JEANERETTE — The Jeanerette Museum Board is collecting photographs and brief stories of Cuban people who resided in Jeanerette.

“Cuban families immigrated to Jeanerette to begin a new life in the United States during the early 1960s,” said Gail Garcia, chairman of the Jeanerette Museum Board of Directors. 

“The museum is currently collecting the photos and stories of these people that became citizens of our community for future generations. We are also asking residents that went to school, worked with or remembered these citizens to send in their memories.”

The stories and photos will become a part of the museum’s collection in order to preserve the history of the community. The items also may be used for future history presentations, roundtable discussions and pamphlets.

“Many of the Cuban Americans in our area worked in the sugar industry. Our museum focuses on the sugar and cypress industries that helped to shape our city. We hope that this project will shine light on the accomplishments of our citizens,” Garcia said. 

If you have photos and family history to share for the museum’s collection email them to jeanerettemuseum@yahoo.com, or mail them to Jeanerette Museum Cuban History, PO Box 1011, Jeanerette, LA 70544. 

Items are being collected for future generations, history programs and pamphlets.  Please send in items by Jan. 31.

Also, if anyone would like to share any family recipes that deal with traditional Cuban food please submit those, with contact information, to techelife.editor@daily-iberian.com.