0 f ;tlJ (} Jc/ea J~J CURRENT {!!J}l(n fr >zf/ EXHIBITION Antoine Louis Boimare, Jean Renard, Emile Johns, Justin L. Sollee-these early New Orleans printers are among a select group whose imprints are the subject of 176'4- I 86'4 the current exhibition at the Col lection, Fine Print: New Orleans Printing, 1764-1864. The books, pamphlets, and ephemera all bear an imprint indicating New Orleans as the place of publication. "The city was the center for French language printing," com ments head librarian Florence M. Jumonville. "The advantage to stu dents of Louisiana history is that New Orleans did not become a national or regional publication center," she adds. Instead, most of what was printed was concerned Border, Diner Complimentaire, 1854 (1 981 .263.10) with local subjects and attitudes. Miss Jumonville has been pursu ing New Orleans imprints for the past five years after research for an earlier exhibition-a display of rare books about Louisiana - in spired her to look further. "Even before Bound to Please opened," she recalls, "I was camped at the direc tor's doorstep asking, 'May we have a printing exhibit?"' She uncovered enough material to warrant an other endeavor: the Bibliography of New Orleans Imprints, 1764- 1864, her own book on the subject, will be published by THNOC later in the year. Early imprints in New Orleans ranged from plays, poetry, and novels to playbills and menus, pamphlets and catechisms, and to almanacs and primers. Often, fine typographical decoration embel lished a title page or served to lighten pages of text. One of Miss Jumonville's favorites-she con cedes that "it's rather like asking a mother which one is her favorite child"-is a title page with stylized flowers, asterisks, and wavy border arranged to suggest a door and to frame the title, Tableau des Mem bres (see illustration, this page). Jean Renard printed this member ship list for a local masonic lodge in 1806, adding his imprint, "Par Jean Renard, Imprimeur des Livres, rue de Chartres, No.8." The exhibit itselfhighlights items from THNOC and from research centers around the country. A broad side advertising imprints produced by A. L. Boimare, working in col laboration with the engineer Ben jamin Buisson, is a significant item from the Collection's holdings. Im Title page, masonic lodge membership list (67 -633 -RL) prints on loan strengthen the exhi bition and include a number of "firsts." From the Bancroft Library print (1811) of the Widow Roche. che was also a merchant, providing of the University of California at During her research, Miss Jumon hats, framed pictures, fringe, wines, Berkeley comes the first item ville unearthed not only an impres and death notices-the black printed in Louisiana; from the Wil sive number of items printed in bordered bills of interment known liam L. Clements Library at the New Orleans but also tangential as "funeral tickets." University of Michigan, the first information that adds dimension Women printers were few: only English-language imprint, 1768, call to the lives of the early printers. two widows are known to have ing for deserters from the British Besides publishing, Emile Johns continued their husbands' busi army; from LSU, a publication of was a musician, composer, and nesses, the Widow Roche, previ Jean Renard, designated printer owner of the music store, dating ously mentioned, and the Widow and bookseller, the first time these from the 1830s, that eventually Sollee. Published material from two activities had been combined became Werlein's; Gaston and Justin L. Sollee, who was a major in an imprint, dated 1809. From Auguste Brush~ , both printers, were printer of opera libretti, and his Tulane comes the first catechism the uncles of New Orleans com widow both exist for the year 1854, printed locally after the Louisiana poser Louis Moreau Gottschalk; the year of his death. Imprints of Purchase-and the only known im- and the printer and bookseller Ro- the Widow Sollee appear until1856.
2 Miss Jumonville discovered that by 1757 Denis Braud, the first colonial printer, was residing in New Orleans; in 1762, he applied to the crown for printing privileges and began printing treasury notes on a press ordered from France. His first imprint-and the first in Lou isiana-was a broadside, 1764, de claring that Louisiana had been ceded from France to Spain. At the end of the 18th century, another colonial printer, Louis Duclot, founded and published the first newspaper, the Moniteur de la Lou isiane. J. B. L. S. Fontaine, who published the Moniteur from 1797 to 1811, produced imprints for the affairs of three governments: the Spanish, the French interregnum of 1803, and the American. Miss Jumonville's book is a logi cal outgrowth of five years of re search. Arranged chronologically, the entries-there are slightly fewer Florence M. Jumonville than 3400-come from libraries throughout the country. "Besides the ones in Louisiana," she notes, "I almost one hundred libraries." Every and pamphlets and assorted printed have been in correspondence with time she wrote a library about a material have survived to a surpris specific imprint, she included a ing degree, considering the city's standard question, "Do you have heat and humidity, its floods and any other New Orleans imprints?" fires. The Bibliography of New Orleans Miss Jumonville's book-lined of Imprints-to be used by librarians, fice at 533 Royal Street is not far booksellers, collectors, researchers removed from the original locations - results from a scholar's pursuit of several of the early printers; and a collector's zeal. Although a their endeavors-the first New Or French traveler named Berquin leans imprints-now on view in the Editors: Patricia Brady Schmit, Duvallon commented in 1802 that Williams Gallery, have, in a sense, Louise C. Hoffman "a library in Louisiana is as rare come home. Head of Photography: Jan White as a Phoenix," New Orleans books -Louise C. Hoffman The Historic New Orleans Collec tion Newsletter is published quarter ly by the Historic New Orleans Col lection, which is operated by the Kem per and Leila Williams Foundation, a Louisiana non-profit corporation. Housed in a complex of historic build ings in the French Quarter, facilities are open to the public. Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. Tours of the history galleries and the residence are avail able for a nominal fees. Board of Directors: Benjamin W. Yancey, President Mrs. William K. Christovich ,· /6 G. Henry Pierson, Jr. Francis C. Doyle Dode Platou, Director The Historic New Orleans Collection 533 Royal Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 (504) 523-4662 Cable: THNOC ISSN 0886-2109 Death notice of Alexandre © 1988 Latil (87-674-RLJ The Historic New Orleans Collection
3 Williams Prizes Awarded
Terry L. Jones, author of the respect for his authority. LSU Press publication Lee's Tigers: A member of the faculty of the TheLouisianalnfantry in the Army Louisiana School for Math, Science, of Northern Virginia, and John A. and the Arts, Dr. Jones is the Heitmann, author of "Getting Places second person in the fourteen-year in a Hurry: The Development of history of the Williams Prizes to Aviation in Long-Era South Louisi win the award twice. His paper ana," have been awarded the 1987 "Wharf-Rats, Cutthroats and General L. Kemper Williams Prizes Thieves: The Louisiana Tigers, 1861- in Louisiana History. Florence M. 1862" earned him the prize for the Jumonville, chairman of the Wil best manuscript of 1983. liams Prizes Committee, announced This year the winning manu the recipients on March 11 in New script focuses on the evolution of a Iberia, Louisiana, at the annual dynamic facet of modern technol banquet of the Louisiana Historical ogy: air travel. Considering this Association. enterprise in the context of Huey Lee's Tigers were some twelve Long's role in the emerging indus thousand Louisiana infantrymen trial world, John A. Heitmann who served the Confederacy in the traces the beginnings of aeronau Army of Northern Virginia from tics in southern Louisiana from an the early campaigns of the Civil aviation tournament held in New War until Lee's surrender at Appo Orleans in 1910 and an airmail mattox. Described as "wharf rats flight from New Orleans to Baton from New Orleans," these soldiers Rouge in 1912, to the founding and Terry L. Jones were renowned for their conduct, operation of the Wedell-Williams both off duty and on: drunk and Air Service, to the approach of the script. Both publications and manu disorderly while at leisure, but second World War which ushered scripts are judged on their contribu valiant in battle. in a revolutionary new phase of tion to knowledge with an emphasis Dr. Jones's narrative is colorful development. on the use of primary sources, and well-written, and replete with Dr. Heitmann asserts that a ma creative interpretation of primary anecdotes and information from jor drawback to the advancement sources and originality, and stylis primary sources. He quotes, for of aviation in Louisiana, despite a tic excellence. They may deal with example, Lieutenant-Colonel Char "vibrant interest" in its commercial any aspect of Louisiana history. If les de Choiseul's letter to his sweet possibilities, was the early reluc no meritorious entries are received heart which describes his experi tance of the major educational in in either or both categories, there ences as temporary commander of stitutions to conduct pertinent re may be only one prize, or none at Wheat's Battalion. "I am the victim search and to train the experts all, awarded in any given year. of circumstances, not of my own necessary for the industry to grow Recipients during prior years in will," he wrote. "Whether the Ti and to prosper. clude Joe Gray Taylor, Edward F. gers will devour me, or whether I An assistant professor of history Haas, and Michael L. Kurtz. will succeed in taming them, re at the University of Dayton (Ohio), A committee of three, one person mains to be seen." A single day's Dr. Heitmann is the author of the representing the Historic New Or activity included widespread drunk recent LSU Press publication The leans Collection and two represent enness, the attempted shooting of Modernization of the Louisiana ing the Louisiana Historical Asso an orderly, the beating and robbing Sugar Industry, 1830-1910 (1987). ciation, selects the recipients of the of a washerwoman, and an attempt The Williams Prizes were estab Williams Prizes. Miss Jumonville by a gang of Tigers to release their lished in 1974 by the Historic New has served as the Collection's nomi comrades from the guardhouse. This Orleans Collection in cooperation nee since 1982. This year she shared last incident may have been the with the Louisiana Historical Asso responsibility with Dr. Henry C. event which achieved for two Ti ciation, for the purposes of promot Dethloff, professor of history at gers the dubious distinction of be ing excellence in the writing of Texas A & M University, and Dr. ing the first soldiers executed in Louisiana history and honoring the Glen Jeansonne, professor of his the Virginia army. The next day authors of outstanding works on tory at the University of Wisconsin. Choiseul emerged victorious from that subject. Two awards are of Entries for the 1988 Williams a confrontation with an intoxicated fered annually, one for the best Prizes are now being accepted. For sergeant, and his men, if not tamed, published book or article and the more information, please contact at least had acquired a healthy other for the best unpublished manu- Miss Jumonville at the Collection.
