A Hessmer couple donated a Louisiana State Normal scrapbook they found at a garage sale to the Cammie G. Henry Research Center at Northwestern State University. Donald and Ellen Johnson found the book, believed to belong to students Sadie and Sue Annie Stinston who attended Normal, as NSU was known from 1994-1944.

“The scrapbook was created during their Normal School days while they were studying home economics,” said University Archivist Mary Linn Wernet.

Wernet said the Johnsons began going to garage and estate sales several years ago and have found letters, yearbooks, posters, scrapbooks, pictures and other memorabilia. After looking through them, they often find an archive, library or museum and offer the items for historic collections.

Donald and Ellen Johnson are such fine stewards of the past,” Wernet said. “They truly understand the importance of allowing a past document, letter, pamphlet, poster and photograph of a former age to be proper cataloged and preserved for future generations. The scrapbook will be properly identified, preserved and made available for future NSU students, scholars and families related to Sadie and Sue Annie Stinston.”

The Cammie G. Henry Research Center is housed on the third floor of NSU’s Watson Library. Collections include Louisiana books, archival material, microfilm, maps, newspapers, oral history tapes and documents that date from the early 1700s to the present. For research questions, tours or special appointments, contact Wernet at (318) 357-4585 or email wernet@nsula.edu. Information is also available at library.nsula.edu/Cammie-henry-research-center.