The Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court’s Office is partnering with the Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA) on a new preservation project aimed at digitizing and translating the parish’s historic French Archives, dating from 1738 to 1803.

Clerk of Court David Stamey recently welcomed CRNHA Director Rebecca Blankenbaker and her staff for an inside look at the archives and operations of the Clerk’s Office. The collaboration will focus on making centuries-old documents more accessible to the public, with an emphasis on education and historical research.

The French Archives collection is a significant resource for genealogists, historians, and anyone interested in learning more about Colonial Natchitoches. Once digitized and transcribed, the documents will be available to a broader audience, offering insight into early Louisiana history and the region’s colonial past.

Over the past decade, the Clerk’s Office has steadily expanded its digital offerings, including conveyance, civil, succession, and criminal records. Current efforts are focused on completing the digitization and indexing of conveyance records from 1905 to 1920.

Both offices see the project as a major step forward in historical preservation and public access. CRNHA noted the archives are “proof that time travel is possible,” as they provide a direct window into the lives and stories of early Natchitoches.

The initiative is expected to benefit amateur and professional researchers alike, while strengthening public understanding of the area’s rich heritage.