Assembling Indirect Evidence to Locate the Mother, Siblings, & Slaveowner of Freedman Arthur Braud (a 2025 Reisinger Lecture)

This engaging webinar, part of the 2025 Reisinger Lecture Series, features genealogist and historian Jari Honora, whose presentation, “Assembling Indirect Evidence to Locate the Family and Last Enslaver of Freedman Arthur Braud,” demonstrates the power of meticulous, evidence-based research in uncovering African American and Creole family histories. Drawing from his extensive work in Louisiana’s historic and genealogical archives, Honora illustrates how to reconstruct lives obscured by slavery, fragmented records, and evolving cultural identity. His case study of Arthur Braud—born enslaved in 1840s Louisiana and later a prominent member of Klotzville’s Creole community—serves as a compelling example of how indirect evidence, contextual understanding, and the FAN principle (Family, Associates, Neighbors) can illuminate forgotten ancestry.

Key Takeaways:

• Mastering Indirect Evidence: Honora emphasizes how genealogists can weave together clues from scattered records—baptismal entries, property transactions, and census data—to establish identity and kinship when direct documentation is missing. His reconstruction of Braud’s lineage shows the importance of persistence, pattern recognition, and correlation over time.

• Cultural and Historical Context as a Research Tool: Understanding Louisiana’s Creole heritage, Catholic recordkeeping, and fluid surname conventions proved essential to resolving Braud’s parentage. Honora explains how linguistic, ethnic, and religious nuances can provide critical interpretive context, particularly when researching enslaved and free people of color.

• FAN Club Methodology in Action: By systematically analyzing Braud’s community network—his children’s baptismal sponsors, neighbors, and associates—Honora reveals connections to the Dominique, François, and Levember families, ultimately tracing Braud’s mother to Manon, an enslaved woman owned by Sarazin Marois. This method exemplifies best practices in advanced genealogical problem-solving.

Honora’s research culminates in a moving discovery linking his own ancestry to the Braud family—an illustration of how rigorous methodology can intersect with personal heritage. His discussion of evolving surname patterns, the use of Catholic sacramental records, and the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s efforts to include individuals once omitted from historical indexes underscores the evolving inclusivity of genealogical scholarship.

To experience the full depth of Honora’s methods and the fascinating historical revelations they uncover, viewers are encouraged to watch the complete webinar. It offers a masterclass in the creative and ethical reconstruction of lives erased from traditional records. Genealogists are also invited to explore the syllabus and supplemental resources, which include recommended readings, archival sources, and regional studies—essential tools for anyone researching Creole, African American, or Louisiana heritage.