Judy Riffel is a professional genealogist with over thirty-five years experience. Based in Baton Rouge, she specializes in Louisiana records and research and visits libraries, archives, and courthouses in and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Library Genealogy Collection is housed in the new Main Library on Goodwood Boulevard in Baton Rouge. It has an extensive collection of genealogical books, periodicals, microfilm, and electronic resources with a focus on southern states. The library also has extended hours and state-of-the art equipment.
The State Archives houses a variety of original Louisiana records including vital records, Confederate pension records, hospital records, Louisiana State Penitentiary records, World War I discharge papers, records of elected officials, land records, and many other state and parish governmental records. Judy's book, A Guide to Genealogical Research at the Louisiana State Archives, now in its second edition, describes and explains many of the records that are available there. The State Archives also has an online index to their vital records. Digital copies of original and microfilmed records can usually be made.
Middleton Library is the main library on the LSU campus. It has been a depository for federal government publications since 1907 and has a substantial number of U.S. documents issued before that time. They also have microfilm copies of 20th century Louisiana newspapers for the larger cities. Their resources are fully searchable on their online catalog. Digital copies of microfilmed records can be made.
The Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collection in LSU's Special Collections documents the history and culture of the region. When patron requests exceed the amount of time staff can devote, they usually refer them to Judy. Her specialities include researching plantation and family papers, Spanish colonial period records (commonly known as the Cuban Papers), and newspapers. Special Collections website has an extensive list of finding aids which can be searched ahead of time to save time and direct Judy in her search. They also have a number of finding aids. Copying services are governed by the library's rules and charges and vary by collection.
Located in downtown Baton Rouge, the State Library has a large collection of Louisiana genealogical and historical books as well as microfilm copies of many parish courthouse records. The Library has prepared a helpful finding aid called Searching For Your Louisiana Ancestors on Microfilm. Digital copies of microfilmed records can be made.
Judy has decades of experience researching records in Louisiana's parish courthouses. These include marriage, probate, conveyance, civil suits, and criminal records. Judy can provide abstracts or obtain paper copies. Note that most parish Clerks of Court typically charge between 50 cents and $1 per page for copies and digital copies of older documents are usually not available. The following is a list of parish courthouses in her search area. More distant parishes require additional travel time and possibly an overnight stay. Click for PDF map.