Collection 337 LeBlanc, Antoine J. “A.J.” (1929-2018). Collection, 1900-2012, n.d. 13 feet, 27 volumes Biography: Antoine Jude “A.J.” LeBlanc was born on November 18, 1929 in Lafayette. He married Louella “Lou” Thibodeaux and they had two children, Susan LeBlanc Guilbeau and Jay Louis LeBlanc. Before engaging in a career of Acadian education, LeBlanc worked for a while as a car salesman, where he was praised for his honesty and dependability. He died on January 22, 2018 at the age of 88. LeBlanc was dedicated to promoting tourism in Acadiana through his involvement in many Louisiana tourism organizations. He was a member of the Louisiana Tourist Development Commission and the Louisiana Scenic Byways Commission. He served as president of several organizations, including: CAFA (Confederation of Associations of Families Acadian), the Louisiana Fairs and Festivals Association, the Louisiana Attractions Association, and the Lafayette Chapter of CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana). He served as a board member for the Acadiana Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association. He was director of Acadian Village from 1982 to 1999. He received numerous awards and honors over the years, including: Louisiana Travel Attraction Employee of the Year (awarded by the Louisiana Travel Association and Louisiana Attractions Association), the CFMA (Cajun French Music Association) 1991 Ambassador at Large Award, “King Cotton” of the Ville Platte, LA Cotton Festival, and 1989 Distinguished Service Award from the Louisiana Restaurant Association. He had the honor of meeting King Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain in 2001 along with a delegation of Acadian representatives. He served for four years on the Lafayette Parish Policy Jury from 1975 to 1985. He promoted Acadian/Cajun history, music, and culture through his website “Central Acadiana Tourism” where he referred to himself as “L’Ambassadeur des Monde des Cadiens.” About the Collection: The collection contains A.J. LeBlanc’s personal and professional papers, photographs, newsclippings, audio/audiovisual music collection, correspondence, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous artifacts. Primary topic coverage includes LeBlanc’s involvement with Acadian Village, the programs he created, and his promotion of tourism throughout Acadiana. Other topics covered include: Acadian genealogy, “Central Acadiana Tourism” (website and organization), Belizaire the Cajun (film), Acadian Odyssey Knit (Tourism program), Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration, Marquis de Lafayette Bicentennial celebration, Acadian/Cajun musicians, and miscellaneous information about local history and culture. Series: I. Personal Papers 1-01 through 1-10 II. Professional Papers 1-11 through 5-17 III. News Clippings 5-18 through 5-53 IV. Correspondence 5-54 through 5-63 V. Photographs 5-64 through 6-81 VI. Audiovisual Boxes 7-10A, Digitized Collection VII. Artifacts Box 11 VIII. Scrapbooks 27 volumes Oversize: 4 oversized laminates I. Personal Papers: Includes genealogy records, some correspondence, and other miscellaneous documents related to A.J. LeBlanc’s family. A. Genealogy (includes newsclippings, genealogy charts, and miscellaneous notes) c. 1978- 2009) 1-01 LeBlanc: includes news clippings and genealogical charts (1978-1998, n.d.) 1-02 LeBlanc: includes news clippings, genealogical charts, and family stories (1999-2009) 1-03 Melancon: includes news clippings, correspondence, and family crest (1998, n.d.) 1-04 Boudreaux: includes correspondence (2002) 1-05 Breault/Bearb/Beard: genealogy charts (n.d.) 1-06 Prejean (1994, n.d.) 1-07 Thibodeaux: includes correspondence and family crest (1999) 1-08 Miscellaneous Acadian genealogy (Guilbeau, Broussard, and Guidry): includes news clippings (2004, n.d.) 1-09 Miscellaneous Acadian genealogy (Guidry, Malliet, Baudoin, Dupuis, and LeJeune): includes news clippings and correspondence, (1998, n.d.) B. Miscellaneous 1-10 Neighborhood Watch materials (c. 1980) II. Professional Papers A. Working Files: Includes information about Acadian Village events, marketing, programs, and people, as well as Acadian history, culture, and related organizations(1-40-3-12) 1-11 Acadian Family Names: includes Patronymes acadiens/Acadian Family Names booklet and Listing of Acadian Family Names publication compiled by Floyd Weber (1992,1994) 1-12 Acadian Family Names: includes email correspondence and notes (2003) 1-13 Acadian Family Names (2003, 2010) 1-14 Acadian History: includes copy of Winslow letter, correspondence, and newsclippings (1976-2003) 1-15 Acadian History: includes newsclippings and brochures (1994-2003) 1-16 Acadian Memorial: includes The Wall of Names at the Acadian Memorial brochure (1998) 1-17 Acadian