November 2025
NOW IS THE TIME!
Do you need to renew your membership?
Do you want to become a member of STGS?
NOW IS THE TIME!
Dues are $30 for individuals, $35 for families, and $20 for students.
You can join/renew at the next in-person meeting or you can mail your dues to: STGS, P.O. Box 1904, Covington, LA 70434 .Click the button below to download a membership form.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
from the
St. Tammany Genealogical Society (STGS)!
You Are Cordially Invited
to our 2025
Holiday Luncheon
Dear Friends,
Please join us for our annual Holiday Luncheon. We are celebrating a successful year of programs and good company! We are looking forward to an even more productive and informative 2026!
Our program for this event is entitled
Researching Ancestors in Roman Catholic Records:
The Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
with Sarah Waits, Archdiocesan Archivist
The Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans holds sacramental records of Roman Catholic churches from the eight civil parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles, Plaquemines, St. John the Baptist, Washington, and St. Tammany. The records date back to 1718 for the oldest ecclesiastical parish in the Archdiocese. The Archives is therefore a vital resource for anyone researching their family ties in Southeast Louisiana.
Archivist Sarah Waits will introduce attendees to the Archdiocesan Archives, focusing on the Archives’ vast collection of sacramental records. Sarah will also provide guidance on the type of information that researchers should submit with a search request in order for the Archives’ staff to successfully locate ancestral records. As an added bonus, Sarah will share her experience creating an extensive family tree for Pope Leo XIV and relay some history of the earliest churches and records in St. Tammany Parish.
Sarah Waits is the research Archivist at the Archdiocese of New Orleans. She received a Certificate in Archival Studies from Louisiana State University (LSU), her Master’s degree in history from the University of New Orleans, and a Bachelor’s degree in history and creative writing from LSU. She has previously worked at the Amistad Research Center, the National World War II Museum, and the Hermann-Grima and Gallier Historic House Museums. Sarah served as president of the Greater New Orleans Archivists Organization (GNOA) from 2023-2024. She has presented on Catholic archives and research at conferences nationwide and recently received grant funding to scan and index some of the oldest sacramental records in the Archdiocesan Archives related to enslaved individuals. Sarah is also a licensed tour guide and enjoys leading history-focused walking tours in the French Quarter.
Luncheon details below. Bring a guest or come by yourself,
but reserve early!
When
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Where
Benedict’s Plantation
1144 North Causeway Boulevard
Mandeville, LA 70488
11:00 a.m.
Meet and Greet and Socialize!
Noon
Luncheon Served
12:45 p.m.
St. Tammany Genealogical Society Report
1:00 p.m.
Researching Ancestors in Roman Catholic Records:
The Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
with Sarah Waits
Cost
$55 per Person
>>>RESERVATION REQUIRED<<<
Here’s how to make your reservation:
Step 1:Check out the menu below to review
the three entrée choices, including the
vegan/vegetarian option.
Step 2: Email STGS Archivist Sharon Webb at stgsgenealogy@gmail.com. Please put HOLIDAY LUNCHEON in the subject line of your email. Tell Sharon how many people will be attending and provide the name of each attendee with his/her choice of entrée. It is important that you include your phone number in the email. Sharon will send you a confirmation via email.
Step 3: Send in your payment to:
Make checks payable to STGS.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Sharon Webb at stgsgenealogy@gmail.com
We need an accurate head count for the restaurant to prepare for our event, so please send in your payment with choice of entrée(s) by
Monday, December 1.
Space is limited so reserve your seat(s) early!
Menu for 3 Course Meal
1st Course: Baby Bleu Salad
Fresh spring mix topped with strawberries and feta cheese
toasted spiced pecans & finished with a balsamic vinaigrette
2nd Course: Entrée Selection
Choice #1: Bruschetta Chicken
Grilled Chicken topped with tomato bruschetta,
provolone cheese and balsamic drizzle, served with Parmesan rice
Choice #2: Catfish Pontchartrain
Fried filet of catfish smothered in a rich seafood cream sauce of gulf shrimp,
blue crab and Louisiana crawfish
Choice #3: Vegan and Vegetarian Option
Polenta with roasted vegetables and balsamic vinaigrette drizzle
3rd Course: Dessert
Traditional bread pudding
**********
TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (STGS)
For all those who have not yet joined STGS, you can download a membership form from the STGS website at sttammanygenealogy.com, print it, fill it out, and mail it with your dues. We will add you to our list for future webinars. If you do not have access to a printer, please email STGS at stgsgenealogy@gmail.com and ask STGS to mail you a membership form. Please feel free to contact us at the above referenced email address if you are not sure whether you
have renewed for 2026.
STGS Needs Your Support
Your Membership Matters!
Ask to be added to the STGS Mailing List! Use the "Contact Us" button in tool bar above.
Meeting Location:
This month's program is at Bendicts Plantation
1144 N. Causeway Blvd, Mandeville, Louisiana 70448.
St. Tammany Genealogical Society