Bio: Leonora Meyer (Mrs. Nathan), Caddo Parish La
Source: From Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish, Maude Hearn O'Pry,
1928, 
Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown


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                    LEONORA MEYER (Mrs. Nathan)

     ONE of the leading philanthropic and public benefactors of Shreveport is
the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Meyer has been one of the true builders whose
every effort tended to making the foundations sure; whose motto seems to have
been, "Prevention" rather than the more expensive one of punishment.  We find
her president of the Civic League of which, and the Hypatia, the present
Department Club is the outcome; President of the Big Sisters to the Training
School; First Vice President of Princess Park Association; Chairman Humane
Society; Chairman of Peace and Arbitration Council of Jewish Women; member of
Jewish Sisterhood; member of Jewish Ladies' Aid Society; member B'Nai Zion
Congregation; member of Home for the Aged and a liberal contributor to
every charitable organization in the city and many of the outside cities.

     Thru Mrs. Myer's efforts and influence with the City Council, the first
street lights, were placed at dark corners and alleys to protect working girls
going to and from work.
                   
     Mrs. Myer has done some writing in her early days, among which was a poem
dedicated to the late Mrs. James Martin Foster, Senior.  This was placed in
a brochure compiled by Mrs. Foster's daughter.
                    
     A costume having been worn by her lovely sainted mother, Esther May
Lichenstein who was a New Orleans Belle in 1850 was contributed by Mrs. Meyer
in costuming a character in the successful play "The Cajun" which recently
made a "hit" in New York.

     Mrs. Meyer was married in 1880 at Natchitoches, Louisiana, to the late
Mr. Nathan Meyer of Montgomery, Alabama.  They were blessed with one son,
Jacob S. Meyer.
                    
     Mrs. Meyer was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1859, and has been a
resident of Shreveport about forty-two years, having lived in her present
residence forty years.
              
     Mrs. Meyer is duly appreciated by her townsmen as attested by the
following from the Shreveport Times of May 6, 1920:
     "Over the telephone is the way Mrs. Meyer gathered funds to raise the
mortgage on the Shreveport Training School for Girls. Mrs. Meyer is so
well known through her service to the public along various lines, that even
her picture is not necessary to an introduction. Mrs. Meyer has the genius of
the telephone, or rather she employs the telephone genii to aid her; for she
has only to ask to receive.  She raised something like $4,000 for the school
named above and not only raised the mortgage, but has a balance for
refurnishing.
              
     "Previous services rendered by Mrs. Meyer have been the securing of
safety first laws passed by the City Council, and gates placed at railroad
crossings, while President of the Civic leeagae.  As President of this League,
she was instrumental in placing three drinking fountains for man and beast.
              
     Mrs. Meyer was placed at the head of the local work of the Nation Wide
Clean-Up Campaign some years ago; is second vice president of the      
Princess Park Association, and is Chairman of the Civic Committee of the
Centenary Improvement League and is ever ready to lend her aid in every cause
for the public weal."
              
     Just recently she has heen invited to act as Chairman of the Auditing
Committee by Mrs Anna B. Babin State Auditor of the Louisiana  Daughters of
the Confederacy.

              
     As Chairman of the Flag Committee when establishing the Court of honor at
the Fair Grounds, Mrs. Meyer was untiring in her efforts to make that occasion
a success. It is p1easant to recall too, in this connection, that Mrs. Meyer
was the first to launch the Playground movement in Shreveport.  While
President of the League she focused her efforts upon this matter which
terminated in the establishment of such playgrounds.

      As a memorial for the departed Mr. Nathan Meyer, Mrs. Meyer and
J. S. Meyer have furnished a room in the Shreveport Home for Aged Men
and Women.