

 

People's Benevolent Industrial Life Insurance Company (of Louisiana)

11/8/1909

6

19

1909

 

St. Mark Fourth Baptist Church of New Orleans

1/27/1909

6

2

1909

 

Ladies of Hope Benevolent Mutual Aid Association

12/3/1909

6

26

1909

 

Union Baptist Church and School

1/31/1910

6

2

1910

 

Plymouth Rock Baptist Church

2/28/1910

6

5

1910

Amendments to Acts of Incorporation

Ladies of Louisiana Benevolent Association (under the protection of Notre Dame le Prompt Secours)

7/25/1910

6

23

1910

Renewal of Acts of Incorporation

Venus Star Tabernacle Number Three of the General Grand Accepted Order of Brothers and Sisters of Love and Charity

10/10/1910

6

26

1910

Renewal of Acts of Incorporation

Young Ladies Eagle Mutual Aid and Benevolent Association

5/1/1911

6

7

1911

 

Young Men Sincerity Benevolent and Mutual Aid Association

6/2/1911

6

10

1911

 

New Ladies of St. Michael Benevolent and Mutual Aid Association

1/9/1912

7

1

1912

 

Ladies and Young Ladies Sincerity Benevolent Mutual Aid Association

4/30/1912

7

7

1912

 

Young Friends of Honor Benevolent Association of Algiers

7/2/1912

7

12A

1912

 

Young Friends of Honor Benevolent Association of Algiers

9/19/1912

7

16

1912

 

Notre Dames des Sept Douleurs Société de Bienfaisance et d'Assistance Mutuelle

12/23/1912

7

21

1912

 

Ladies Jefferson Friendship Benevolent Mutual Aid Association

11/11/1913

7

18

1913

 

Sons and Daughters Benevolent Mutual Aid Association

1/12/1914

7

2

1914

 

Young Ladies Charity (Jrs.) Benevolent Association

1/12/1914

7

3

1914

 

Pride of Newcomb Literary Aid and Pleasure Club

2/23/1914

7

9

1914

 

Friends of Progress Benevolent Association

2/ 28/1914

7

10

1914

Renewal of Acts of Incorporation

Reliance Benevolent and Mutual Aid Society

3/30/1914

7

14

1914

 

Eclipse Social Aid and Pleasure Club

4/3/1914

7

16

1914

 

Ladies Reliance Mutual Benevolent Association

7/1/1914

7

24

1914

 

Progressive Mutual Aid Association

8/31/1914

7

31

1914

 

Settled Men Progressive Association of Algiers

9/12/1914

7

33

1914

 

Lion's Aid and Gymnastic Club

12/14/1914

7

44

1914

 

Settled Ladies Progressive Association of Algiers

9/11/1915

8

33

1915

 

New Ladies Rising Sun Benevolent Mutual Aid Association

1/10/1917

8

17

1917

 
 
 


Copyright 2000-2011 New Orleans Notarial Archives
Image Credits