"You're right on all counts about what information is in the ledgers. As for race, any of the old-timers around here, and even some of us not-so-old-timers, could tell you the race of the people involved based on the surnames."

But black and white surnames might be the same if the blacks in question go back to slave days?

"Haven't given any thought to what to do with the books, but maybe one of these days I'll ask the folks down at LSU or State Archives if they'd be interested."

I'll bet they would be interested - particularly if some LSU faculty member sees the possibility of a book coming out of an analysis of the ledger's contents.

I'd be more than happy to donate the books to a good home where they'd be given proper consideration.

Sorry, Steve, if I have taken up too much of your time on this post. Those ledgers just sounded like a fascinating find to me, particularly considering how you rescued them from being burned up the next day.

Nuff said, Sir.