John Baptist Lafargue

John Baptist LaFargue (June 1864 – after 1937) was an American educator,[1] school founder, principal, newspaper publisher, and editor in Louisiana.[2]

For American painter, see John La Farge.
John Baptist LaFargue
BornJune 1864
Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedAfter 1937
Other namesJ. B. Lafargue,
John B. Lafargue
Occupation(s)Educator, school founder, principal, newspaper publisher, newspaper editor
SpouseSarah C. B. Mayo

Biography

John 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

There 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

References
  1. "JB Lafargue - educator in Louisiana". The Town Talk. 23 February 1997. p. 27. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  2. 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.
  3. Saucier, Corinne L. (April 19, 1943). History of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. Pelican Publishing. ISBN 9781455605798 – via Google Books.
  4. "Negro Year Book and Annual Encyclopedia of the Negro". Monroe N. Work. April 19, 1912 – via Google Books.
  5. "Peabody High School, Alexandria, LA". African American High Schools in Louisiana Before 1970. 9 August 2019.
  6. Howard, Corey (February 22, 2021). "Peabody Magnet High School's impact on the Black community". www.kalb.com.
  7. Fairclough, Adam (March 1999). Race & Democracy: The Civil Rights Struggle in Louisiana, 1915-1972. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 9780820321189.
  8. Roland Jr, Bennett (2023-09-20). "JB Lafargue will be honored in an upcoming PBS documentary". kalb.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  9. Robertson, Minns Sledge (1952). "Public Education in Louisiana After 1898".
  10. Barnes, Donna A. (May 18, 2011). The Louisiana Populist Movement, 1881-1900. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807139356 – via Google Books.
  11. "Ken Burns' production team seeks people share stories of J.B. Lafargue, Peabody High". The Town Talk. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
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