Odyssey Knit promotional materials and emails (1985-2008) 1-18 Acadian Village brochure mock-ups (1982-1987) 1-19 Acadian Village brochure mock-ups (1982-1987) 1-20 Acadian Village brochure mock-ups (loose pieces) (1982-1987) 2-01 Acadiana Biz (advertising company promotional materials and booklet) (2001-2003) 2-02 Acadiana Day: includes news clippings, press releases, correspondence, and brochures __ _(1979-1998) 2-03 Acadiana Music and Entertainment Association By-laws, includes correspondence (1987- ___1995) 2-04 Acadiana Open Channel talent release and editing instructions (1988) 2-05 Acadian history and culture, includes newsclippings, pamphlets, and Louisiana’s French ___Heritage by Truman Stacey booklet (1978-1999) 2-06 “Relations of the Attakapas Indians,” a paper by Désirée Plaisance (n.d.) 2-07 Audiovisual System: includes correspondence, service agreement pamphlets ___(1985,1989) 2-08 Bal du Maison/Musicians du Bal, includes press releases, artwork, trademark ___registration, correspondence, and entry forms (1988-1991, 2002) 2-09 Belizaire filming schedule and artwork (1985) 2-10 Belizaire screenplay (1985) 2-11 Big Band List (n.d.) 3-01 Bourré (game): includes instructions on how to play (1972) 3-02 Broadcast Music Inc./American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers: includes news clipping, BMI radio log, and correspondence (1991-1992) 3-03 Cajun Dance Contest, includes score sheets and instructions for judging (1986) 3-04 Cajun Dance Contest numbers (white) (c. 1986) 3-05 Cajun Dance Contest numbers (blue) (c. 1986) 3-06 Cajun Heartland tourism initiative, includes maps, correspondence, and other planning materials for this initiative (1993) 3-07 Cajun Music: includes correspondence, news clippings, and song booklet (1976-1988) 3-08 Carriages for Acadian Village (1999) see also Photographs “Carriages” (5-24) 3-09 Cattle Industry: includes correspondence and brochures (1992-2002) 3-10 Chariot Parade news clippings (n.d.) 3-11 Chuck Hamsa (librarian and living history performer), includes booklet about “White Oak Society”(living history group) of Deer River, Minnesota(1997) 3-12 Congré Mondial Acadien: includes news clippings and miscellaneous correspondence (1999) 3-13 Les Musiciens du Bal Trademark paperwork, includes correspondence (1984) 3-14 Cotton Festival: includes correspondence and news clippings (1991-1994) see also Photographs “Cotton Festival in Ville Platte” (5-50) 3-15 Creole history research: includes correspondence, brochures, news clippings, and miscellaneous photocopies (1993-2003) 3-16 Legislation related to Crawfish (1964) 3-17 Cycling Tour brochure and route map (1995) 3-18 E.A.C.H. (Ethnic Art of our Culture Hand-made): includes brochure and press release (1993) 3-19 Entertainers: includes news clippings, pamphlets, and miscellaneous notes about Cajun musicians and performers (c.2000) 3-20 Entertainers: includes miscellaneous notes about Cajun musicians and performers and some email correspondence (c. 2000) 3-21 Equipment: includes pamphlets and service agreements for various equipment at Acadian Village (1997-2008) 3-22 Equipment: includes pamphlets and service agreements for various equipment at Acadian Village (1997-2008) 3-23 Fairs and Festivals: includes “Bylaws” and “Fair and Festival Event Promotion Handbook” (1987-1988) 3-24 “Families A-Fair” program logo (n.d.) 3-25 Fax Machine instructions and service forms (c. 1999) 3-26 Ferdinand Stutes Bar, Barbershop, and Grocery Store Project at Acadian Village, includes financial records (1999) 3-27 Fete des Acadiens: includes press releases, correspondence, and news clippings (1994- 2005) 3-28 Flags: includes research for creating an Acadian flag, 1 floppy disk (with flag clipart), stickers, news clippings, and historical information about other flags (1995-2001) 3-29 Fred C. Hall Donation to Acadian Village: includes collection inventory (n.d.) 3-30 Germans in Louisiana: includes correspondence and brochures (1999-2001) 3-31 Gumbo Cook-off event at Acadian Village: includes entry forms, news clippings, and press releases (1995) 3-32 Herb Fest: includes pamphlets, promotional materials, two sealed booklets “Herb Recipes,” and news clippings (1998) 3-33 Hospitality Commission: includes meeting minutes, correspondence, commission report (1991) 3-34 Internet: includes pamphlet “The Internet 101 for Travel Professionals” and miscellaneous correspondence (c. 1995) 3-35 Irish families in Louisiana: includes news clippings and email correspondence (2000) 3-36 Jambalaya Du Musique event at Acadian Village: includes trademark registration, news clippings, press release, and correspondence (2000) 3-37 Joke Contest and Tall Tale Contest: includes rules and regulations, promotional materials, and “1987 Toastmasters International Speech Contest Rulebook”