Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez: A Revolutionary's Life in Letters



Since 2015 THNOC has sought to acquire a collection of essays and family papers related to Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez, the Creole physician and newspaperman who became a leader of the Reconstruction-era civil rights movement in New Orleans. This summer, they arrived at The Collection following a lengthy trip from France, where they had been passed down through the Roudanez family to Dr. Catherine Jouve, his great-granddaughter.

Feeling Fraternal: Freemason and Odd Fellows Buildings in New Orleans



For centuries, Freemasons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows have been central to civic, social, and cultural life in the United States. These fraternal orders’ roots go back to guilds formed by stonemasons and craftsmen in Europe near the end of the Middle Ages. In addition to overseeing standards for education and pay, guilds provided shelter and fellowship to members who were constantly on the move for work. Members of European fraternal orders traveled to colonies in the Americas, where their organizations thrived.

THNOC x Tiana: Eight Items that Inspired Disney's New Ride



Researching a makeover, teams of Disney Imagineers have made multiple trips to The Historic New Orleans Collection and the Williams Research Center during the past couple of years. Their goal is to transform the theme park attraction Splash Mountain into an immersive journey into the New Orleans of the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is expected to debut in California’s Disneyland and Florida’s Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom in the later months of 2024.

The Antoine’s Restaurant Collection Serves Up a Taste of History



Founded in 1840 by Italian-born chef Antoine Alciatore and run by his family for over 180 years, Antoine’s Restaurant is the oldest continually family-owned and -operated restaurant in the US. 

 Antoine’s Restaurant’s exterior from a 1960 drawing (THNOC, 1974.25.29.142)

Julia Brown’s Curse: Hoodoo, Hurricanes, and the Storm That Swamped Ruddock



Thirty miles north of New Orleans, there is a peculiar break on the interstate—an unassuming boat launch eclipsed by Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, identified only by an exit sign that reads “Ruddock.” Steeped in superstition, the region muddies the barrier between the natural and supernatural, local trauma and tall tale. Clinging to a strip of land between LaPlace and Hammond, it feels remote and inaccessible, home to cottonmouths, wiregrass and, perhaps, more.

 

Coming to New Orleans: Seven Items that Tell the Story of Immigration Between the Civil Rights Act and Hurricane Katrina



The “Coming to New Orleans” series, presented in conjunction with American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith, tells stories of New Orleans immigration history through items in our holdings. Read the first part of the series, a timeline that looks at New Orleans immigration in the context of immigration to the US, here.

Thinking about the Roman Empire in Novus Orleanus



If you’ve been on Instagram or TikTok recently, then you’ve probably come across women asking the men in their lives a very important question: How often do you think about the Roman Empire? Without fail, the men respond that they think about the Romans often—monthly, weekly, even daily. And without fail, their girlfriends and wives are surprised to find that, apparently, all roads and thoughts lead to Rome.

The John E. Kuhlman Collection Captures Jazz Greats of the 1950s and '60s



For many years in the mid-20th century, New Orleans photographer John E. Kuhlman (1919–1978) documented the local traditional jazz scene on top of his regular for-hire work, shooting concerts and clubs in addition to families, weddings, and special events. Kuhlman was a talented photographer and longtime member of the Louisiana Professional Photographers Association, serving as president starting in 1960 and then as executive manager, a role he held until he passed away in 1978.

Beauty and the Ballot: New Orleans Civil Rights Activist Katie Whickam



Coming to New Orleans: Four Items That Tell the Story of Immigration Between World War I and the Civil Rights Act



The “Coming to New Orleans” series, presented in conjunction with American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith, tells stories of New Orleans immigration history through items in our holdings. Read the first part of the series, a timeline that looks at New Orleans immigration in the context of immigration to the US, here.

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