By Jessica Gorman | Dorcheat Historical Museum
Members of the North Louisiana Historical Association gathered in Minden on Saturday, April 25th at the Dorcheat Historical Museum for its annual spring awards luncheon, catered by Fat Guys Catering of Minden.
Cindy Madden, presented a program on “Edwin Sanders Richardson: A Model Educator.” E.S. Richardson (1875-1950), a native of Webster Parish, served as school superintendent in Bienville Parish (4 years) and Webster Parish (16 years), directed the LSU Junior Extension Service (8 years), and was appointed President of Louisiana Tech (1936-41). He briefly acted as President of LSU in 1939. Madden is Richardson’ s great-niece.
This year’s winners of the Max Bradbury Award and W. Darrell Overdyke Award were announced. The Max Bradbury Award is awarded annually for the “most outstanding article” published in the Association journal, North Louisiana History. The winner was Billy Hathorn for his article, “KSLA’s Don Owen, Al Bolton, and Bob Griffin: Keeping the CBS Eye on Shreveport and the Ark-La-Tex in the Early Years of Television.” Winter-Spring 2025 issue, LVI, Nos. 1-2, pp. 20-43.
The W. Darrell Overdyke Award is awarded to the best student papers submitted to the NLHA. These awards are made in memory of Dr. W. Darrell Overdyke of Centenary College through the generosity of the late Mrs. Overdyke and her brother, E. Laurence Walker, of Shreveport, Louisiana. Two $500 prizes are awarded. One for the best article submitted by an undergraduate student and one for the best article submitted by a graduate student on some aspect of North Louisiana history or culture from a historical perspective. The winning articles are published exclusively in the journal of the North Louisiana Historical Association.
This year, there were no undergraduate submissions. In the graduate division, the winner was Ashley Steenson, for her article “The ‘Loyal Friendship’: Theodore Roosevelt and John A. McIlhenny in Louisiana.” Steenson is a graduate student at the University of Alabama. Her paper will appear in the next issue of the journal to be released in May.
The Association is always looking for submission of articles on any aspect of north Louisiana history for its journal. Editor Wesley Harris hopes to return to publishing four issues annually but needs more content. For more information about these awards or submissions for the journal, please email Wesley at [email protected].
In other business, board members John Black, Gay Means, Dan Logan, and Jessica Gorman were reelected to another term and Louisiana archeologist Jeff Girard was a new addition to the board.
Donna Baker shared information about the 18th Annual Louisiana Studies Conference to be held 12 September 2026 at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The conference theme is “Remembering Louisiana.” The deadline for presentation proposals is June 15, 2026. For more information, please visit https://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/cfp/2026/03/04/18th-annual-louisiana-studies-conference
Vice-President Jeff Owens shared information about the 2026 Gulf South History & Humanities Conference to be held October 1-3 in Natchez, Mississippi. For more information, please visit https://gulfsouthhistoricalassociation.weebly.com/
The North Louisiana Historical Association provides those working in the history field as well as anyone interested in the history of north Louisiana valuable opportunities to network and support each other in preserving the history of this area. Association members represent libraries, archives, museums, and universities from across north Louisiana, and beyond.
Board member and journal editor, Wesley Harris said, “We move our meetings around north Louisiana to expose our members to great museums, libraries, and other organizations that work to save our history. Jessica Gorman and the Dorcheat Museum have hosted us twice in recent years. We recognize this little museum in Minden as a great partner in preserving Louisiana history in a way that appeals strongly to visitors.”
The Association is always looking to welcome new members. If you are interested in joining the North Louisiana Historical Association, please mail your name, address, and membership fee to Treasurer, P.O. Box 6701, Shreveport, LA 71136-6701. Calendar year membership rates: regular, $25; benefactor, $50; contributing, $100. Student memberships available. Membership includes receipt of the Association journal, North Louisiana History.