Holt Cemetery New Orleans

05/22/2026

Our beloved Holt Cemetery will be preserved

More than a cemetery, Holt Cemetery is a living archive of New Orleans history, culture, and community.

In the latest issue of Preservation in Print, educator and genealogist Gaynell Brady shares the story of Bell “Mama Bell” London Jefferson — a beloved matriarch whose legacy of care, service, and cultural leadership continues through generations of New Orleanians connected to Holt Cemetery.

The article also explores Holt’s rich history, ongoing preservation efforts, and why protecting this sacred space means preserving the stories of the people who helped shape New Orleans itself.

Read the full article on our website, or become a member to receive all 6 issues of Preservation in Print delivered directly to your mailbox while supporting preservation efforts across our city.

📖 Read more + become a member today at https://prcno.org/holt-cemetery/

05/01/2026

Do you have questions about your DNA results?

I've Tested My DNA - Now What?
with Jari Honora, CG@

7pm, Jeff Regional Library, Monday, May 18, 2026: More than 1-in-5 Americans have completed an ancestral DNA test. DNA combined with traditional documentary research can help to confirm family lines and unravel mysteries. With multiple testing companies and multiple types of DNA tests and results, Jari Honora will cover how to effectively use one’s DNA results in family history research.

Jari C. Honora, a Certified Genealogist®, works as Family Historian at the Williams Research Center of the Historic New Orleans Collection. He also does historical and genealogical research professionally, including previous research for the TV programs “Finding Your Roots” and “We’ll Meet Again.” He is a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and a board member of the Louisiana Historical Society and Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Society of the War of 1812, and the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage.

02/12/2026

History and Preservation in Holt Cemetery with Gaynell Brady
April 8, 2026
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Preservation Resource Center
923 Tchoupitoulas St.
New Orleans, LA 70130 United States
Free – $10.00

Join historian Gaynell Brady to explore the history and significance of Holt Cemetery. First founded in 1879 to provide relief to other …

01/12/2026

Happening at Holt Cemetery!

Join the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Sigma Alumnae Chapter as we come together to honor history, preserve culture, and serve our community with a cleanup at Holt Cemetery.
🗓 Saturday, January 17, 2026
⏰ UPDATED TIME: 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM
📍 527 City Park Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119
This is more than a cleanup it’s a commitment to our community and our ancestors. We invite sorors, family, friends, and community supporters to come out, lend a hand, and show love through service.
✨ Let’s work together to make a difference. Your presence matters!

10/22/2025

The Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation needs your assistance

🔎 The Louisiana Trust needs your help finding the location of lost cemeteries in 56 parishes across Louisiana.

Identifying the location of historic cemeteries is important for many reasons, from reuniting families with their relatives to preventing costly change orders when cemeteries are discovered during construction.

To see which historic cemeteries are in your area, contribute information & photos about a historic cemetery, or view a parish-by-parish list of historic cemeteries we need your help locating, visit our website linked in the comments below.

08/14/2025

Learn how to use Sanborn Maps for property research. These are some of the earliest block by block maps of the City with streets and addresses visible, dating back to 1885!

08/28/2024

FREE LECTURE AT EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY TO FOCUS ON DNA TESTING FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS
JEFFERSON, LA – Genealogist Ja’el Gordon will give a presentation on DNA testing for African Americans on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at the East Bank Regional Library (4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, LA 70001).

This presentation is free of charge and open to the public; there is no registration.

Gordon says the field of African-American genealogy is wrought with challenges. “Beyond the emotional difficulty of the subject matter — dealing with records which describe the captivity and subjugation of human beings — African-American genealogical research is also difficult because of a scarcity of records.,” she says. “Add to this the widespread record destruction in the Southern United States in general, and tracing African ancestors can be a formidable task. This is where DNA testing comes in.”

Ja’el Gordon earned a B.A. degree in history from Southern University in Baton Rouge, and upon graduation in 2012 went to work on campus as Coordinator of Student Organizations and Campus Involvement. She earned her master’s degree in museum studies in 2015. Her work toward the degree included staging exhibits of narratives of former slaves from interviews conducted by the Federal Writers Project in the 1930s. She is currently working on a doctoral degree in higher education at Jackson State University in Mississippi.

For more information regarding this event, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or [email protected].

08/27/2024

Amazing program offered by the Friends of the Cabildo

Join the Friends of the Cabildo and Emily Ford on Tuesday, August 27th as she discusses “Basics of Cemetery Repair and Preservation”. This will be part three of three lectures Emily will be discussing on the topic of cemeteries. Lecture will begin at 6 pm. via Zoom. Our fall series of lectures are free for FOC members, $10 each to non-members, but non-members can also enjoy the entire fall lecture series for $60. By registering for the full fall lecture series, you can enjoy previously recorded lectures.

Register at https://friendsofthecabildo4.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/list/20242025-fall-member-lecture-series

08/13/2024

Join the Friends of the Cabildo and Emily Ford on Tuesday, August 13th as she discusses “Researching Burial Locations in Orleans Parish. This will be one of three lectures Emily will be discussing on the topic of cemeteries. Lecture will begin at 6 pm. via Zoom. Our fall series of lectures are free for FOC members, $10 each to non-members, but non-members can also enjoy the entire fall lecture series for $25.

Register at https://friendsofthecabildo4.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/list/20242025-fall-member-lecture-series

03/01/2024

“New Orleans Public Library, City Archives to Host Inaugural Genealogy Festival”

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The City Archives and Special Collections is excited to present the inaugural GenFest on March 9 at the New Orleans Public