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NOLA.com Names HNOC Historian Jari Honora as 2025 “Louisianan of the Year”

January 5, 2026

The family historian and certified genealogist received the honor for his work connecting the pope’s heritage to the state’s history and culture.

Jari Honora, HNOC Family Historian
Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times Picayune
NOLA.com / The Times Picyaune
“In 2025, there were plenty of Louisianans who made important contributions, but no other Louisianan had the kind of global impact that reminded us why our state and its unique place in history matter. . . . A certified genealogist and one of only three Black genealogists in the country to achieve that rank, Honora isn’t just looking at the family trees of celebrities. He has helped many families around the state learn about their roots—particularly those who have questions about their Creole heritage.”

Editorial staff, NOLA.com | The Times Picayune

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Jari Honora 2025 Louisianan of the Year: NOLA.com | The Times Picayune Download Download

Further Reading

Check out our First Draft blog post about Jari’s discovery of Pope Leo XIV’s Louisiana heritage.

First Draft

From the French Quarter to the Vatican

Shortly after Robert Francis Prevost was announced as the first American pope, HNOC’s Jari C. Honora uncovered a surprising New Orleans connection, revealing the pontiff’s maternal grandparents to be Creoles of color from the Seventh Ward. 

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A boy in white lay garments leads a church procession down the street, followed by other boys in white lay garments wearing crucifixes and holding chalices.

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First Draft

What’s the Difference Between Cajun and Creole—Or Is There One?

The answers are tied up in race, class, language, and, of course, history.

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First Draft

When Praying the Gay Away Didn’t Work, He Turned to Activism

In an excerpt from his new memoir, activist Larry Bagneris recounts how his adolescent struggle to shed his homosexuality led to a political awakening and a lifelong purpose.

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Related Collection Highlights

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The inside back cover of the book volume for Le Spiritualiste shows a marbled printed pattern.

Le Spiritualiste

When séances were all the rage, New Orleans produced the nation’s first and only French-language publication devoted to Spiritualism.

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Portrait of a woman with dark hair, wearing a black dress with a white collar. She is seated, holding a small object in her left hand, against a plain background. Her expression is calm and composed.

Cane River Collection

Over 1,400 legal and financial documents amount to a detailed record of one slice of 19th-century Black Creole life.

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Allison “Tootie” Montana, big chief of the Yellow Pocahontas wearing an elaborate pink and orange feathered costume with detailed beadwork and intricate patterns stands confidently. The outfit includes a large headdress and symbolic designs across the chest and arms.

Michael P. Smith Collection

Smith documented the music, parading, and Black folk traditions of New Orleans for decades.

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Related News

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A screen capture of HNOC historian Jari Honora appearing on CBS Mornings.
HNOC in the News

CBS Mornings: What to Know about Pope Leo XIV’s Ancestry

May 27, 2025
It was recently revealed that new pope has Louisiana Creole ancestry. Jari Honora, a family historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection, made the discovery and joined “CBS Mornings Plus” to explain.
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A boy in white lay garments leads a church procession down the street, followed by other boys in white lay garments wearing crucifixes and holding chalices.
HNOC in the News

NPR: Why Black Catholics in New Orleans Feel a Special Connection to Pope Leo XIV

June 5, 2025
HNOC family historian Jari Honora spoke with “All Things Considered” about the new pope’s Creole ancestry and what it means for residents of the 7th Ward.
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A headshot of Daniel Hammer, President and CEO of the Historic New Orleans Collection. The museum's courtyard can be seen in the background.
HNOC in the News

WWL Radio: Daniel Hammer Discusses Pope Leo XIV and Upcoming Exhibitions

June 2, 2025
HNOC’s president and CEO went on the Newell Normand Show to talk about the organization’s role in discovering the ancestry of the new pope and much more.
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Related Books

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Cover of Afro-Creole Poetry: In French from Louisiana’s Radical Civil War-Era Newspapers. Features a circular design on a background of faded text. Includes A Bilingual Edition and contributors Clint Bruce and Angel Adams Parham.

Afro-Creole Poetry in French from Louisiana’s Radical Civil War–Era Newspapers

translated and introduced by Clint Bruce
with a foreword by Angel Adams Parham

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The image shows a book titled Economy Hall: The Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood by Fatima Shaik. The cover features a vintage, worn notebook with a marbled design and a paper label.

Economy Hall: The Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood

by Fatima Shaik

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Book cover of Call Me Larry by Larry Bagneris and Ryan Gomez. Features a black and white photo of a man in a suit, framed by a rainbow-colored border against a black background. Subtitled A Creole Mans Triumph over Racism and Homophobia.

Call Me Larry: A Creole Man’s Triumph over Racism and Homophobia

by Larry Bagneris

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