Harold R. Perry papers

The papers of Bishop Harold R. Perry document his childhood and family, his religious training, and his pastorates. Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1916, Perry entered the seminary of the Society of the Divine Word in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He entered the priesthood in 1944 and served pastorates in Lafayette and St. Martinville, Louisiana; Pine Bluff, Arkansas; and Mound Bayou, Mississippi, before becoming founding pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Broussard, Louisiana. Perry was active in the Civil Rights Movement, and in 1965 became the first African American of the modern era to become Catholic bishop when he was appointed titular bishop of Mons in Mauretania and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He served as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Theresa of the child Jesus Church in New Orleans and as national chaplain of the Knights of Peter Claver. This collection consists mainly of photographs, which include approximately 300 black and white and color photographs of Bishop Perry, his family, and others. Photographs include those documenting Perry’s 1968 mission to Sydney, Australia, where he celebrated a "Television Mass," negatives of his 1965 ordination, and a 50-page scrapbook entitled "A photographic history of St. Joseph’s Parish. Established September 22, 1952. Broussard, Louisiana." The scrapbook includes photographs of the building of the parish church, the land and community around Broussard, pupils and parishioners, and services and activities at the church. Other images of note include one of a Zulu Mardi Gras parade float on Canal Street in 1977, boxing matches at the Sacred Heart Church in Lake Charles in 1937, and an undated portrait of Booker T. Washington. Also included within the collection are clippings (loose and scrapbook, dated 1971-1975) regarding Perry, clippings and funeral programs on Perry’s 1991 death, and a Winter 1990 issue of The Claverite celebrating Perry’s 25th anniversary of ordination. Also present is an undated picture postcard, a 1944 graduation announcement from Sacred Heart High School in Lake Charles, a set of printed images of sculptor Richmond Barthe and his artwork, and pins and medals.