Louisiana Historical Society – The Louisiana Historical Quarterly Archive Founded in 1835 the Louisiana Historical Society is the oldest historical organization in the state. The State of Louisiana first chartered it in 1836 and has rechartered it several times since then. For a number of decades during the 19th century the society was the official custodian of the colonial records of Louisiana including the French Superior Council records and the Spanish Judicial Records of the Illustrious Cabildo local governing body. In 1906 the Society promoted a legislative act to create a Louisiana State Museum to be housed in the old Cabildo on Jackson Square.