| Fall 1999 The GNOA Newsletter is published three times each year in the Spring, Fall, and Winter. Submissions can be sent to Rebecca Hankins care of The Amistad Research Center, Tilton Hall/Tulane University; New Orleans, Louisiana 70118-5698; Fax (504) 865-5580: e-mail: hankins@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
Next Meeting: |
Our September meeting is being hosted by Longue Vue House and Gardens, on Wednesday, September 22, at 5:30 in the evening. This will be our first meeting at Longue Vue and will be a treat for all, even to walk through the garden from the car to the Play House.
The agenda will include information on the GNOA web site, a report on the sales of Jews of New Orleans, a report from those who attended SSA and SAA this year, and beginning discussions on how GNOA can help with continuing education of its members. The consideration of how we might follow other models for Archives Week will be discussed, as well.
1999 Spring Meeting
The meeting was held at Southern University at New Orleans, in the Washington Memorial Library. In the absence of President Susan Tucker and Secretary Rebecca Hankins, Treasurer Robert Sherer ran the meeting.
The meeting opened with a welcome from Professor Dwight Webster. Dr. Sara Hollis then took us on a brief tour of the library to view African art objects from the holdings of the Center for African and African American Studies.
Rob Sherer passed out a letter of greetings from Susan Tucker, in which she noted the ongoing activities of the archives in Reykjavik. A copy of the letter appears HERE. Sherer also reported on the organization's finances and reminded members that it was a new calendar year and time to pass dues. He also reported on the book sales of Jews of New Orleans: an Archival Guide.
Irene Wainwright reviewed the GNOA web page with those present. The web page is the work of the web committee: Wayne Everard, Carol Bartels, Lee Miller, Rebecca Hankins, Susan Tucker, and Irene Wainwright. Special thanks went to Irene and Carol for their work in the design of the page. Members were asked for feedback on the design and content. The page is not yet linked anywhere so you must have the address to view it. The address is http://www.gnofn.org/~nopl/gnoa/gnoa.htm.
Other business consisted of thanks offered by Barbara Vaughn to Rebecca Hankins for help provided with forms. Press releases that were received too late for publication in the newsletter were made available to members and the meeting was adjourned.
News From The Archives
Amistad Research Center at Tulane University
New Staff Appointment:
Louisiana native Mora Beauchamp-Byrd has joined the staff as curator of
Amistad's art collection. She is a graduate
of Columbia University with an MA in Art
History. She has also worked as Director
of Special Projects at the Caribbean
Cultural Center in New York and served as
curator, coordinator, and consultant for the
Museum of the City of New York. She has
also served as guest curator for the Studio
Museum in Harlem, the Bronx Museum of
the Arts, and St. Lawrence University Art
Gallery.
Recent Acquisitions:
The Reverend Dr. Charles
Shelby Rooks Papers (15 linear ft.
manuscripts and 519 books) This donation
documents the life and career of this United
Church of Christ minister and former
executive vice president of The United
Church Board for Homeland Ministries. The
papers include correspondence, sermons,
writings, news articles, photographs,
personal items, plaques, degrees, awards,
periodicals, and books.
Elizabeth Catlett addendum (1.4 linear ft) and her husband Francisco Mora (.4 linear ft.) have donated papers to the Center. The collections document the careers of these two celebrated artists. Ms. Catlett's papers contain information on her work as the leading African American sculptress and printmaker in this country and Mexico. Mr. Mora's papers document his career as a renown Mexican painter and print maker.
Exhibits:
On display in our mini-gallery until
November 1st are the works of African
American artist Malvin Gray Johnson:
Symbolic Abstractionist (1896-1934).The exhibit contains paintings and
drawings done by Johnson in his short
career.
Southern University in Baton Rouge has on display Prints and Drawings from the Amistad Research Center. The exhibit, located in the Fine Arts Gallery, will be on display until October 1, 1999, 10-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Archives of the Dominican Congregation of St. Mary
The archives had re-bound a scrapbook assembled by a Dominican sister from the 1890's. It is now in four volumes, and contains a wealth of interesting information in the style of scrapbooks of the period. Much of the material relates to the journal Salve Regina (1888-1900) edited by Sister M. Dominic O'Brien, it is a safe guess that it was done by her, but no proof exists. The scrapbook, the bound volumes of Salve Regina, and a collection of artifacts preserved from the history of the sisters from 1860 are in a small Heritage Room across from the archives. Leading up to the room is a Heritage Trail which documents the history of the nuns in photographs and mementos. Guests may visit by appointment.
