Before statehood in 1812 the Roman Catholic Church was dominant in Louisiana. Few Protestant churches flourished. From 1812 to 1900, the largest religious groups in Louisiana were the Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches.

The earliest church records were Roman Catholic marriage records that began in 1720 and baptism records that began in 1729. Most records are kept at the local churches. The Family History Library has a small collection of Louisiana church records, including Roman Catholic and Baptist sources. Also see the 45 volumes of civil and church records from southern and southwestern Louisiana published by Donald J. Hebert (see the “Vital Records” section of this outline).

Guides to help you locate Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish records are:

Hebert, Donald J. A Guide to Church Records in Louisiana, 1720-1975. Eunice, La.: D. J. Hebert, 1975. (FHL book 976.3 K23h fiche 6051420 or 6010583.)

Guide to Vital Statistics Records of Church Archives in Louisiana. New Orleans: Louisiana State Board of Health, 1942. (FHL book 976.3 V2w; film 1305374 items 2-3; fiche 6051101.)

You can also write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located:

Roman Catholic

• Archdiocese of New Orleans Archives

7887 Walmsley Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70125-3496
Telephone: 504-861-9521
Fax: 504-866-2906

This archdiocese includes the parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Plaquemines, and Washington.

• Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport

4400 Coliseum Blvd.
Alexandria, LA 71303
Telephone: 318-445-2401
Fax: 318-448-6121

• Diocese of Baton Rouge Archives

1800 South Acadian Thruway
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Telephone: 504-387-0561
Fax: 504-336-8789

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2028
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2028

This diocese has collected all parish registers in its area and indexed them.

Baptist

Historical Commission
Southern Baptist Convention
901 Commerce Street
Nashville, TN 37203-3630
Telephone: 615-244-0344
Fax: 615-782-4821

Methodist

Centenary College of Louisiana
Magale Library, Cline Room
Shreveport, LA 71134-1188
Telephone: 318-869-5170
Fax: 318-869-5004

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 41188
Shreveport, LA 71134-1188

Lutheran

University of New Orleans
Earl K. Long Library—Archives and Manuscripts Division
Lake Front
New Orleans, LA 70148
Telephone: 504-286-6556
Fax: 504-286-7277

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