In the 1930s, Henry invited Francois Mignon to help her organize some of her collection and assist with the many guests. Mignon, along with many of her other guests, helped Henry amass and organize a collection of more than seven thousand books and manuscripts, and 256 scrapbooks filled with photographs, clippings, and other ephemera. While at Melrose, Mignon also mentored a black domestic servant who demonstrated an interest in painting, Clementine Hunter. Hunter went on to become one of Louisiana’s best known artists.

Cammie Henry died on Melrose Plantation on November 17, 1948. Her collection of materials on Louisiana history and culture now form the basis of the Melrose Collection at the Cammie G. Henry Research Collection at Northwestern State University. Though one of her sons, J. D. Henry, ran the plantation until his death in 1969, the land and most of the home’s furnishing were eventually sold. The main house, many of its outbuildings, and six acres of land were donated to the Association of Natchitoches Women for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (now the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches). Melrose Plantation became a National Historic Landmark in 1974 and is currently open to the public.

Written By Lucy Gutman, Independent Scholar
Published » March 31, 2010 | Last Updated » January 18, 2011
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