4 From the Meetings and Activities
Director Pictured are some of the recent participation at the annual meeting meetings and professional activi of the Louisiana Association of ties of THNOC staff. Museums in the city April 14-15. The American Institute for Con Representatives from the Glenbow servation met in New Orleans May Museum in Calgary, Alberta, spent 31-June 5. Twenty-five staff mem two days at THNOC learning about bers attended meetings and served the FACETS computer system as as volunteers for the convention. part of an automation study for that The largest single room in the There was also substantial staff institution. Collection's complex is the ball room, also referred to as the Count ing House. Portraits of New Or Left, Members of the local leanians line the walls, enlivening arrangements committee for the formal Greek Revival room and the AIC, John H. Lawrence appearing to welcome visitors and with conservators Elise King guests. and Bryce R eveley. Below, Ralph Draughon and John The most recent arrival is James Magill staffing the AIC book Robb, whose magnificent home on booth Washington Avenue once housed the first major art collection in New Orleans. The portrait, appro priately, is as grandiose as the fortune he made in the mid-19th century. His image over the man tel, attributed to G. P. A. Healy, could be described as "dashing." Robb may well have known some of the other subjects in the room whose images were painted around the 1840s and '50s, such as Ma dame Armand Pi tot, ca. 1838, a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Pitot, by the artist Jacques Amans. A self portrait of Amans hangs nearby, given by M. Truman Woodward. The belles of the ball are the three Olivier ladies. This delightful group portrait by Jean Tissier has graced the far wall of the Counting House since it was presented to the Collec tion by Mr. and Mrs. Maurice M. Bayon in 197 4. Another handsome portrait is that of John Randolph Grymes, painted by Theodore Moise in 1842. Earlier, Grymes served on General Andrew Jackson's staff during the Battle of New Orleans. More recent works are from the family of Leila Moore Williams, who with her husband L. Kemper Williams founded the Collection. The portraits of her mother, Leila Above, Incoming officers of LAM, Hardie Moore, and father, Robert Audrey Hammill, Deborah Woodiel, Moore, were painted in 1906. William Steven Bradley, Shereen Min It's a pleasure to welcome the vielle, and Rosanne McCaffrey. Right, Robb portrait back to New Orleans seated, Rosanne McCaffrey and Anthony R ees, chief archivist, Glenbow -and to place it in such distin Museum; standing, Charles Patch, guished company. Glenbow director Duncan Cameron, -Dode Platou and Dade Platou
5 HISTORIC New Orleans "Welcome Old Man Gloomn
Dethroned warned of the "saloon's grip" on New Orleans, a city with " .. .many foreigners and pleasure loving people ... ." Although liquor manufactured before Prohibition could be legally consumed at home, all newly pro duced alcohol was illegal, but in New Orleans supplies were easy enough to come by. Foreign liquor was smuggled into the city, at first via Lake Pontchartrain and then through St. Bernard Parish where rum-running became a way of life for many people. Hordes of New Orleanians made their own home brew, and as early as 1920 it was estimated that 10,000 of them had already broken the law. Newspaper reporters openly chilled their beer in the city morgue. Artist William Spratling bought ten large jugs of absinthe from a bootlegger, and he and his friends drank it in great quantities. Mrs. Sherwood Ander son said of their crowd, "We all seemed to feel that Prohibition was a personal affront and that we had a moral duty to undermine it." Initially barkeepers were cau Item photo of federal tious, but in 1920 the Item said "A agent Izzy Einstein Wink Will Get You a Drink If you're Known to the 'House."' Tra The 18th amendment made ille Legal sales of beer and wine ditional saloons were soon replaced gal the manufacture, transport, continued on a limited basis until by "soft drink stands," which sold and sale of alcohol for drinking October 28, 1919, when the passage home brew to poorer customers, purposes in the United States. It of the Volstead Act gave police and by more exclusive "speakeas was proposed to Congress in 1917 power to Prohibition and defined ies." These were not always very and became law on January 16, intoxicating liquor as anything with secret. There were speakeasies in 1920. Actual prohibition of hard an alcohol content over 112%. The downtown office buildings, and there liquor began on June 30, 1919, Times-Picayune in an article signed was an automobile that served when a temporary wartime prohi by "A. Souse" sadly mourned that drinks at curbside along downtown bition order set maximum alcohol " ...Gloom , Deep Dark And Dismal, streets. In some restaurants wait content at 2.75% in order to con Descends As Drought Comes ....dig ers sold drinks from hip flasks, serve grain. out the sackcloth and ashes, get on while in others "small blacks" The Times-Picayune predicted the wagon, welcome Old Man Gloom straight liquor in demitasses with that "the funeral of John Barlycorn and pretend you like it." mixers on the side-were served. promises to be the largest mortu When the 18th amendment fi The responsibility of seeking out ary function in the history of New nally went into effect, the event violators fell to federal dry agents Orleans." Hotels were packed with was anticlimactic. The Item re who were based at the U.S. Custom visitors from nearby dry states; ported that private celebrations House. The force was always too restaurants and cabarets braced for were planned, but because of the small to enforce the law adequately record crowds. Although throngs Volstead Act, they " ...will be more in New Orleans. of people filled downtown streets, subdued than the famous death One of America's most famous the public party was tamer than watch of June 30." The city proved agents was Izzy Einstein. A master anticipated. Thus New Orleans slid itself loath to giving up old habits. of disguise-and followed by the quietly irito the dry and roaring In 1919 Ferdinand Cowie Iglehart press like a movie star-he came twenties. in his pro-dry work King Alcohol to New Orleans in 1923 as part of
