In this interview, conducted by Hazel Breaux of the Federal Writers’ Project (FWP), Anita Fonvergne extensively details her own personal history as well as the history of her family. Breaux notes that Fonvergne has an “excellent memory” and is in “good health.” Fonvergne is described as welcoming of Breaux and thankful for what she has. She is on government relief and receives $12 a month. She also speaks English but with a strong French accent. This interview provides a detailed insight into her life and highlights the importance of oral history in understanding the lived experiences of others.

The comprehensive nature of this interview suggests that the interviewer Hazel Breaux was interested in Fonvergne’s story and was willing to take a detailed account of what she has to say. Fonvergne and Breaux built up a rapport, as evidenced by Fonvergne’s invitation to her daughter's house to meet her sister. Breaux is attentive and respectful, and Fonvergne is open and honest. She is willing to share her life story with Breaux and even says in the interview “I can see that you’re good.” It does not appear that there was an ulterior motive, and Fonvergne could speak freely.

Anita Fonvergne was roughly born in 1860. At the time of this interview, she was 79 years old. According to census data from 1870, she has lived in Louisiana her whole life. Fonvergne is of French, Swiss, Cuban, and Spanish heritage. Despite her mixed heritage, Fonvergne states in the interview that her family does not “class” themselves as neither black nor white, they tend to stay to themselves. Fonvergne also explains that her family were free people and were not enslaved.

In this interview, Fonvergne does not explicitly state her race and does not identify with any. However, while researching her family history, census data was contradictory. On the 1870 census Fonvergne is listed as white, whereas on the 1880 census she is listed as biracial. This highlights big discrepancies in official records. It remains unclear what race Fonvergne was as it also lists two different distinctions for her family members on both records.

Fonvergne recounts memories and stories of her family with immense pride throughout this interview. She discusses the origins of her family in detail. Her maternal grandfather, Bartholemew Rey, was from Cuba. He was originally a tailor before becoming involved in the slave trade, where he had a reputation for treating enslaved people well. From this, he gained a significant fortune which was then lost after the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclimation. Her maternal grandmother, Sylipid Sacriste, was from Santo Domingo who came to Louisiana during the Revolution.

Her paternal grandfather Pierre Arnold Fonvergne was a runner for Napoleon, he was educated in France,  Fonvergne describes him as white. The real spelling of her grandfather’s middle name ‘Arnold’ is unknown as official records list it as ‘Arnaud’ whereas Breaux has written ‘Arnold.’ This may be a writing mistake; however, it is noteworthy. From her interview, and other records, her father was also named Pierre Arnold Fonvergne, yet Anita only addresses him as ‘Arnold Fonvergne.’ Her paternal grandmother Johanna Haugman was a white woman who her grandfather met while in Switzerland. Fonvergne’s roots in New Orleans can be traced back to her grandparents as her father was brought there at three months old.

An interesting fact that Fonvergne shares is that her distant family was detailed in a book called ‘Nos Hommes et Notre Histoire’ by Desdunes. The book documents achievements made by Black Americans in Louisiana. Her ancestors Octavia Rey and Hippolyte Rey, presumably from her mother's side, met Andrew Jackson and fought in the Battle of New Orleans which is discussed in the book.

Little information is given about her mother Henrietta Rey. However, from census records, her mother was 30 years old at the time she gave birth to Anita. Her occupation was mostly keeping house with one record noting she was a seamstress. Fonvergne’s father, Pierre Arnold Fonvergne, was 36 years old at the time of Anita’s birth and records list his occupation as ‘clerk’ and ‘surveyor land’. Anita describes his occupation as a hat maker where he made a good living but not enough to sustain a family. Fonvergne mentions in the interview that her parents were legally married. Her father died in 1871 leaving her mother widowed.

According to census data from 1860 and 1870, Fonvergne had five siblings. However, she only gives details about her sister Marie in the interview, with a small detail being given about her brother’s education at private school. Fonvergne describes her sister Marie Decou as 82 years old, active, and skilled in fine embroidery.

Fonvergne’s diligence in describing her family history reflects the complexities of race and identity. It highlights the integral part that oral history plays when discussing people and matters of the past.

Fonvergne discusses her own personal history extensively in this interview. She attended private school in Barracks Street but does not know what grade she reached. Fonvergne had a daughter, Henrietta Moreau, at 18 years of age out of wedlock. She never married and dedicated her life to her child. Her daughter had 16 children, but only 11 survived. She has 14 great-grandchildren. She worked for Mrs Cavaroc Lanuse for seventeen years, the family treated her well and are still friendly. She also had a job delivering vegetables and meat to customers from the French Market, which she expressed caused her some health problems. Fonvergne also worked as a sewist where she made pants for Mercier’s store at $1.25 per dozen. She also worked at a covenant on Ursuline Street for five years.

Her family are Catholic, and she has been a devout Catholic all her life. Fonvergne also discusses social outings at Francs-Amis Hall when she was younger but says she mostly lived a quiet life. Fonvergne recalls childhood memories of seeing famous voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau when her mother took her to an old cemetery. She calls voodoo the “devil’s work” further emphasising her Catholic views.

This interview provides a detailed and precise insight into the cultural and social environment that Fonvergne was experiencing. Her history as a free person is important to the narrative of enslavement as it is another aspect of oral history that needs to be discussed and analysed. A broad historical context is given which provides useful information about the lives of free people and ordinary people.

Bibliography

Interview with Anita Fonvergne conducted by Hazel Breaux, in A. Livesey, Voices of the Formally Enslaved in Louisiana: The WPA Interviews, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press [forthcoming 2025]. 52-59

1860 United States Federal Census. Year: 1860; Census Place: New Orleans Ward 4, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: M653_421; Page: 79; Family History Library Film: 803421. Ancestry.com

1870 United States Federal Census. Year: 1870; Census Place: New Orleans Ward 6, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: M593_522; Page: 254B; Family History Library Film: 552021. Ancestry.com

1880 United States Federal Census. Year: 1880; Census Place: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: 462; Page: 594B; Enumeration District: 05. Ancestry.com

"United States, Census, 1900", FamilySearch. Entry for Henriette Fonvergne and Anita Fonvergne, 1900.