The Salve Regina, which now is available complete in photocopy, microfilm, and bound original copies, contains interesting original information about New Orleans' Catholic Winter School, the Columbian Exposition of 1893, and many other topics. The monthly journal was circulated through Dominican connections in Australia, South Africa and Ireland, as well as the United States.
Lou Lavedan (lavedan@gs.verio.net) is writing a history of St. John the Baptist Church in Folsom, LA. The church originated in Chinchuba. He is so far unable to find the date when it was built for Chinchuba. He would appreciate any tips. (He is confined to St. Tammany Parish for research because of his wife's illness.)
Historic New Orleans Collection, Williams Research Center
Throughout the years, important donations to the Collection have resulted in a large holding of artworks in many genres covering more than 200 years of art in Louisiana. Paintings from the Monroe-Green Collection and the Laura Simon Nelson Collection are on permanent display at THNOC. The public is cordially invited to come to 533 Royal Street and see these fine examples of Louisiana art works.
Currently on display in the Williams Gallery through October 16, 1999 is the exhibition Romance & Reality, American Indians in 19th-Century New Orleans. Sketches, drawings, paintings, photographs, and travel accounts capture the day-to-day activities of Louisiana's native tribes, including Houmas, Tunicas, Choctaws and Caddos. The exhibition is free and open to the public Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. In conjunction with this exhibition, guest curator, Daniel H. Usner Jr., will give a lecture, "The Lost Century of Louisiana Indian History" on Thursday, September 16th at 7:00 p.m. at the Historic New Orleans Collection. On Saturday October 2nd, Greyhawk Perkins, from the Cannes Brülée Native American Center in River Town, will give 2 living history presentations in the courtyard at 533 Royal Street.
The Williams Research Center is continuing its Third Saturday lecture series. This series introduces researchers to resources at the Williams Research Center. On Saturday September 18th, the focus will be Photographic Collections and on Saturday October 16th the focus will be Visual Arts. These lectures are from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and take place in the reading room of the Williams Research Center. Enrollment is limited; please call 504-598-7171 if you are interested in attending.
The exhibition Queen of the South: New Orleans in the 1850s will showcase aspects of life and culture in New Orleans from a peak of economic success to the crash of the Civil War. The exhibition will be on view at the Historic New Orleans Collection from November 2, 1999 through April 8, 2000. In conjunction with this exhibition the Collection is proud to announce the publication of Queen of the South: New Orleans, 1853-1862.
The Journal of Thomas K. Wharton. Books will be available at the Collection Shop or your local bookseller. A documentary film exploring the 1850s lifestyle and and architecture portrayed in Wharton's Journal will air on November 14th on WYES (Channel 12). On Sunday, December 5th an 1850s House Tour of Coliseum Square from the Journal of Architect T.K. Wharton will be given. Tours will depart at 11:00 a.m. through 3:30 p.m.
New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana Division
The Louisiana Division has added two collections of photographs to NUTRIAS, the NOPL website: the Cornelius Durkee Collection (70 prints), all taken during Mardi Gras, 1901, and the Harry D. Johnson Collection (66 prints, ca. 1890-1935) including photographs of City Park and various New Orleans buildings and people. Also, in progress in NUTRIAS is an online inventory of the Louisiana Division's WPA Photograph Collection.
Also new in NUTRIAS is the Inventory of civil suits filed in the Orleans County Court, 1804-1807; the Index to the Roosevelt Review, the house organ of the Roosevelt Hotel, 1937-1968; and a finding aid for the New Orleans City Planning and Zoning Commission's Records relating to the creation of the 1929 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, 1910-1929 (bulk 1927-1929). These additions can be found under either the "Archives and Special Collections Photographs or Archival Inventories" links or the "Main Library Louisiana Division" link from the NUTRIAS homepage.
The Louisiana Division's current exhibit, mounted in honor of FrancoFete, is Que la Fete Commence!: The French Influence on the Good Life in New Orleans. The exhibit uses large-scale reproductions and original photographs, documents, and memorabilia to illustrate how French taste has left its mark on what we eat and drink, where we dine and drink, and how we entertain ourselves with music, theater, and even larger spectacles such as the Mardi Gras. The exhibit will remain on view on the third floor of the Main Library through the end of the 1999. An on-line version of the exhibit is available in NUTRIAS.
