Autocrat Social & Pleasure Club - N.O., LA.

The year was 1909, and for Colored men standing on a street corner in New Orleans this meant possible harassment from the police. These were the circumstances that brought twelve Colored men together to talk of an alternative to standing on these corners. They wanted a place to entertain themselves in peace. Simon Belleu, a member of the group acquired a charter for a poker club, and this charter provided protection for him and his friends, where they could congregate and play poker or other games, safe from the harassment of the police. However, this group did not last very long. One gentlemen, Arthur Boisdore, from that group decided to continue that style of entertainment. He secured the charter from Simon Belleu to continue the club under the name, The Autocrat Club.