History is an evolving story. Here at The Historic New Orleans Collection, we gather, research, and share artifacts from New Orleans’ many stories, weaving together the people, places, and events that connect us to the city. First Draft gives readers inside access to our vast institutional holdings and staff expertise in a fresh and dynamic way. Read the latest stories below, or scroll down to browse by theme.

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September 25, 2024
By Kerry Woodard, summer 2024 Archives and Special Collections Practicum intern

HNOC's diverse archive shows how restaurants preserve history and heritage through their menus.




September 13, 2024
By Lydia Blackmore, decorative arts curator

A census of portraits tells us who is—and isn't—represented in HNOC's holdings.




August 10, 2024
Cederick Ellis, summer 2024 archives and special collections practicum intern

The Ursuline sisters’ prayer books were an integral part of their daily lives—and of their performance of femininity.




July 18, 2024
Nick Weldon, Editor

A new exhibition explores the historical links between the institutions of slavery and mass incarceration in Louisiana.




July 5, 2024
By Nina Bozak, curator of rare books

New coastal galleries showcase the Louisiana roots of John James Audubon’s Birds of America.




June 27, 2024
By Heather Green, head of reader services

Inspired by the life of renowned New Orleans chef Leah Chase, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the culmination of years of collaboration with New Orleans cultural institutions.




June 17, 2024
By Nicholas Paskert, 2023 DAGS fellow

A rare type of wooden mortar and pestle illuminates the history of food, culture, and labor in Louisiana.




May 23, 2024
Emily Perkins, curatorial cataloger

Legendary New Orleans percussionist Alfred “Uganda” Roberts Jr.'s audio and video tape collection documents his career, influences, and daily life in New Orleans between 1985 and 2010.




April 23, 2024
HNOC Staff

A new portrait exhibition invites visitors to imagine the lives and identities of unnamed subjects.




April 5, 2024
Craig Fuchs, Visitor Services interpreter

As the national conversation stirred up by Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter has shown, Black musicians have played an important role in the evolution of country music at every stage of its development.




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