A. Otis Hebert, Jr. was born in Abbeville, Louisiana on September 22, 1930. He married Elsie Stallworth and had two stepsons. He was a graduate of Abbeville High School in 1948, salutatorian in the class of 98 students. He attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette), and received a B.A. in Social Science Education in 1952. In July 1952, he entered the U.S. Army and served for two years. In 1958 he received a M.Ed. and a M.A. in History from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. His thesis was entitled: “History of Education in Colonial Louisiana”. Hebert died October 9, 1976, and is buried in Resthaven Cemetery, Baton Rouge.

Hebert taught at Nicholls State University, 1963-1966 and was Director of the Louisiana Department of Archives and Records, 1966-1974. From 1974 to 1976 he was Director of the Center for Acadian Folklore and Culture at USL.

Hebert authored several publications and was active in professional organizations including the Louisiana Historical Association, Society of American Archivists and the Society of Southwest Archivists.