Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Speaker Series: "Post Civil War Pointe Coupee: An Abrupt Transformation"

Property Description

ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION SPEAKER SERIES

"Post Civil War Pointe Coupee: An Abrupt Transformation" by Brian J. Costello and Julie E. Lee

An engaging glimpse into Pointe Coupee's post Civil War experience, incorporating recollections garnered from the French American and Southern Claims Commissions, accompanied by a complementary exhibit.

Date: Saturday, January 11, 2014

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Location: Julien Poydras Museum and Arts Center, Pointe Coupee Historical Society, 500 West Main Street, New Roads, LA 70767. Reservations are recommended but not required. Light refreshments will be served. For more information email Director@creolewest.com or call 225.718.4275.

About the Speakers:

Brian J. Costello is an 11th generation Louisianan, lifelong resident of Pointe Coupee Parish and a B.A. graduate of Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge in history and English. He is founding and current historian and archivist of the Pointe Coupee Parish Library Historic Materials Collection, as well as an independent historian, freelance writer and public speaker.

Since 1987, Mr. Costello has authored 18 books, co-authored six books and authored numerous feature articles. He is fluent in French and Louisiana Creole. Mr. Costello's notable well-rounded expertise focuses on Pointe Coupee and Louisiana. He has participated in various documentaries and forums on Louisiana Carnival, history, culture, furnishings, religion, flood control and linguistics. Mr. Costello has been awarded numerous recognitions for his historical, cultural and literary talents and endeavors. Member of the Foundations of Pointe Coupee Community Series Board, President of Le Cercle Historique since it was founded in 1992; he is also past chairman (1993-2010) of the New Roads Lions Carnival Parade, reigned as King of Carnival in 2009 and a member of New Orleans Carnival organizations. Current collaboration projects include books on Louisiana's French Creole culinary and linguistic heritage-a series of three; and Louisiana stories in colonial French, Creole and Cajun.

Julie Eshelman-Lee is an Independent Historian and author specializing in Louisiana and Pointe Coupee Parish history-Exploration to Reconstruction eras (1680s - 1890s). A native Louisianan and graduate of Ohio University at Athens with a B.B.A., she blends two decades of invaluable business experience, her passion for history and education and expertise as an independent historian to bring Louisiana and Pointe Coupee history alive. She is Director of Creole West Productions, a company she founded to bring Louisiana history alive as edutainment for a cross-section of audiences. Ms. Eshelman-Lee has authored a number of historical publications, presented multimedia presentations at various conferences, and developed and authored the materials and content for Pointe Coupee Parish History Online (www.pointecoupeehistory.com), a model website for local history, currently in its 3rd edition of redevelopment. In addition, she is co-founder and chairperson of the Foundations of Pointe Coupee Community Series that hosts annual forums on the history of Pointe Coupee. Ms. Eshelman-Lee organizes, directs and presents at these annual events held in Pointe Coupee. She is active in a cross-section of historical and cultural, academic and educational organizations. Ms. Eshelman-Lee's current projects include forthcoming books on the Civil War and Reconstruction eras "nonfiction and fiction""as well as a film documentary about an early Civil Rights pioneer from Pointe Coupee (1870s).

The speaker series is sponsored by the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, a program of the National Park Service, and the Office of Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne. Special thanks to Capitol Park Museum and Louisiana State Museum Friends.

Changes, if any, will be posted on Atchafalaya.org. Visit http://www.atchafalaya.org/news.php?action=submit&story_id=17 to see a list of other presentations in this series. Presentations are free and open to the public.