1945 melrose plantation natchitoches by free black woman of color CAMMIE HENRY For Sale

TO SEE ALL OF MY OTHER \"Louisiana\" and my \"African American\" COLLECTIBLES, please click on the link above to my store (\"Seller\'s Other Items\") and do separate searches for \"Louisiana,\" and then for \"African American,\" and then for SHIPPING - AS USUALoriginal ca 1940s lot of 2 b&w postcards showing African American architecture at Melrose Plantation nearNatchitoches, Louisiana.
Top of scan shows The African House, which is [presumably] on the grounds of the much more famous Melrose Plantation house (bottom of scans), which was built for a legendary Louisiana black \"free woman of color\" ca. 1800. Later it came under the ownership of Miss Cammie Henry (a white woman) who turned it into a semi-private museum displaying the area\'s history with some meaningful attention paid to the history of African Americans in the area - both free and slave. The great African-American Louisiana artist Clementine Hunter was a frequent house guest.
The original African-American woman owner was a remarkably successful plantation owner and business person but, sadly - even though she was a free woman of color - her plantation was run by slaves of which she owned many. She was likely the most famous of black slave owners.
About the somewhat confusing history of Melrose Plantation (yet there is NO confusion about its original black ownership):
In 1974, the National Park Service described the site as follows, based on historical knowledge at the time:
Established in the late 18th century by Marie Therese Coincoin, a former slave who became a wealthy businesswoman, the grounds of Melrose Plantation contain what may well be the oldest buildings of African design built by Blacks, for the use of Blacks, in the country. The Africa House, a unique, nearly square structure with an umbrella-like roof which extends some 10 feet beyond the exterior walls on all four sides, may be of direct African derivation.
Buildings include the main house, the Yucca House, the Ghana House, and the Africa House, plus some outbuildings. The plantation was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
Since the 1970s, additional documentary evidence has been found that disproves the asserted identity of the founder. Early twentieth-century owners named the extant buildings as part of promoting the plantation as a cultural center. A 2002 study of Creole building practices showed that there was no evidence of African traditions in the architecture. The so-called Ghana House is a simple log cabin type common in the area. Similarly, Africa House has been shown to be of design and building techniques similar to French rural structures of the time.
Historical investigations from the 1970s, together with an archaeological investigation that began at Melrose Plantation in 2001, have uncovered evidence that both confirm some aspects and challenge other elements of local tradition about the complex. Research shows conclusively, through original contemporary records, that the core tract of 911 acres was granted in 1796 to Coincoin\'s second son, Louis Metoyer, and not to Coincoin.
As the children of a French-American father and African mother, Louis and his siblings were considered multiracial \"Créoles of color.\" Similar to the Metoyer siblings, many multiracial Creoles became educated property owners, particularly in New Orleans, Opelousas, and the Cane River and Campti areas of Natchitoches. Although not legally freed by his white father until 1802, Metoyer evaded Louisiana\'s Code Noir that prohibited enslaved men from being granted land. This was probably due to his father\'s wealth and standing.
These neat letterpress printed cards were locally produced by TheNatchitoches Enterprise newspaper and likely date from mid-1940s to the early 1950s. They\'re a tad larger than standard size postcards, each measuring 5 5/8 inches wide by 4 inches deep.
One price gets both postcards, with free shipping :-}
As of 14 Oct. 2026, I couldn\'t find these 2 views listed as a \"set\" anywhere else on - either in current or completed listings - BUT . . . I may have missed them
postally unused (but I only have ONE of each of these); very lightly soiled on verso (EXAGGERATED by my scanner) else fine print ... [sigh] ... but please read :-)

WE REGRET WE DON\'T SHIP OUT OF USA; SORRY, BUT NO EXCEPTIONS.

FREE SHIPPING with a stiffer piece of card stock + plastic sleeve protected 1st class mail, STANDARD RATE. Regardless of what may say on their \"Shipping Page\" - while STANDARD MAIL is perfectly safe for smaller & less expensive items - it is NOT the same grade of service as a \"USPS Ground Advantage Package\" (with tracking)
Buyer MAY opt in (at a small-ish extra charge) for upgraded & carefully packed (with stiff corrugated board protection) for USPS Ground Advantage package rate (with TRACKING #) at checkout if they choose.
To do so, you\'ll need to click on the link for the extra shipping charge at checkout. won\'t let me upgrade the shipping if you don\'t remember to click on that link & pay the extra shipping at the same time you pay for this item.

I ship twice a week so turnover time or handling time is 3 business days (Mon-Fri) max - often less than that.

Please pay within 4 days. Delayed? Then email me - I\'ll try to work with you when necessary but it helps a lot when I have contact with you. If your payment is delayed, is liable to send a dun or two. PLEASE NOTE THAT THOSE ARE COMING AUTOMATICALLY FROM AND NOT FROM ME. I typically send out just one reminder.