The City Archives received ca. 100 boxes of records from the Clerk of the New Orleans City Council. The records include the official proceedings of the Council, 1986-1991, and related material.
The third edition of the Louisiana Division's genealogy guide, Genealogical Materials in the New Orleans Public Library's Louisiana Division and City Archives, by Collin Hamer, Wayne Everard, and Irene Wainwright, has been awarded the 1999 ALA/RUSA Gale Group Award for Excellence in Reference and Adult Library Services. The award carries with it a citation and a $1000 cash prize, which will be used for the purchase of genealogical materials and for preservation microfilming. The guide is available for purchase from the Friends of New Orleans Public Library for $10.00 ($8.00 for Friends of NOPL members) plus $2.00 shipping and handling. Mail order can be sent to Friends of New Orleans Public Library, 219 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112. Orders using credit cards can be faxed to (504) 596-2609. The full text of the guide is also available in NUTRIAS at www.gnofn.org/~nopl/guides/genguide/ ggcover.htm.
On May 15, the Louisiana Division and the Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans hosted their annual Spring genealogy seminar at the Main Library, which, in keeping with the FrancoFete theme, focused on sources for researching French ancestry. Speakers included Wayne Everard, who presented "Wayne's Top Ten Neglected, Non-Traditional, Unexpected, or Unusual Sources for Information on Your French Ancestors in the City Archives and Louisiana Division of the New Orleans Public Library"; Jack Belsom, who discussed French records available at the Archives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans; and Sally Reeves, who described French records at the Notarial Archives.
Collin Hamer has been reappointed to the Louisiana Advisory Council for State Documents Depository Program for a term extending through June 2002.
Tulane University
Latin American Library
In the past few months The Latin
American Library has received and
cataloged some of the following items:
Newcomb Archives, Center for Research on Women
Doris Stern Despres Collection dedication took place Friday, April 30th. The collection consists of books, periodicals, documents and materials about women in art. The collection was established and endowed by Loraine Despres in memory of her mother, Doris Stern Despres N'33 (1912-1998). Doris Stern Despres was the first female editor of The Hullabaloo, an athlete, journalist, business-woman, life master bridge player and artist. Newcomb Dean Valerie Greenberg, Center Director Beth Willinger, Assistant Visiting Professor of Women's Studies Susanne Dietzel, and Veronica Leandrez N'00 accepted the gift on behalf of the Nadine R. Vorhoff Library and Newcomb College Center for Research on Women.
Gillian Sutherland To Be 1999 Adele
Ramos Salzer Lecturer.
On Sunday
September 19th, Dr. Gillian Sutherland of
the faculties of history of the University of
Cambridge and Newnham College,
Cambridge University (UK) will deliver the
5th Annual Adele Ramos Salzer Lecture on
Women and Higher Education. The lecture
is titled "From the Drawing Room to the
Lecture Hall: Changing Models of Education for Women." Dr. Sutherland is a noted
historian of education, and has published
widely on the topic of the education of
women. She organized the 1998 conference "'The Transformation of an Elite':
Women and Higher Education since 1900"
to mark the 50th anniversary of the
admission of women to full membership of
the University of Cambridge, and is
currently at work on a double biography of
Anne Jemima Clough (1820-192) and
Blanche Athena Clough (1861-1960), the
first and fourth Principals of Newnham
College, Cambridge, and the aunt and
niece, respectively, of the controversial
poet Arthur Hugh Clough.
ZALE '99 NEWS:
The Zale Writer-in-Residence Committee is pleased to announce that
Nashville-based writer Ann Patchett will
visit campus October 24-30, 1999 as the
15th annual Zale Writer-in-Residence.
Patchett is best known for her novels The
Patron Saint of Liars, Taft and The Magician's Assistant. She also writes for a range
of popular magazines.
One of the most popular annual events on the Tulane campus, the Zale Writer-in-Residence Program facilitates a situation which encourages the Newcomb/Tulane and New Orleans literary communities to commune with the works, ideas and skills of an established woman writer. Past Zale Writers have included Octavia Bulter, Deb Margolin and Dorothy Allison. The Program is made possible through a generous gift from Dana Zale Gerard N'85 and the M.B. and Edna Zale Foundation of Dallas, Texas.
An exhibit featuring correspondence and manuscripts from previous Zale writers can be viewed during October.
News Notes
Here the published version the Newsletter includes GNOA President Susan Tucker's Letter from Iceland.
Link HERE to read it.
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