John Baptist LaFargue (June 1864 – after 1937) was an American educator,[1] school founder, principal, newspaper publisher, and editor in Louisiana.[2]
John Baptist LaFargue | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1864 Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | After 1937 |
| Other names | J. B. Lafargue, John B. Lafargue |
| Occupation(s) | Educator, school founder, principal, newspaper publisher, newspaper editor |
| Spouse | Sarah C. B. Mayo |
Biography
editJohn Baptist LaFargue was born June 1864 in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.[2] He studied at a school established with support from the Peabody Educational Fund.[3]
LaFargue worked for 14 years to establish the first "colored" newspaper in the area at the Marksville Bulletin office in Marksville, Louisiana.[2] He was a former editor of the National Alliance; and the editor and publisher of the Advance Messenger newspaper in Alexandria, Louisiana.[2] He edited The Banner newspaper in Alexandria, Louisiana.[4]
LaFargue founded in 1895 the Peabody Industrial School (now Peabody Magnet High School) in Alexandria;[5][6] and was the school principal for many years.[7][8] He organized the Colored State Teachers Association in Louisiana in 1901, and was elected Conductor of the Parish Teachers’ Institute for over 20 years.[9][8] He was state secretary of the CFA.[10]
He married Sarah C. B. Mayo in 1887.[2] She was the daughter of John Mayo, a former representative of the Louisiana House of Representatives.[2]
Legacy
editThere is a J. B. Lafargue Special Education Center in Rapides Parish. He will be part of a future PBS documentary by Ken Burns, "Emancipation to Exodus".[8][11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "JB Lafargue - educator in Louisiana". The Town Talk. 23 February 1997. p. 27. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Mather, Frank Lincoln (April 19, 1915). "Who's Who of the Colored Race: A General Biographical Dictionary of Men and Women of African Descent; Vol. 1". p. 169 – via Google Books.
- ^ Saucier, Corinne L. (April 19, 1943). History of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. Pelican Publishing. ISBN 9781455605798 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Negro Year Book and Annual Encyclopedia of the Negro". Monroe N. Work. April 19, 1912 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Peabody High School, Alexandria, LA". African American High Schools in Louisiana Before 1970. 9 August 2019.
- ^ Howard, Corey (February 22, 2021). "Peabody Magnet High School's impact on the Black community". www.kalb.com.
- ^ Fairclough, Adam (March 1999). Race & Democracy: The Civil Rights Struggle in Louisiana, 1915-1972. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 9780820321189.
- ^ a b c Roland Jr, Bennett (2023-09-20). "JB Lafargue will be honored in an upcoming PBS documentary". kalb.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ^ Robertson, Minns Sledge (1952). "Public Education in Louisiana After 1898".
- ^ Barnes, Donna A. (May 18, 2011). The Louisiana Populist Movement, 1881-1900. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807139356 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Ken Burns' production team seeks people share stories of J.B. Lafargue, Peabody High". The Town Talk. Retrieved 2023-09-25.