LAFAYETTE'S ANCIENT OAKS

In south Louisiana, holm oaks are a veritable historical heritage. They provided shade and protection for the homes of early settlers along the bayous and rivers. They also marked property boundaries. These multi-century-old trees, still very much alive, deserved to be valued and protected. In 1934, Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens, the first president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, proposed the creation of an organization to collect the largest and oldest holm oaks. Edwin Lewis Stephens wants to identify and promote Louisiana's living oaks, which are worthy of being identified and preserved for future generations to enjoy, and are highly symbolic. They reflect what characterizes the people and cultures of this rich alluvial region: strength of character, patience, longevity and human generosity. The Live Oak Society was born in 1934. At the time, it comprised just 43 oak trees. Today, the Live Oak Society's membership lists more than 8,300 trees, registered in 14 states in the southeastern United States. In the Lafayette area alone, 12 of the most notable oaks can be seen among the 43 founding members. The one enthroned beside Lafayette Cathedral is said to be over 450 years old! Respect to Mother Nature, man is a very small thing.
Today, more than a thousand oaks in the Lafayette region are registered with the Society.