Charles Isidore Denechaud Papers

Charles Isidore Denechaud (1879-1956) was a lawyer, notary public, and prominent Catholic lay leader during the first half of the 20th century. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 3, 1879, to Edward Francis and Juanita (Del Trigo) Denechaud, Charles Isidore Denechaud was educated at the College of the Immaculate Conception, received a law degree (LL. B.) from Tulane University in 1901, and was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree (LL. D.) from Loyola University in 1924.

Mr. Denechaud was admitted to the Louisiana bar in 1901, and became a member of the city, state and national bar associations. Over the course of his career, Mr. Denechaud had affiliations with several law firms including, most notably, the firm of Waguespack, Foster & Denechaud (established in 1908). He served as attorney for the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, National American Bank of New Orleans, Loyola University, WWL Radio and TV, and the New Orleans Chapter of the American Red Cross, among others. Mr. Denechaud taught civil law at Loyola University for several years, and served as a member of the school’s lay board of advisers. Mr. Denechaud also served as chairman of the board of advisers for both Hotel Dieu and Xavier University, and as a trustee of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Among his many other notable affiliations, Mr. Denechaud served on the Louisiana State Welfare Board, the Louisiana State Hospital Board, the board of administrators of Charity Hospital, the executive committee of the International House, the board of commissioners of New Orleans City Park, the board of managers of the Hospital Association of New Orleans, the board of directors of the Standard Fruit and Steamship Company, and as chairman of disaster relief for the New Orleans Chapter of the American Red Cross.

In addition to his legal work and civic contributions, Mr. Denechaud distinguished himself early as a Catholic lay leader: serving the Knights of Columbus in various capacities from 1904 to 1917, as national treasurer and member of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Catholic Men, as president of the Federation of Catholic Societies of Louisiana from 1908 to 1912, as national president of the American Federation of Catholic Societies from 1912 to 1914, as chairman of the executive committee for the Diocesan Seminary Fund in 1919, and as overseas commissioner of the National Catholic War Council of the United States in charge of relief work at its headquarters in Paris from 1918 to 1920. In 1924, Mr. Denechaud was named Knight of St. Gregory and, in 1938, Papal Chamberlain of the Cape and Sword to Pope Pius XI.

Charles Isidore Denechaud was married to Rose M. Stafford (of Almone, Ontario, Canada) on October 30, 1907. Together they had four children—Rosemary, Kathleen, Charles, and Margaret. Mr. Denechaud died on October 21, 1956, and is buried in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.