Personal Correspondence
Throughout his research career, Sidney Villeré had contact with political figures, authors, librarians, and other professionals. These documents provide a window into his approach to different subjects and reveal the great amount of collaboration required by solid historical scholarship.
Bess Vaughn Letters
In the 1950s, Sidney Villeré compared notes with Bess Vaughn, who was chief librarian of the Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport, Louisiana. A great scholar in her own right, Ms. Vaughn had strong admiration for Jacques Philippe Villeré and provided keen insights on the life and career of Sidney’s ancestor.
In 1951, Bess Vaughn began work on a children’s book about the Louisiana Purchase, and she had “become obsessed with the idea that the central character should be Jacques Philippe Villeré”!
In the summer of 1952, Bess Vaughn was deeply involved in the study of Jacques Villeré’s life, and was sharing with Sidney the excitement of historical research. She had become convinced that, up until the French Revolution, Jacques Villeré “had every intention of returning to the service of the French King.”
Campaigning for Chep Morrison
Sidney Villere was also active in local politics, as the following correspondence reveals. As he traveled throughout south Louisiana in 1955, Sidney supported Mayor Chep Morrison in his campaign to become the state’s governor.
Letters from Harnett Kane
Harnett Kane was famous for writing dozens of books about his native Louisiana, including Deep Delta Country and Queen New Orleans.
Correspondence with Guy Frégault
Sidney Villere lauded Canadian author Guy Frégault for his planned biography of Bienville.
Correspondence with Melvin Villeré
Letter from Leonard V. Huber
Leonard V. Huber sent Sidney Villeré information that was useful in illuminating the activities of Charles Jules Villeré in Mobile, Alabama during the Civil War.
Correspondence with Robert and Ned Olivier
Sidney Villeré shared genealogical information with Ned and Robert Olivier.
Francis Parkinson Keyes
Sidney Villeré kept a lively correspondence with this author who captured the spirit of Louisiana in her books. This collection of letters includes a fond eulogy submitted to the Times-Picayune on July 4, 1970.
Comparing Research Notes with Arthur G. Nuhrah
In the early 1950s, Sidney Villeré and Mr. Nuhrah helped each other find information on such historical figures as Paul Tulane and John McDonogh, both of whom had a significant impact on New Orleans society.
Correspondence with George Oudard
Sidney Villeré wrote a couple of letters in English to George Oudard, Conseiller de l’Union Française, who replied in French.
Notes from Lionel C. Durel
Mr. Durel thanked Sidney (in English) for attending his historical presentation and expressed gratitude for sharing historical information about St. Bernard Parish (in French).
Letters from Marcel Moraud
Michel Moraud was the chair of the Department of Romance Languages at the Rice Institute, and compared research notes with Sidney Villeré.
Correspondence with Mary Elizabeth Sanders
Sidney Villeré and Mary Elizabeth Sanders discussed some of the finer points of Villeré genealogy.
Exchange with Pierre Donzelot
Pierre Donzelot, Director General of the Ministry of National Education (France), penned a brief note of gratitude to Sidney Villeré.
Correspondence with Father Lionel Groulx
Sidney Villeré corresponded in French with this esteemed member of the Institut d’Histoire de L’Amérique Française.
Working with Bertram Korn
Sidney Villeré translated French materials and found a Spanish translator for Dr. Bertram Korn.
Correspondence with Jane Lucas de Grummond
Sidney Villeré exchanged informative letters with renowned historian and professor Jane Lucas du Grummond.
Correspondence with Adolphe Roberts
Adolph Roberts was a fellow historian who focused on the West Indies. He also produced translations of French-language material from Saint Domingue (Haiti) which helped Sidney with his own work. Besides exchanging research information, they also discussed the biography of Jacques Philippe Villeré which Sidney envisioned. In the final letter in this series, dated 1951, Sidney mentioned that he had been collecting materials for this book for 15 years.
Letters from Garland Taylor
In the early 1960s, Sidney Villeré exchanged letters with Garland Taylor, who was the Director of Libraries at Tulane University. They discussed the importance of keeping Louisiana’s cultural heritage intact through carefully curated archives and collections.
Exchanges with Jack D. L. Holmes
As Jack D. Holmes and Sidney Villeré debated aspects of Louisiana history, their exchange of views ranged from cordial to contentious.
Correspondence with Alice Beauregard Morse
Alice Beauregard Morse was the granddaughter of Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, a key figure in the early part of the Civil War. Sidney Villeré’s correspondence with her is replete with genealogical information and stories about their ancestors.
Correspondence with Jay Higgenbetham
In a series of handwritten letters from Pascagoula, Mississippi, Jay Higgenbetham shared genealogical information with Sidney Villeré.
Correspondence with Maurice Denuziere
This series of letters, like others in Sidney Villeré’s collection of correspondence, alternates between English and French.
Exchanges with Marie-Louise Jacoty
The noted French author Marie-Louise Jacoty, whose book on General Humbert Sidney had called “a masterful work,” asked “Sir Villeré” if he might be able to help her publish an English-language version.
Letter from Elizabeth Brown Mills
Historian Elizabeth Brown Mills wrote to Sidney about “eagerly anticipating” the publication of his upcoming book on Jacques Philippe Villeré.
