Photographs: School Protest, 2001

Correspondence and Other Materials series dates from 1945 to 2008 and includes Soniat’s communication with family, friends and colleagues; it documents his education, his many honors for his contributions to civil, human and community rights, and other collected items. Correspondence includes letters to politicians, personal mail from family members, and requests from New Orleans community members seeking assistance from Soniat.

Of interest is correspondence from Soniat to mayor-elect Marc Morial (March 9, 1994), in which Soniat offers his services and assistance to the newly elected mayoral administration. In his letter, Soniat describes how he served as a member of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee during Morial’s father’s administration, Mayor Ernest “Dutch” Morial. Also of interest is a letter addressed to Soniat from Reverend Joseph Raphell (February 28, 2005) asking for help with his son, John, and to act as a moniker for him.

Other materials encompass an array of files. Included are files documenting Soniat’s involvement with the American Postal Workers Union (2003-2004); the LaCroix / Richard Family Union (1998); and service within the United States Army (1945, 1948). Of note are photocopies of research material for the study of Judicial/Parochial Agencies in Orleans Parish (June 1991). Soniat’s resumé and name cards from conferences in which he attended are also located in this group of materials.

Of interest are news clippings of several of St. James Parish protests in the fall of 1999. Most clippings are photocopies from local newspapers such as the Times-Picayune and The Advocate. These news clippings correspond with collected documentation from the Carrollton Area Network organization files. Other news clippings include materials related to Soniat’s honors and awards and Xavier University Preparatory School.

The series concludes with a written statement titled “War and Racism,” written by Orissa Arend (2001).