6 became more the norm, as open saloons were fast disappearing. Prior to the raids, smuggled for eign brands were readily available and safe for consumption. By 1928, due to the vigilance of the Coast Guard and customs agents, most liquor was moonshine, which was often unsanitary and even lethal. At noon on April13, 1933, bever ages containing 3.2% alcohol were legalized by Congress. The Times Picayune reported, "New Orleans can have a jubilant legal whoopee party ... the skyscrapers will be a rocking and a-reeling before mid night. ..." There were 911 retail beer permits issued in the city within a few days; restaurants became beer gardens, and hotel bars reopened. Everyone waited with great re The Old Absinthe House, 200 block of Bourbon, some time after its straint until noon when sirens padlocking in 1926 by federal dry agents (1979.325.2012) wailed and crowds cheered. Con voys of beer trucks stretched for a nationwide investigation to learn were little motivated to make ar blocks, Canal Street was thronged where drinks were the easiest to rests, and there were even in with merrymakers, and 488,000 find. New Orleans won with a score stances of police moonshiners, as gallons of beer were sold in a few of 35 seconds. Between the railroad well as those who acted as lookouts hours. The Times-Picayune stated station and his hotel, Izzy asked his for smugglers. that "there had not been so sponta taxi driver where drinks were sold. New Orleans was one of the neous an outpouring of joyous citi The driver offered to sell him a nation's most important alcohol zenry since the Armistice." bottle from under the seat. distribution centers, and it was The 21st amendment, which re Raids, which were usually con dubbed by some agents the "liquor pealed Prohibition, went into effect ducted around major holidays, were capitol of America." On August 11, on December 5, 1933, and hard a part of life. The small home 1925, the "clean-up of New Or liquor was again available. There brewers were too numerous so were leans" took place when 200 out-of was no whistle blowing or hilarious rarely bothered, but restaurants, town agents staged a series of display, since, as one barkeeper clubs, cabarets, and bars were often sensational raids that were among told the Times-Picayune, " .. .we've harassed. In 1924 the Boston Club the most important in the history been selling everything for the past was raided, and while there were of Prohibition. The agents uncov few weeks, why should anyone get no arrests, 100 bottles of very fine ered 10,000 cases of liquor, and excited over official repeal?" The illegal liquor were confiscated. The some said they had never seen so quiet return to hard drink was best most notable raids were those much alcohol, even before Prohibi summed up by the Times-Picayune against supply houses, commercial tion. There was still so much hid when it reported that "For the first stills, and big breweries where den liquor in New Orleans that one time in the past 13 years, the lights legal "near beer" was sometimes bootlegger scoffed at the haul, tell were turned out in one of the city's made much stronger. In 1920 one ing the Times-Picayune that the leading French restaurants as cafe company was raided for openly agents " ... didn't get such an awful bruleau [sic] was prepared before selling malt, hops, and home-brew amount. I don't believe the price of an admiring group of patrons." kits. The first big raids occurred in liquor in New Orleans will go -John Magill 1921 when six breweries were fined up-much." a total of $100,000 for producing After the raids, the Times Sources: Elizabeth Anderson and Gerald R. real beer. Ironically one hard liquor Picayune warned that "The 'be Kelly, Miss Elizabeth: A Memoir
7 Focus
U.S.S. Olympia, Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila, was the same class ship as th e Maine (1974.25.35.89) Louisiana and the Spanish ... American War "It was a splendid little war," The U.S. Army was woefully given the honor on New Year's Day said John Hay, American Ambas unprepared for war: the regular 1899 of leading the Army of Occu sador to London and future Secre army numbered 2,116 officers and pation to Morro Castle where the tary of State. Indeed, at that dis 25,706 enlisted men scattered over Spanish flag was lowered for the tance the Spanish-American War the country in small outposts. In last time and the American flag must have seemed so. Sparked by contrast, Spain, considered a third was raised. Because of an absence the February 15, 1898, explosion rate power, had fielded an army in of senior officers, the regimental of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Cuba of 174,000 regulars and 80,000 medical officer, Surgeon Major harbor, the war against Spain was volunteers. After the declaration Frank Chalaron, led the parade; greeted with enthusiasm by the of war in April 1898, a call went his horse became overexcited when American public, including L:mi out for volunteer regiments to be the band struck up a loud march