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Joseph Manuel Bartholomew

Presented as arguably the most successful Negro businessman in New Orleans was Joe Bartholomew. He was born Joseph Manuel Bartholomew on 1 August 1888 to Louis M. Bartholomew and Alice Lindoff. He started as a caddy to many of the city’s men of note who were also golfers. He soon learned the game of golf well enough to give private lessons and to design golf courses. He designed and landscaped the Audubon Park, City Park, and Metairie County Club courses, all during a time when they were closed to men of his race. Ever an innovative thinker, Bartholomew built a private nine-hole course in Jefferson Parish where he and his friends could play. As a result of lending his dirt-hauling equipment and other machinery to contractors around town, Bartholomew mastered by observation the contracting business. He focused primarily on drainage, foundation, and landscaping work. Among his major projects were the repaving of Tulane Avenue, stonework at Charity Hospital, the Johns-Manville plant, and work for Higgins Shipyards. His contracting skills, particularly drainage and foundation work, were quickly parlayed into real estate. He drained and leveled scores upon scores of lots which he either sold or upon which he built homes which he rented. Like so many other successful Negro businessmen, Bartholomew invested into the life insurance industry, becoming president in 1940 of the Douglas Life Insurance Company. At the time of the Fortune magazine article, Bartholomew was estimated to be worth a half-million dollars. With his wife, the former Ruth Segue, Bartholomew had twin daughters, Mrs. Leontine DeMar and Mrs. Ruth Creech, and one son, Joseph M. Bartholomew, Jr. He died on 12 October 1971. The golf course in the Pontchartrain Park subdivision which he designed is named in his honor.