SU authors set event for book about Scotlandville community

Southern University authors launched their new book "Images of America SCOTLANDVILLE" on Friday, June 19^, at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church before about 300 people in the church's Family Life Center.

The authors, Drs. Rachel L. Emanuel, Ruby J. Simms and Charles Vincent., spoke about their paths to write the book. They praised the Scotlandville community for participating in the book development.

After the event, the authors had a book signing where more than 100 books were sold.

Emanuel is director of communications for the SU Law Center. Simms and Vincent are professors of history at SU. Vincent has authored a book on the history of Southern titled "A Centennial History of Southern University and A&M College, 1880-1980."

"Images of America SCOTLANDVILLE " chronicles the birth and the ongoing life of the Scotlandville community and also how its development coincided with the growth of the nearby Southern University campus. Before SU landed on Scott's Bluff in 1914, the Scotlandville area was once the entry point for the slave trade and home to a cotton plantation.

Using photographs from institutional and personal collections, the authors describe the origins, development and heyday of the Scotlandville before the community's incorporation into Baton Rouge. There are dozens of stories about families, community heroes and the connectivity to Southern University leadership, faculty and student life.

The foreward of the book is written by East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Kip Holden, a lifelong resident of Scotlandville.

The book is published by Arcadia Publishing of Charleston, S.C.