sianians. mustered by each state. Louisiana and threw the doctor into the mud. The sinking of the Maine was ultimately raised four regiments, Dr. Chalaron remounted to a roar merely the last incident in a com none of which participated in the of approval from the Cuban crowds plex chain of events. For years war though they later joined the with only his uniform a victim of Cuban rebels had been fighting for occupation forces in Cuba and then the incident. freedom from the decaying Spanish in the Philippines. The staging Although the Louisiana regiments empire; American sympathy for center was New Orleans, and men, missed the war, one New Orleanian the Cubans was fanned by the including many overage Confeder fought in its most famous land yellow journalism of the Hearst ate veterans, flooded the recruiting battle. Joseph Numa Augustin, a newspaper chain which daily car stations. 24-year-old graduate of West Point, ried highly colored accounts of By May 26, the 1st and 2nd served with the 24th Infantry as a Spanish atrocities against the reb Louisiana Volunteer Infantry regi second lieutenant at the Battle of els. In addition, a very vocal group ments had been formed at Camp San Juan Hill. To those who fought of proponents of a powerful U.S. Foster (named for Governor Murphy in Cuba, the Spanish-American War Navy and an overseas empire looked J. Foster) located on the Fair was anything but splendid. The covetously at the remaining Span Grounds. In many cases men slept Spanish soldiers' deadly Mauser ish colonies of Puerto Rico, Guam, on the bare ground or in stables rifles made the assault on the hill and the Philippines. Pressured by until proper facilities were avail a bloody ordeal that lasted all day this strange mixture of altruism able. After being shuffled around under a blazing sun. Joseph Augus and lust for empire, a reluctant Alabama and Florida, the two regi tin became one of 365 Americans President McKinley was forced into ments arrived in Cuba on Decem killed in the war. a war neither he nor the Spanish ber 24, 1898, after hostilities had More deadly to U.S. soldiers than government wanted. concluded. The 2nd regiment was the whine of a Mauser bullet was
8 the buzz of a mosquito. Yellow fever, carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, accounted for more than 2,000 deaths among the troops in Cuba and in the staging areas in Florida. In response to this problem two regiments of "immunes" were raised in Louisiana in 1898 and 1899. They were composed of men who swore they had survived an attack of yellow fever, hence their immunity. The son of Confederate General J. B. Hood formed the 2nd U.S. Volunteer Infantry (Hood's Immunes) in Covington. The 9th U.S. Volunteer Infantry (Crane's Immunes), a black regiment, was ) formed in New Orleans. Both immune regiments did occu pation duty in Cuba, but their casualty rates showed the weak ness of the idea: of a combined strength of 2,025 men, 114 were Camp Foster (1974 .25.21.15) killed by disease. Over half the deaths were in Crane's regiment that had been growing rapidly since ending the Spanish-American War which suffered the highest casualty the 1880s. Commodore George was signed, Chapelle was appointed rate of the four Louisiana regi Dewey, the hero of Manila Bay, had to defend the Catholic Church's ments. Sadly, many men who had fought in only one previous battle: interests in Cuba and the Philip been rejected from other regiments as a young lieutenant, he had pines. He restructured the relation had lied about their immunity to served with Farragut's fleet in the ship between church and state in get into the war. Even those who capture of New Orleans in 1862. both countries and won back sup were immune to yellow fever were New Orleans made another con port for the church from strongly felled by serious outbreaks of ty tribution to the war of 1898. Louis anticlerical rebels. His mission kept phoid and cholera. Ironically, of the Chapelle was appointed archbishop him from New Orleans until1901. 2,029 men of the 1st and 2nd of New Orleans in March 1898, but In 1976, a navy investigation into Louisiana Volunteers, only 30 died he had little time to settle into his the Maine disaster concluded that of disease. job. In October of that year, Pope the explosion which sank the ship The war at sea was almost blood Leo XIII sent Chapelle to act as was probably caused by spontane less. Naval battles in Cuba and the papal envoy to the Paris peace ous combustion in one of the for Philippines were fought by a well conference between the United ward coal bunkers and not by organized and professional navy States and Spain. After the treaty Spanish sabotage as was alleged in 1898. The Maine's next port of call would have been New Orleans. Would the United States have fought a 113-day war with Spain if the Maine had exploded here and not in Havana harbor? This question rests in the realm of idle specula tion, but one fact is certain: the events of the spring and summer ] of 1898 moved the United States, willingly or otherwise, into the .) center of world affairs. There could be no retreat from the effects of that "splendid little war." -Walter Wolf
Sources: Richard Harding Davis, The Cuban and Porto R ican Campaigns (New York, 1898); George O'Thole, The Spanish War (London, 1984); Louisiana State Museum, Infantrymen parading, The Spanish-American War of 1898: Liberty French Quarter, 1898 for Cuba and World Power for the United (1977.112.43) States (New Orleans, 1939).
9 Acquisitions
The Historic New Or leans Collection ac quires thousands of items through purchase and donation during the course of each year. Only a few recent acquisitions can be noted here.
