Giles Millspaugh Collection

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Biographical Sketch

    Giles Weedon Millspaugh Jr. was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana on July 12, 1901.  A fifth generation native, he was the second son of Giles Weedon and Lelia Euprhasia Tauzin Millspaugh.  Millspaugh graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1917, and completed undergraduate work at Vanderbilt and Springhill College before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Loyola University in New Orleans.         
    Following this, he completed his graduate degree in pharmacy from Tulane University.  Soon after, Millspaugh began his lifelong career in pharmacy in Natchitoches.  He married Ella Charleville Millspaugh on July 29, 1925 in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and had two children:  Lelia (Betty) Millspaugh Horton, and Giles Weedon Millspaugh III.  Millspaugh also had five grandchildren. 
    An avid stamp and photograph collector, Millspaugh's collection numbered in the hundreds.  Many of the photographs he received were given to him by tourists, residents, friends and acquaintances, and were displayed in his drug store for over 25 years.  Millspaugh was a member of the Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy and owner and operator of Millspaugh’s Drug Store in Natchitoches until his death in 1976.

Scope and Content

    Included in the collection are 127 photographs assembled by Giles Millspaugh.  These photographs reflect his interest in the history of Natchitoches Parish and the city of Natchitoches.  Although nearly all of the photographs are labeled, the bulk of them are not dated.  These photographs offer a rare glimpse into the everyday life, growth and change of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana and the city of Natchitoches, Louisiana. 
    It is believed that Millspaugh shot approximately twenty percent of the photographs in the collection.  Most descriptions provide possible names of person's pictured, approximate dates, and locations.  Photographers of the remaining images are unknown unless noted.
    Due to the fragility of the photographs, their use is restricted.  Please use the browsing computer or the 3-ring binder of photocopies of the collection for access.
   

