Out of the Shadow of Leprosy
By our Member Claire Manes

In this June 1919 picture Edmond G. Landry, a veteran of World War I, was a husband and the father of a four month old daughter, Leonide “Teenie” Landry.  Life was good for him and his wife Claire.  Dedication to hard work, family and his religious faith defined his life.  But already the leprosy bacillus was invading his life.  Only one month later in July 1919 his brother Norbert would enter the Louisiana Leper’s Home in Carville, Louisiana the forerunner of the federal hospital and by 1924 Edmond would   himself become voluntarily incarcerated at the United States Public Health Services Hospital.  The two brothers were the first of their family to be isolated in Carville.  In the 1930s and 40s, Amelie, Marie, and Albert followed their brothers to the hospital for treatment.  Out of the Shadow of Leprosy is Edmond’s story written from his letters by me, his only granddaughter, who was born thirteen years after his death.  It is published by University Press of Mississippi and is set for release in May 2013.  It will be available through Barnes and Noble, University Press of Mississippi, area bookstores and Amazon.com