·. CURATORIAL
The papers of James Robb reveal information about this self-made millionaire's private life and per Miniature, Uranie Fuselier sonal finances (Newsletter, Winter (1988.30.2) 1986), but his recently acquired portrait presents the more formal image that he intended to project. artist as Healy. The source of the letic Club, which still exists at 222 The painting is nearly life-size label is unknown, and a firm attri North Rampart' Street. Interior (approximately five feet by four bution of the painting to Healy, or views of private clubs are tradition feet) and shows Mr. Robb in the another artist, may never be made. ally allowed only to members and pose and attire of a dashing entre Nonetheless, the stately portrait their guests, but a collection of rare preneur of the early 1840s. At that of James Robb now resides over the photographs and pamphlets shows time, he had begun making his mantel in the portrait gallery as the halls and rooms of what was name within the city's financial sembled in THNOC's counting considered one of the finest athletic circles by acquiring controlling in house. facilities in the country. The collec terest in the New Orleans Gas tion contains 36 photographs taken Light and Banking Company (now • Three portraits of other promi nent antebellum New Orleanians by local professional photographers New Orleans Public Service Inc.). between ca. 1894 and 1915, appar- By 1845 he was the senior partner were also acquired, although all in a private banking firm, had three paintings could fit into Robb's organized a gas light company in hand. Two of these miniatures, Havana, Cuba, and was elected an painted on ivory, portray General alderman from the second munici Alexis Ferry and his wife. General pality. Ferry was a surgeon general in the With such success, James Robb French army who came to Louisi commissioned America's most cele ana and married Uranie Fuselier, brated portrait painter, Thomas who is seen as a young girl in this Sully of Philadelphia, to paint a miniature. The third sitter is De group portrait of his wife, Louisa, sin:ie Forstall, the eldest daughter and their three daughters, which of the president of the New Orleans is still owned by their descendants. Sugar Refinery; she married Char However, experts have ruled out les Roman, son of Louisiana's ninth the supposition that Sully also governor. painted Mr. Robb's portrait. J. • In 1872, fourteen men organized Hampden Robb, the sitter's great the Independent Gymnastic Club grandson, believed that George P . wit.h their motto "Mens Sana in A. Healy, a Boston portrait painter Corpore Sano" ("a sound mind in a who resided in Chicago and Europe, sound body"). Two years later, the had painted the portrait. A label group incorporated as the Young attached to the back of the ornate Men's Gymnastic Club and by 1929 Young Men's Gymnastic Club Victorian frame also identifies the had become the New Orleans Ath- (1988.19 .18)
10 identified artist, perhaps the author of the etching, sits at his easel and faces the Mississippi River in the distance and the Cabildo at the end of the block on the left. A few doors from the corner hangs the sign of the Art Shop, the gallery of Dr. Isaac M. Cline, the forecaster and director of the local station of the United States Weather Bureau from 1900 to 1935. During those years, Cline collected and sold art and antiques and was named the honor ary curator of the Louisiana State Museum. After retirement, he ran the shop at 633 St. Peter until his death in 1955 at the age of 94. Streetcar operators strike, 1929 -John A. Mahe II ently to document the club's im portraits. provements and expansions during • Over 200 photographs, ca. 1895- that decade. One exterior view 1940, pertaining to the transit op shows the old club house on Ram erations of New Orleans Public part, a former private residence Service, Inc., have been donated by In response to a newsletter re that was refurbished for the club's Elmer Freed ofNOPSI. Many of the quest for photographs of notable social events. The photographs show photographs depict the streetcar New Orleanians, Mrs. Joseph J. members at leisure and at play in operators strike of 1929. Roniger, Jr., has sent a photo the reading room, bar, barbershop, graph of her great-aunt Ethel and billiards room. The natatorium • William Spratling left Auburn Hutson for inclusion in the cura was considered the club's most University in 1922 to become an torial research files. The Collec prominentfeature: fivephotographs associate professor at the Tulane tion is grateful for Mrs. Roni show this opulent marble-lined two University School of Architecture. ger's generosity. All photographs story room with swimming pool, He chose to live within the literary will be copied and returned. daily filled with clear green water and artistic community in the from an artesian salt water well, French Quarter, teaching night and shower facilities. Six pictures courses and exhibiting his artwork show the equipment and machinery at the Arts and Crafts Club on in the electric light plant that was Royal Street near his apartment. built in 1894 to cut utility bills. The A recent acquisition is one of Sprat majority of the Y.M.G.C. pictures ling's pastel drawings, made in are unidentified as to maker, but 1925, of a courtyard. some bear the imprints of local • An anonymous, undated etch photographers Charles T. Yenni ing, recently acquired for THNOC's and Eugene Simon, and of Eugene print collection, illustrates part of Bellocq, the photographer of the artistic community on the 600 the famous series of Storyville block of St. Peter Street. An un-
Etching, corner of St. Peter and Royal streets (1988.29) Ethel Hutson
11 MANUSCRIPTS
T:-<•1'5111> , ";<)l'!.I..
