About the Jackson Barracks Military Library…….

  Jackson Barracks, the headquarters for the Louisiana National Guard, houses the Office of The Adjutant General. Over the last 50 years, efforts have been made to preserve the military heritage of Louisiana. As a result, a small but quite complete military library is now an integral part of this Headquarters.

  The material on Louisiana military history includes individual service records of events pertaining to regimental units and campaigns assembled from numerous original sources. Also included are transcripts of documents containing Louisiana military data covering the period from 1698 through 1936. This work was accomplished by the WPA and is contained in 420 typed and bound volumes. Materials relating to Confederate personnel and military units from Louisiana are contained in 166 volumes of photostat records produced in 1912 from War Department Records in Washington, D.C. There are various records of the United Confederate Veterans Association, records of the Old Soldier’s Home at Camp Nicholls, and Louisiana National Guard unit and personnel records on microfilm. The more current National Guard personnel records are somewhat restricted in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act. There are records of the Washington Artillery, the oldest military unit in the state which organized in 1838, and individual service records of Louisiana Guardsmen who served on the Mexican Border in 1916 and World War I.

  In addition to personnel and unit records, flag data and maps of military sites and fortifications are of great interest. More than 1950 8"x10" photographs were made of 180 flags. Of these, approximately 115 are Civil War period, with 100 being Confederate battle flags, primarily of Louisiana. There are flags from the War of 1812, Mexican War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II.

  On June 5, 1956, 1150 pieces of cloth tracing, blue prints, Photostats and paper drawings of forts, fortifications, and ordnance equipment, surveys, maps, diagrams, and sketches were transferred to the library from the Corps of Engineers. This collection is retained and shelved according to its original arrangement.

  The library maintains over 1000 books and files concerning genealogy. The periodicals are: Louisiana History (Quarterly), New Orleans Genesis, National Genealogical Register, Le Recontur, Louisiana Genealogical Register, the Attakapas Gazette, and Terrebonne Lifelines.

  All books, records and documents may be used or studied within the confines of the library only. There are no lending privileges, due to preservation reasons, since many of the items could not be replaced if lost or damaged. Public hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. through 3:00 P.M., except on Federal and State holidays. Special assistance, by appointment, is rendered to those serious students or visitors who are engaged in historical research. The library may be reached at (504) 278-8241 and is located in Jackson Barracks' Area A, Building 53.