Inventory

Folder 1 Positive and negative of Cane River after a snowfall Folder 1 Positive of two people crossing the Cane on footbridge in 1914 Folder 1 Positive and negative of Cane River and River Bank Folder 1 Positive of Cane River Lake Folder 2 Postcard of Cane River with description Folder 2 Positive of new downtown bridge Folder 2 Positive of downtown bridge after snowfall Folder 2 Positive of river after snowfall Folder 2 Positive of Cane River Bridge Folder 2 Positive and negative of Cane River Bridge Folder 2 Positive and negative of Cane River Bridge after snowfall Folder 2 Positive and negative of the Cane River Bridge from the east bank Folder 2 Positive of Cane River Bridge sometime before upper dam was built Folder 2 Postcard of Cane River Lake and Bridge Folder 2 Positive showing downtown riverbank and bridge at Natchitoches Folder 2 Positive showing bridge at Natchitoches Folder 2 Positive showing downtown Natchitoches and bridge Folder 2 Positive of downtown bridge from west side, high water Folder 2 Positive of downtown bridge from west side, low water Folder 2 Positive and negative of downtown, parts of bridge showing Folder 2 Positive of downtown bridge from east side, low tide Folder 2 Positive of downtown bridge from east side, overview shot Folder 3 Positive of road to Grand Ecore Folder 3 Positive of Red River Bridge Folder 3 Positive of railroad and street bridge over Red River Folder 3 Positive of Grand Ecore Bluffs Folder 3 Positive of Grand Ecore Bluffs, bridge Folder Positive of Grand Ecore Bluffs, bridge Folder 3 Positive of bridge at Grand Ecore Folder 3 Positive of bridge at Grand Ecore (1906) Folder 3 Positive of bridge at Grand Ecore Folder 4 Positive of first crossing of Bermuda Bridge Folder 4 Positive of Bermuda Bridge in 1914 Folder 5 Positive of Kaffie Home at Williams Ave. and Stephens Folder 6 Positive and negative of Metoyer (Brown) residence Folder 7 Positive of St. Dennis Hotel on St. Dennis Street Folder 7 Positive and negative of St. Dennis looking west Folder 7 Positive looking east down St. Dennis Folder 7 Positive, overlooking downtown on St. Dennis Street Folder 7 Positive looking west on St. Dennis during a flood Folder 7 Positive looking west on St. Dennis during a flood Folder 8 Positive and negative of old lumber yard Folder 9 Postcard of Front Street (1906) from Exchange Bank to the South Folder 9 Postcard of Front Street (undated) from McClung & Drug to the North Folder 9 Positive and negative of Front Street looking North Folder 9 Positive and negative of Lecomte Building Folder 9 Positive and negative of Front Street looking south Folder 9 Positive and negative of Lecomte Building Folder 9 Positive and negative of Front Street looking North of the bridge Folder 9 Positive and negative of bricking Front Street Folder 9 Positive of Front Street looking north c. 1905-1906 Folder 9 Positive of Front Street looking north, mid-1920s Folder 9 Positive of Front Street looking North Folder 9 Positive of Exchange Bank downtown Folder 9 Positive of Front Street looking North Folder 9 Positive of Front Street looking South Folder 9 Positive of Downtown Bank looking North Folder 9 Positive of Front Street looking North, mid-1920s Folder 10 Positive and negative of Old Courthouse and Jailhouse Folder 10 Positive and negative of Jailhouse looking South Folder 10 Positive of rear of Immaculate Conception Cathedral after snowfall Folder 10 Positive of Old Courthouse & Jailhouse before fire in 1933 Folder 10 Positive of courthouse in Natchitoches Folder 10 Negative of Jailhouse Folder 10 Negative and positive of Immaculate Conception Cathedral Folder 10 Negative of Old Courthouse Folder 11 Positive of SW corner of 2nd and Touline Folder 11 Positive of cars in floodwaters, Church & St. Dennis Streets Folder 11 Positive of flood waters on Second Street Folder 11 Positive and negative of May Professional in 1906 Folder 11 Positive, looking North Folder 12 Positive of people standing on Front Street Folder 12 Positive of people at Nakatosh Hotel Folder 12 Positive of parade on Front Street Folder 12 Positive of people on riverbank Folder 13 Positive of baseball team at Louisiana State Normal Folder 13 Positive of baseball team at Louisiana State Normal, 1903-1904 Folder 14 Positive of front view at St. Mary’s Folder 14 Positive of Natchitoches school class Folder 14 Positive of Natchitoches school class Folder 14 Positive of Natchitoches school class Folder 14 Positive of teacher at Natchitoches, December 19, 1913 Folder 14 Positive of class Folder 14 Positive of the first St. Mary’s Academy, date undetermined Folder 14 Positive and negative of Natchitoches High School downtown Folder 14 Positive of house or school Folder 14 Positive of teacher and classmates Folder 14 Positive of alter boys and priest Folder 14 Positive of African American children Folder 15 Positive of Normal Hall Folder 15 Positive of chemistry room Folder 15 Positive of corner of biology room Folder 15 Positive of the Quadrangle Folder 15 Positive of North Gate Folder 15 Positive of Normal Buildings Folder 15 Positive of Cane River Valley, from roof of dormitory Folder 15 Positive of "Under the Oaks" Folder 15 Positive of Convent Buildings Folder 15 Positives of fire tower Folder 15 Negative of Cane River Valley, from roof of dormitory Folder 15 Negative of "Under the Oaks" Folder 15 Negative of chemistry room Folder 15 Negative view of Normal Building Folder 15 Negative of the Quadrangle Folder 15 Positive of view from Normal Building Folder 15 Positive of Normal Hall Folder 15 Positive of Convent Building Folder 15 Positive of "Under the Oaks" Folder 15 Positive of the Quadrangle Folder 15 Positive of Matron’s Buildings Folder 15 Positive of view of North Gate Folder 15 Positive of corner of biology room Folder 15 Positive of chemistry room Folder 15 Negative of Matron’s Room Folder 15 Negative of Convent Buildings Folder 15 Positive of girls with trees and building in the background Folder 15 Negative of corner of biology room Folder 15 Negative of view of North Gate Folder 15 Positive of girls exercising Folder 15 Positive of "the boys" (1902-1903) Folder 15 Positive of Louisiana State Normal, 1885 Folder 15 Positive of women and children dancing in circle Folder 15 Positive of people gathered outside, barn in backyard Folder 15 Positive of people in front of building or house Folder 15 Positive of women standing with trees surrounding them Folder 15 Positive of boys and girls dancing in circle Folder 15 Positive of people gathered in front of Normal Lab School (torn picture) Folder 15 Positive of house (rectangle shape) Folder 15 Positive of Louisiana State Normal, 1885 Folder 15 Positive of men and women in yard, telephone wires in background Folder 16 Negative of riverboat Folder 16 Positive of drugstore Folder 16 Positive of drugstore Folder 16 Positive of man at desk in medical office Folder 17 Positive of men leaning on train Folder 17 Positive of man lifting dirt with a crane (railroad Co.) Folder 17 Positive of men with horse and train Folder 17 Same image as previous, but larger Folder 18 Positive of steamboat Folder 18 Positive of steamboat in middle of lake Folder 18 Positive of riverboat on Cane River before dam Folder 18 Negative of previous Folder 18 Positive of steamboat Folder 19 Positive of male brass band on hill Folder 20 Positive of Spanish-American War soldiers Folder 20 Positive of Spanish–American War soldiers Folder 20 Positive of Spanish–American War soldiers Folder 21 Positive of quilt at house Folder 21 Positive of two men and cows Folder 21 Positive of early road crew Folder 21 Positive of early road crew Folder 22 Negative of Natchitoches view, July 1911 Folder 22 Positive of overlook of Natchitoches Folder 22 Positive of overlook of Natchitoches Folder 22 Positive of view of Natchitoches July1911 Folder 23 Positive of Art Colony, 1920s Folder 23 Positive of Lemee House interior Folder 23 Positive of Sompayrac Home Folder 24 Positive of lake with trees Folder 24 Positive of students in front of building Folder 24 Positive of big house at Melrose Plantation, 1929 Folder 24 Positive of priest Folder 24 Positive of men and family Folder 24 Positive of speaker with microphone (KNOC) Folder 24 Positive of flooded houses Folder 24 Positive of flooded houses Folder 24 Positive of flooded houses Folder 24 Positive of gas station and two people Folder 24 Positive of Jac Pulver Folder 24 Positive of girls in parade Folder 24 Positive of men working on house Folder 25 Positive of couples on ostrich-driven carriage