The most recent addition to the ~l~JM.ftol:o,af&lOil ••..,.."'-'>rt»oo manuscripts division's small but ~ rtp.,I• W 1 ...... WU.h h111.1CQCI Ulll Jl!IOI'INi\ important collection of materials relating to William Faulkner is the nthln w C"••\ m-ot tal.rlt. t•u•• lth P"-'IUnw; pu&ll,hot h~ 1o - ...... ,. lolllli t typescript of his poem "The Faun," to 1"11..""1 \lMI U.no;.b;i,-rl'"'lro ot 11'1""• V dedicated to H . L. and inscribed, o•"... ,... •...... ,.,...,.tor.arllllPol.*""'"'•-v-1.-.• • with uncharacteristic generosity, or, 1-r•• u-- PI'A•lo:>.•~. w -
12 America. Except for a year in was written by a Sister of Perpet tions to the collection. Among them France after the downfall of N apo ual Adoration and dedicated to are Tante Cydette: nouvelle Loui leon III, Gentil lived in Louisiana Rev. Mother Mary Augustine. sianaise (Imprimerie Franco for the remaining 58 years of his Among other unusual dedications Americaine, 1888) by George Des life, but he kept his French citizen is that of W. V. Wallace's Grande sommes; A Marriage for -R evenge: ship until his dying day. Witty and fantasie et variations sur la cracovi A Drama in Five Acts (Office of the contentious, Gentil enjoyed chal enne (1847) to the ladies of New Picayune, 1874) by S. Howell; and lenging the accepted precepts of Orleans; the piece bears the secon Charles Testut's Filles de Monte church, state, and society. He was dary imprint of William T. Mayo, Cristo (Imprimerie Cosmopolite, a prolific and largely unpublished one of the city's earliest publishers 1877). poet, who, like Candide, spent his of sheet music. Some airs honored • Recent publications also have latter years quite literally cultivat specific groups, such as the Trades been added to the library's shelves. ing his garden. The manuscripts Assembly (1885), a march by W. T. The Jefferson Parish Historical Com division is delighted to have exam Francis, which paid tribute to the mission contributed copies of two ples of the work of one of this state's tradesmen of New Orleans. of its monographs, Gretna: A Ses most colorful literary figures of the • As a result of research for the quicentennial Salute (1986) by Mary last century. forthcoming Bibliography of New Grace Curry and Jefferson Parish • Mr. and Mrs. Richard Plater, Orleans Imprints, 1764-1864, mate Historical Markers (1987), compiled Jr., of Acadia Plantation, Thi rials printed locally have become a by Henry C. Bezou. Among other bodaux, continue their numerous strength of the library's collection. works of nonfiction are a compila benefactions to the Historic New Recent additions to the holdings tion of articles and essays by Samuel Orleans Collection. Their most re include the Address of the Commis Wilson, Jr., The Architecture of cent donation to the manuscripts sioners for Raising the Endowment Colonial Louisiana (Lafayette, La.: division are the Anna Margaret of the University of the South (B . Center for Louisiana Studies, 1987), Gay Price Succession Papers, which M. Norman, 1859), which is one of and Selected Stories from the South are really but a continuation of the two copies known to survive. Scarcer ern R eview, 1965-1985, edited by Butler Family Papers. These suc still is the only copy located of the Lewis P. Simpson et al. (Baton cession papers provide a wealth of Inaugural Address of James Shan Rouge, La.: LSU Press, 1988). Cur genealogical material and link fami non, Delivered before the Board of rent fiction set in Louisiana is lies across the United States and Trustees of the College of Louisiana represented by such works as local Europe to the Prices, Gays, and at His Installation, As Pres ident of author John William Corrington's Butlers of Louisiana. That Institution on the 19th of All My Trials (Fayetteville, Ark.: -Ralph Draughon, Jr. December, 1835, in Jackson, La. University of Arkansas Press, 1987) (Printed by J. Cox & Co., [1836]). and Miss Undine's Living Room by • Noteworthy New Orleans im James Wilcox (Scranton, Pa.: Har LIBRARY prints from the latter part of the per & Row, 1987). 19th century also are welcome addi- -Florence M. Jumonville Songs are part of the emotional literature of a people. Lyrics, with their accompanying melody, offer the ability to stir feelings, espe cially those of a group, in a way that the printed page cannot. Dur ing the middle of the 19th century, publishers from one end of the nation to the other sold sheet music in huge quantity, sometimes hun dreds of thousands of copies of favorite pieces, to a public hungry for the latest hit. In New Orleans, the publication of sheet music flour ished from the 1840s until well into the 20th century. Again this quarter, sheet music leads the list of library acquisi tions. Some of the pieces deal with historical events, such as the Teocalli March (1919) by Henry Wehrmann, which was "adopted by the New Orleans Industrial Exposition as its official march." Others are of interest because they were composed by local authors; (88 -074-RL) Happy Hours (1908), for example,
13 the American Library Association Magill, John Mahe, Priscilla O'Reilly, during the annual conference in Charles Patch, Helen Wetzel, Jan Staff _ July ...the tour included demonstra White, and Walter Wolf. tions by the systems department Dode Platou, Rosanne McCaf of the Collection's computerized frey, and John Mahe traveled to collection management and cata Pittsburgh for the annual meeting loging system. of the American Association of Photographs by John H. Law Museums in June ... Mrs. Platou also rence were included in the Down attended the meeting of the Mu town Gallery's Photographic Bien seum Store Association, in Nash nial, in the tenth anniversary group ville, along with Sue Laudeman, exhibition of the Arthur Roger shop manager. Gallery, and in an exhibit of pano John H. Lawrence served on the ramic photography at the Univer local arrangements committees for sity of Louisville Photography Ar the Photographic Materials Group chives .. .he also participated in a and for the American Institute for jury for fifth-year architecture stu Conservation ...Louise C. Hoffman, dents at Thlane University, served publications assistant, organized staff on a panel to review media grants ing for the AIC book booth ... for the Louisiana Division of