La Societe Canadienne Francaise Photographs: Picnic in Stillwater, Minnesota, June 23, 1992

"Rivard, John T., Age 94, of Coon Rapids died on October 30, 2005 of pneumonia. Preceded in death by parents, Louis H. & Alma; brothers, Louis, Richard and Raymond; and sister, Louise. Survived by spouse of 35 years, Jeanne; many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews and cousins. Ordained a Catholic priest May 18, 1940 in the Cathedral of Quebec, he served as Assistant Pastor in several parishes prior to becoming Pastor at St. Anne's in Somerset, WI (1946-65), leaving the priestly ministry in 1970. John married Jeanne Shallbetter in 1970 at St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, MN. He was made District Manager of Northern MN Historic Sites by the MN Historical Society and retired from the Society in 1978. He continued giving historical programs based on historical figures for many years, numbering 1,394 programs in all. In 1979, he founded the Societe Canadienne Francaise du MN, having chapters in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. He will be missed very much by his loving spouse, Jeanne, and his many, many relatives and friends." Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press, 3 November 2005 John Rivard was the founder of La Societe Canadienne Francaise, a cultural interest group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Material related to the organization includes its constitution and by-laws, meeting minutes, correspondence and photographs. The collection also documents Rivard's role as an historical re-enactor. He portrayed a French voyageur, United States President George Washington, a lumberjack, and Charles Lindbergh, among others. He gave numerous presentations throughout the upper Midwest and served as the "Official Voyageur of Minnesota" during his career. Jeanne Rivard gave these materials to Dick Bernard, who in turn deposited them in Special Collections in April 2008 (2010-3024).