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The Legacy of Marie Justine Cirnaire Couvent
Last will and testament, recorded on November 12, 1832: “I bequeath and order that my land at the corner of Grands Hommes and Union streets [now Dauphine and Touro] be dedicated and used in perpetuity for the establishment of a free school for the colored orphans of the district of Marigny.”
Marie Couvent was the founding benefactor of one of the oldest black Catholic schools in the United States.
Marie Justine Cirnaire Couvent, a remarkable free woman of color, left an enduring legacy in New Orleans through her dedication to education. Born in West Africa around 1757, she was enslaved as a child and transported to Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti). Amid the Haitian Revolution, Couvent fled to New Orleans, where she ultimately gained her freedom, becoming a landowner and successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Marie Couvent’s life was defined by her resilience and vision. In 1837, she made a lasting contribution by bequeathing her property at 1941 Dauphine Street in Faubourg Marigny to establish a free school for African American orphans. Her will stipulated that the land "forever" be used for education, ensuring future generations would benefit from opportunities that were often denied to them.
Her property became home to several schools, continuing her mission of uplifting children through education. Though none of these institutions bore her name, her generosity shaped the lives of countless students. Over 150 years later, the legacy of Marie Couvent remains an integral part of New Orleans' history.
As the founder of The Couvent Collective, I feel a deep personal connection to this legacy. I am a proud graduate of Holy Redeemer School, where I spent eight years of my life gaining a strong foundation in education. In addition, I am a direct descendant of Margery and Len Cutchmore, two of the Georgetown 272—slaves sold by Jesuit priests to help ensure the financial survival of Georgetown University in 1838. Their sacrifice and resilience have shaped my commitment to education, justice, and community upliftment.
It is deeply disheartening that despite The Couvent Collective’s attempts to purchase and preserve this historic school, the Archdiocese of New Orleans sold the property to help cover settlements for child abuse claims. This decision goes against the very purpose for which the building was originally intended—to serve the community.
Education and Empowerment
Founded as L’Institution Catholique des Orphelins Indigents in the Faubourg Marigny district, the Couvent School was the first institution in the U.S. dedicated to providing free education to Black orphans. Financed through a trust established by Marie Justine Cirnaire Couvent, a free woman of color, the school opened its doors in 1848, overcoming opposition and legal challenges from the local white community. It quickly became a vital educational hub for both orphans and children of free people of color.
Little-Known Facts
Ernest "Dutch" Morial, the first Black Mayor of New Orleans, was an alumnus of Holy Redeemer Elementary School. Despite the devastation of Hurricane Betsy in 1965, which destroyed the Holy Redeemer Church, the elementary school remained operational until 1993, when it closed due to financial difficulties.
In the same year, the site became home to Bishop Perry Middle School for Boys, a free Catholic school run by the Society of St. Edmund. This school served 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students of African American heritage, with enrollment numbers fluctuating between 60 and 200 students.
Following the economic impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Bishop Perry Middle School closed its doors in August 2006. While the building itself sustained minimal damage during the hurricane, many families did not return to New Orleans after the evacuation, contributing to the school’s closure. Later that year, the site became home to St. Gerard Majella Alternative School, operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame, which provided continued education for high school-aged women who were pregnant.