Robert Martin Collection

Collection 335

Martin, Robert (1853–1932). Collection, 1856–1930s

15 volumes

Martin, Robert, attorney politician, businessman. Born, Breaux Bridge, La., March 6, 1853. Son of Simeaon Valery Martin and Marie Francoise Celima Deblanc. Education: local schools; Louisiana State University, B.S. read law under Judge Alcibiades DeBlanc, and admitted to Louisiana bar. Practiced law, St. Martinville, Louisiana, until 1930. Married, April 25, 1878, Gabrielle Berard, daughter of Balthesar Berard and Artemise LeBlanc. Children: Joseph James (b. 1881), Claude Chester (b. 1882), Willis Patrick (b. 1886), Marie Louise (b. 1892), and Ruth (b. 1894). Member of State Board of Education. Founder of Bank of St. Martinville, 1893, President of the bank, 1893-1929. State senator, 1896-1900, authored Act 162 of 1898 which established Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Member of the first board of trustees of that institution (1899-1908) and served again from 1923-1931. Martin Hall on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus named in his honor. Member of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville La. Died, St. Martinville, March 28, 1932; interred St. Michael Cemetery.

[Biography was taken from "A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography", volume 1]

This collection contains materials from Simeon Valery Martin, Louis E. Labaire, Robert Martin, and James J. Martin, but mainly Robert Martin. There are notary volumes for Simeon Valery Martin, Louis E. Labaire, Robert Martin, and James J. Martin. There are also copy books of business letters written by Robert Martin as both a lawyer and as a businessman. Many of the pages are illegible due to fading and ink bleed-through. The first 4 volumes are mainly in French and there are scattered French documents in others. The volumes are roughly arranged chronologically.

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