Demarais, Azema (1832-1881). Collection, 1724-1995, n.d.
Scope and Contents
This collection initially consisted of a portrait and a land grant. Azema Demarais, the granddaughter of Louis George Demaret and raised at the old family home on the Bayou Teche, is the subject of the portrait that is currently displayed in the Jefferson Caffery Reading Room. There is a little damage on the left edge facing the portrait, which according to oral family history, was inflicted by a Union soldier. The 1786 land grant is written in Spanish. An addition donated in 2023 contains photographs of descendants, birth and marriage records, correspondence (including a copy of a 1788 letter), and various genealogy materials relating to the Demarais and Navarro families.
Dates
- 1724 - 1995
Biographical / Historical
The Demarais (a.k.a. Demares, Demarets, Demarest) were plantation owners in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. Louis George Demaret purchased land in the Attakapas region in 1786. Martin Navarro, whose daughter married Demaret, was a Spanish nobleman who served as an Intendant-General for the province of Louisiana during Spanish rule. The genealogy of the Demarais and Navarro lines also include the Senette, Murdock, Roundtree, and Glaze families, who also settled in Louisiana.
Extent
1.25 Linear Feet (1.25 linear feet plus oversized folder and art work)
Language of Materials
English
Spanish; Castilian
Arrangement
SERIES:
A. General Family Records 1-01 through 1-05
B. Demarais and Navarro Families 1-06 through 1-11
C. Murdock and Roundtree Families 1-12
D. Murdock and Glaze Families 1-13 through 1-19
E. Photographs 1-20 through 1-22
F. Artifacts and Miscellaneous Map Case 47-03; JCRR
Custodial History
Azema Demarais's great granddaughter, Azema Demarais Rountree Smith ("Tottie" to the family), owned the portrait and land grant, which were left to her son, Herbert Leary Smith, Jr. He, in turn left the items to his cousin, Charlie Etta Smith Crutsinger LoConte. Her husband, Louis LoConte, acts as the legatee for the estate of Azema Demarais Rountree Smith and Herbert Leary Smith, Jr. Louis LoConte and his daughters, Paula Frazier and Amanda Michanczyk, donated the painting and 1786 land grant. Dr. Manuel Morales of the UL Lafayette History Department and Dr. Leslie Bary of the UL Lafayette Modern Languages Department translated and transcribed the land grant from Spanish to English. In 2023, Amanda Michaenczyk donated a significant addition to the collection, which now consists of correspondence, genealogy charts and other research materials, photographs, articles, and transcribed or copies of official records.
Source
- Title
- Azema Demarais Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Zack Stein
- Date
- 03/03/2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
- Edition statement
- Revised by Scott Jordan 3 April 2024
Repository Details
Part of the University Archives and Acadiana Manuscripts Collection Repository
Edith Garland Dupré Library
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
400 East St. Mary Blvd.
Lafayette LA 70503 United States
337-482-6031
speccoll@louisiana.edu