666. Kathleen Kass Byrd, part 1, joins us to discuss her book on the history of

Natchitoches. "Kathleen M. Byrd’s Natchitoches, Louisiana, 1803–1840 is

an examination of one French Creole community as it transitioned from a

fur-trading and agricultural settlement under the control of Spain to a

critical American outpost on the Spanish/American frontier and finally

to a commercial hub and jumping-off point for those heading west. Byrd

focuses on historic events in the area and the long-term French Creole

residents as they adapted to the American presence. She also examines

the effect of the arrival of the Americans, with their Indian trading

house and Indian agency, on Native groups and considers how members of

the enslaved population took advantage of opportunities for escape

presented by a new international border. Byrd shows how the arrival of

Americans forever changed Natchitoches, transforming it from a sleepy

frontier settlement into a regional commercial center and staging point

for pioneers heading into Texas" (LSU Pr.).

Kathleen M. Byrd (nicknamed Kass) is a distinguished anthropologist,

archaeologist, and historian specializing in the history and prehistory

of Louisiana, particularly the Natchitoches region. A native of

Connecticut, she earned her B.A. from Marquette University, an M.A. from

LSU (focusing on coastal subsistence patterns), and a Ph.D. from the

University of Florida. She served as Louisiana's state archaeologist for

15 years before joining Northwestern State University (NSU) in

Natchitoches in 1994, where she later became director of the School of

Social Sciences for 12 years until her retirement.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

Marietta: A Musical Comedy in Two Acts.

PLACE: New Orleans.

TIME: About 1780.

SCENE: The Place d'Armes.

A broad open space with the levee at back. There is a path

along this levee bordered on both sides by tall trees, some of

which are draped with the gray Southern moss. There is just a

glimpse of the Mississippi between these trees. Along the

levee from time to time as act progresses, people of various

nationalities past. Mexicans, Indians, Spaniards, Negroes,

etc. At extreme L. is an arcaded street in which are booths

for flower sellers, cake and confectionary ' sailors, etc.

Over this arcade are the high latticed windows of dwellings in

old Creole style. There is a door at L. into one of these

houses. At right is the getaway entrance to the St. Louis

Cathedral. Up stage in centre is a large fountain. The top of

the fountain is in the form of a large urn. The pedestal

leading from the basin to the urn must be large enough for a

person to stand up in. The fountain is dry.

Madison signed bill providing for Louisiana'a statehood.

Archaeologists Discover One of the Oldest Native American

Artifacts South of Lake Pontchartrain. Release Number:

DR-1603/07-989, NEW ORLEANS ' Pottery sherds, animal bones and

pieces of clay tobacco pipes are among the items recently

discovered by a team of archaeologists under contract to the

Federal Emergency Management Agency surveying land near Bayou

St. John in New Orleans.  'It was a bit of a surprise to

find this,' said FEMA Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy

Director of Programs Andre Cadogan, referencing a small,

broken pottery fragment. 'We clearly discovered pottery from

the late Marksville period, which dates to 300-400 A.D. The

pottery was nice, easily dateable, and much earlier than we

expected."

St. Ann Catholic Church Lenten Fish Fry

3601 Transcontinental Drive

Metairie, LA 70006

February 20, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Website: stannchurchandshrine.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (504) 455‑7071

Price: Plates typically range from $10'$15, with combo options

available.

During Lent, many Catholic churches across Louisiana host

Friday seafood dinners as both fundraisers and meatless‑Friday

observances. St. Ann's annual Fish Fry is one of the most

popular in Jefferson Parish:

served with fries, coleslaw, and hushpuppies.

go, with indoor seating available.

school programs, and local outreach.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on audible.

Listen on Spotify.

Listen on TuneIn.

Listen on iHeartRadio.

The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.

Like us on Facebook.