the attending the AIC meeting were Arts, and appeared on "Steppin' Alan Balicki, Maureen Donnelly, Francis C. Doyle, member of the Out," a program of WYES. John Lawrence, and Priscilla board of the Historic New Orleans Elsa Schneider, curator of educa O'Reilly. Collection, received the honorary tion, spoke on THNOC's Evidence Florence M. Jumonville and Adri Doctorate of Humane Letters from of the Past to Fulbright-sponsored enne Duffy, assistant librarian, at Loyola University on May 16 ... Mr. secondary school educators from tended the annual conferences of Doyle was recognized for his many 18 countries ...the session was spon both the Louisiana Historical Asso services to the community. sored by the Louisiana Endowment ciation in New Iberia and the for the Humanities. Louisiana Library Association iq PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Dr. Ralph Draughon, Jr., spoke Lake Charles ... Miss Jumonville and Senior curator John A. Mahe II at meetings of the Louisiana Asso Dr. Alfred E. Lemmon have been spoke on map making in 19th ciation of College and Research appointed co-chairmen of the local century New Orleans during the Libraries, both in Alexandria and arrangements committee for the annual meeting of the American in New Orleans ...Dr. Alfred E. annual meeting of the Theatre Library Association .. .his presenta Lemmon, reference archivist, spoke Library Association in July. Dr. tion, at THNOC, was sponsored by on Spanish land grants at the Lemmon also attended a meeting the Map and Geography Round meeting of the Society of Louisiana Table of ALA ...Mr . Mahe also spoke Surveyors and on German migra on 19th-century art during the tion to the Gulf Coast and Spanish annual conference of the Interna archives at the National Genealogi tional Society of Appraisers in New cal Society. Orleans in May. Rosanne McCaffrey, director of CHANGES systems, chaired a session, "Com John D. Barbry has joined the mon Agenda for History Muse staff as a manuscripts assistant. ..Mr. ums," at the annual meeting of the Barbry graduated from McNeese Louisiana Association of Muse State University (B.A., Music Edu ums ... she was also appointed chair cation) .. .he has also completed an man of the LAM's long-range plan internship at the Smithsonian In ning committee .. .in June, Miss Mc stitution. Mr. Barbry has replaced Caffrey spoke on data entry at the Helen Bradburn, who plans to pur American Association of Museums' sue an operatic career in Germany. annual conference. Florence M. Beatrice Sanchell has rejoined the Jumonville, head librarian, pre maintenance staff. ..Mrs. Sanchell sented a paper on printing in New was previously at THNOC from Orleans, 1803-1860, during the an 1979 through 1985. nual conference of the Louisiana Library Association in Lake Char MEETINGS les. THNOC staff members who at John H. Lawrence, curator of tended the conference of the Louisi photography, coordinated a tour of ana Association of Museums were THNOC's facilities for the Re Judith Bonner, Maureen Donnelly, sources and Technical Services Di John Lawrence, Maclyn LeBour vision Audiovisual Committee of geois, Rosanne McCaffrey, John
14 of the Fri ~ nds of the Archives of leans to recent issues of Preserva Louisiana. Dr. Ralph Draughon, tion in Print ... his subjects included Jr., traveled to Oxford, Mississippi, canals and waterways, parks and for the Southern Archivists Confer squares, and theaters. ence. Dr. Alfred E. Lemmon published Staff members present at two a review essay in Mesoamerica ... he conservation seminars sponsored translated and edited, with by the Louisiana State Museum Guillermo N aiiez-Falcon, a biographi were Alan Balicki, Maureen Don cal sketch of Francisco Javier Ale nelly, Priscilla O'Reilly, and Tom gre in The Americas. Staples .. .Mr. Balicki and Miss Don nelly attended a ceramics seminar SPEAKERS BUREAU at Longue Vue Gardens. Staff members have recently made presentations to the following or PUBLICATIONS ganizations: Elsa Schneider, Social The Historic New Orleans Col Judith Bonner, curatorial assis Studies Department Heads of Or lection mourns the death of Dale tant, contributed a review of the leans Parish and American Insti R. Triche, who died on April 29, Encyclopaedia of New Orleans Art tute of Building Designers ... Kathy 1988. Mr. Triche was a member ists, 1718-1918 to the winter issue Hardey, Westbank CODOFIL of the maintenance department of The Southern Quarterly ... two of group ... John H. Lawrence, Bayou for the past six years. The board her articles also appeared in New St. John Chapter of the DAR and and the staff of the Collection Orleans Art Review. John Magill, Greater New Orleans Camera extend sympathy to his family chief curatorial cataloger, contrib Club ...John Magill, Louisiana Soci and friends. uted three articles about New Or- ety of Land Surveyors. The Shop Work in Progress PRESIDENTIAL PLATES Porcelain dessert plates copied from the official White House china of American presidents, accompanied by a dessert recipe of that president. Limited edition, numbered.
Please send me the presidential dessert plates circled:
Washington Adams Lincoln Pierce Polk Harrison Jefferson Grant Jackson Lincoln plate Madison Taylor Monroe
@ $30 per plate Shipping & handling $3.00 per plate 9% tax, Orleans Parish 4% tax, other Louisiana residents TOTAL AMOUNT DUE NAME ______A new sign for the Collection ADDRESS ______~ ------~------CITY ______STATE ______ZIP ------PHOTO CREDITS 0 Mastercard 0 Visa 0 Check or Money Order Judy Tarantino Jan White Acct. No. ------Exp. Date ______Signature ______
15 Major Portrait Acquired
In the Counting House, collections manager Priscilla O'Reilly, registrar Maureen Donnelly, and assistant registrar Alan Balicki carefully unpack a portrait of James Robb, recently acquired by the Collection. See page 10 for details of this important acquisition.
Non-Profit THE HISTORIC Organization U.S. Postage NEW ORLEANS PAID New Orleans, LA COLLECTION Permit No. 863 NEWSLETTER The Historic New Orleans Collection Museum • Research Center • Publisher Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation 533 Royal Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 (504) 523-4662 Cable: THNOC ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED