Join The Historic New Orleans Collection as we celebrate the lives and legacies of two cultural icons. Sylvester Francis was a photographer, videographer, author, historian, and founder of the Backstreet Cultural Museum. Ronald W. Lewis, founder of the House of Dance and Feathers museum and the Original Big Nine Social and Pleasure Club, was an author, historian, collector, and curator. Both men worked tirelessly to preserve the history and culture of social aid and pleasure clubs and Mardi Gras Indians (also known as Black Masking Indians), and THNOC’s current exhibition Dancing in the Streets is dedicated in their memory. On April 7, friends and family of Lewis and Francis will gather to discuss their lives and the enormous impact each had on preserving our city’s history and culture. 

Rachel Breunlin, Neighborhood Story Project 
Bruce Sunpie Barnes, president of the board, Backstreet Cultural Museum 
Sylvester Francis Jr., son of Sylvester Francis 
Charlotte Lewis, wife of Ronald W. Lewis 
Robert Starks, business manager and co-founder, Original Big Nine Social and Pleasure Club