Ray L. Bellande Papers
Scope and Contents
The contents of this collection contain articles published in various columns for the Ocean Springs Record written by Ray Bellande from 1992 until 2008. Other contents of the collection include photographs of Gulf Coast buildings and features before and after Katrina, oral histories of Gulf Coast residents, and research materials such as booklets, maps, and publications.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1992-2009
Creator
- Bellande, Ray L., 1943- (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
Biographical / Historical
Ray L. Bellande was born in 1943 and was a native of Biloxi, Mississippi. Bellande received a bachelor’s degree in petroleum geology from Mississippi State University in 1965. Bellande worked for companies like Humble Oil and Tenneco before becoming an independent geologist and oil operator in 1980.
Since 1993, Bellande began writing a weekly history column for The Ocean Springs Record called “Sous Les Chenes” and would later write other columns such as “Images Under the Oaks” and “Vintage Village Vues.” Bellande has also written several books such as The Bellande Cemetery: A History and Register (1990), From Marseille to Mississippi, A Bellande Family History (1991), Cemeteries New Ocean Springs Mississippi (1992), Ocean Springs Hotels and Tourist Homes (1994), and Ocean Springs, The Way We Were 1900-1950 (1996). Bellande has also contributed to a number of other publications such as The Ocean Springs Genealogical Society Journal, The Journal of the Jackson Country Genealogical Society, The Mississippi Coast Historical and Genealogical Society Journal, Humble Hesperian, and Mississippi Archaeology.
Bellande has been a member of a number of groups like: Jackson County Historical Society, Jackson County Genealogical Society, Ocean Springs Genealogical Society, Mississippi Historical Society, Mississippi Coast Historical and Genealogical Society, Forces of Montcalm and Wolfe, North American Voyageurs Council, For Maurepas Society, Jackson County Tricentennial Commission, Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, Ocean Springs Art Association, Ocean Springs Historic Preservation Commission, Museum of Fur Trade, Seafood Industry Museum, Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and The Pioneer America Society. Ray Bellande has won several awards for his contributions to Gulf Coast history. These awards include the President’s Award from the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce in 1994, and he was named Historian of the Year in 1995 and 1996.
Extent
2 Cubic Feet : MC2/D8
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Copies of this Ocean Springs Record columnist's "Sous Les Chenes", "Images Under the Oaks" and “Vintage Village Vues” columns, and related research materials.
Provenance
Several donations by Ray L. Bellande over the course of several years. The first donation was received on July 5, 2001 and the last was received June 19, 2009.
Sources
Biographical information given by Ray Bellande.
Genre / Form
- Biographies.
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.).
- Designs and plans.
- Interview.
- Map.
- Newspapers.
- Oral histories.
- Photographs.
- Posters.
- Posters.
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Ray L. Bellande Papers
- Author
- Collection processed and finding aid written by Amanda Abulawi.
- Date
- April 9th, 2019
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345