Advertising booklet, Singer Sewing Machine Souvenirs of New Orleans, ca. 1895 (197425.17.128), and postcard, showing the levee at Chalmette, ca. 1900 (1988.45)
"MUCH OF NOVELTY": THE TRAVELER IN NEW ORLEANS New Orleans has always elicited strong Visitors' Impressions of the Crescent City, takes reactions from its visitors- wonder, incredu a look at the city through the eyes of the visitor, lity, admiration, sometimes disapproval, some from the mid-1700s to the middle of the 20th times delight. Travelers have been quick to note century. One hundred years ago Charles Dud the unusual character of the city, quick to react ley Warner observed in Studies in the South to a place that was not at all like home. and West that " ... whatever way we regard New Opening in May, the next exhibition at the Orleans, it is in its aspect, social tone, and Collection, 'Way Down Yonder in New Orleans: character sui generis; its civilization differs widely from that of any other, and it remains one of the most interest ing places in the republic." As guides to the city, these earlier travelers make good com panions in their attempts to define the distinctive character of New Orleans. Charles Mackay, author of Life and Liberty in America, wrote in the 1850s that "New Orleans is less like an American city than any other in the United States, and reminds the European of Havre or Boulogne-sur-Mer." Although the exhibition includes an observation or tvJo from the 18th century, it was during the 19th century that travelers proliferated - and travel commentary increased. English and Continental visitors set out to describe the new and growing country of America to their compatriots and, in several instances, to report on suitable Poydras Market (One of the French Markets) by J . Durkin, ca. 1885 places of residence to prospective (1947 22) immigrants. Viewpoints, naturally, differed according to the traveler's temperament and situation. Karl visitor from the American East and River. In 1821, a Frenchman, Bernhard, Duke of Saxe-Weimer Midwest to write about the surpris Edouard de Montule described the Eisenach, who attended balls and ing sights and unusual customs river "covered with a forest of ships other social events during his nine -at least to an Anglo-American of all sizes; its depth permits them weeks in New Orleans in 1826, was eye. Newspaperman Henry to come right to the shore, formed more sympath~tic toward the city McElwin, writing in 1885 at the by a levee which stems its force." than the fractious Mrs. Trollope, time of the World's Industrial and He continued, "Without this dike, whose Domestic Manners of the Cotton Centennial Exposition, vis New-Orleans would be inundated, Americans (1832) contains the ob ited the French Market on Sunday, for the level of the river is four or servation that "New Orleans pre which, he said, "was in full blast, five feet above that of the city, sents very little that can gratify the for the citizens do all their market which becomes even lower as one eye of taste, but nevertheless there ing Sunday, instead of Saturday, leaves the river and eventually is much of novelty and interest for as we do in the North .... For music loses itself, so to speak, in marsh a newly arrived European." on Sunday, we had organ-grinders, land." Much of novelty also inspired the Italian orchestras, street pi Such geography contributed to a anos ... and a noisy brass band ad fine indigenous architecture, fre vertising a horse race and shooting quently remarked upon by travel match to come off in the afternoon." ers. In 1770, a Captain Pittman The 20th-century visitor has been wrote that "most of the houses are likely to take a nostalgic view of but of one floor, raised about eight the city, colored by the romance of feet from the ground, with large the past - seeing New Orleans as galleries round them ... " A century a blend of people, customs, and later, a writer describes substantial climate that nurture the creative houses - still designed to accom spirit. For playwright Tennessee modate the semi-tropical climate Williams, New Orleans was his - with French windows in the spiritual home; he wrote about a Louis XV manner, and "open stone part of the city where "you are passages, .. .porte cochere and broad, practically always just around the low staircases, leading from an corner, or a few doors down the open court-yard ... with a broad street, from a tinny piano being leafed fig-tree or clustering vine played with the infatuated fluency spreading over them .... " of brown fingers." Or, there is this summary from What first impressed the traveler the spirited George Augustus Sala, and set the city apart was its writing of the Pontalba buildings The Creole ofNew Orleans, published by geography, low and flat and situ at Jackson Square in 1882: "The A . Baker, between 1830-1835 (195627) ated in a curve of the Mississippi houses look Spanish, the merchan-
2 dise is American, the manners are French." Nineteenth-century travelers found that the Creoles - descen dants of the French and Spanish settlers - were a distinct element, living in the old quarter of the city. But Englishman Henry Murray observed at mid-century that the Creoles are "very sensibly seeking alliances with the go-ahead blood of the Anglo-Saxon, and I expect that but little French will be spo ken in New Orleans by the year 1900." Still, the Creole's enjoyment of life was enduring and singled out by the traveler-writer. Another Eng lish visitor, geologist Sir Charles Lyell, wrote of Mardi Gras in 1849: "It was the last day of the Carnival. From the time we landed in New England to this hour, we seemed to have been in a country where all, whether rich or poor, were laboring from morning till night, without ever indulging in a holi day. I had sometimes thought that the national motto should be, 'All work and no play.' It was quite a novelty and a refreshing sight to 1ffi THE HISTORIC A Glimpse Through a Gateway r!J. NEWORLEANS by William Hamilton Gibson, ca.1888 (1960.65) ~ COLLECTION see a whole population giving up treacherous climate that beguiles . ~ ~ NEWSLETTER their minds for a short season to him, but quite as much the easy amusement." terms on which life can be lived. Editors: Patricia Brady, Louise C. Hoffman Then, as now, a traveler could There is a human as well as a be comforted by well-prepared food. climatic amiability that wins him." Head of Photography: Jan White A tasty gumbo was not lacking in The exhibition - how the city The Historic New Orleans Collec has captured the traveler's eye tion Newsletter is published quarter 1853, according to the Swedish ly by the Historic New Orleans Col writer, Fredrika Bremer. "The New -will open May 24 and remain lection, which is operated by the Kem per and Leila Williams Foundation, a Orleans dinner was remarkably until October. Louisiana non-profit corporation. good," she wrote, "and gumbo is the -Louise C. Hoffman Housed in a complex of historic build crown of all the savory and remark ings in the French Quarter, facilities Sources: Fredrika Bremer, The Homes of the New are open to the public. Tuesday able soups in the world- a regular through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. World (New York, 1968); Thomas D. Clark, ed., until 4:45 p.m. Tours of the history elixir of life of the substantial Travels in the Old South, vol. 3 (Norman, Okla., galleries and the residence are avail 1969); Sir Charles Lyell, A Second Visit to the able for a nominal fees. kind." United States of North America (New York, 1849); The city's portrait emerges from Charles Mackay, Life and Liberty in America (New Board of Directors: two centuries of observations as a York, 1859); Henry McElwin, New Orleans Exposi Benjamin W. Yancey, President tion, Texas and Old Mexico (Elyria, Ohio, 1885); Mrs. William K. Christovich place to reward the traveler with G. Henry Pierson, Jr. Edouard de Montule, Travels in America 1816- Francis C. Doyle "much of novelty." After Warner 1817 (Bloomington, Ind., 1951); Henry A. Murray, John E. Walker described New Orleans as sui gene Lands of the Slave and the Free (London, 1857); Captain Philip Pittman, The Present State of the Dode Platou, Director ris, he went on to say, "To the European Settlements on the Mississippi Northern stranger the aspect and (Gainesville, Fla., 1973); George Augustus Sala, The Historic New Orleans Collection America Revisited (London, 1882); Frances Trol 533 Royal Street the manners of the city are foreign, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 lope, Domestic Manners of the Americans (New (504) 523-4662 but if he remains long enough he York, 1960); Charles Dudley Warner, Studies in is sure to yield to its fascinations, the South and West (London, 1890); Tennessee ISSN 0886-2109 Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire (Garden City, and become a partisan of it. It is New York, 1947); Therese Yelverton, Teresina in © 1989 not altogether the soft and some America (London, 1875). The Historic New Orleans Collection what enervating and occasionally
3 At First Sight
For many years the port was the point of arrival for people traveling to New Orleans. Passengers alighted amidst the cargo and confusion of the levee, first having been greeted with scenes of flatboats, barges, and seagoing vessels navigating the waterways, steamboats moored along the docks in tiers five or six deep, and a "forest of masts whose termination [was] hidden by the bend of the river." Once upon the scene, passengers observed masses of cargo awaiting transshipment, barrels of sugar and molasses, and the numerous cotton presses where cotton bulk was reduced by pres surization. "You enter New Or leans just as you enter the Iliad, A Levee at Night- Electric-Light Illumination by J . 0. Davidson for Harper's plunging at once in medias res," Weekly, 1883 (1959204.1) observes one writer, while another exclaims: " 'Tis a busy, driving dreadful place, piled with bales and boxes, and hogsheads and casks, and cattle and bureaus, and bed disease breeder; but the gutters are Thomas Wolfe, John Galsworthy, steads, and horsecarts, and pul flushed two or three times a day Thomas Duncan, William March, pits ....Sailors are heaving, and haul by powerful machinery ....Other sani Thomas Bailey Aldrich, and Ten ing, and yo-hoing - mates are tary improvements have been made; nessee Williams. Their literature shouting, and swearing- steam and with such effect that New contributes to the city's rich cul ers are smoking, and puffing- and Orleans claims to be ... one of the tural fabric and attests to that splashing about." Lady Emmeline healthiest cities in the Union ... .It inexplicable hold that the city Stuart-Wortley, enthralled with this is a driving place commercially, -with all it peculiarities and short very same site, wrote, "I should and has a great river, ocean, and comings - has upon its visitors, think that the best possible view railway business." Uncharacteris and which continues to draw visi of New Orleans is the one we saw tically, Twain continued his praise: tors to New Orleans. on our arrival from the river." "At the date of our visit, it was the -Judith H. Bonner best lighted city in the Union, Railroads developed in the 1880s, electrically speaking. The New Or Sources: Putnam's Monthly, Oct. 1857; George arrivals increased, and river traffic leans electric lights were more Augustus Sala, A merica Revisited (London, 1882); grew as well. The expanding city James Stuart, Three Years inNorthAmerica (Edin numerous than those of New York, burgh , 1833); Lady Emmeline Stuart -Wortley, addressed some of its chronic prob and very much better ... not only in Travels in the United States during 1849 and 1850 lems, including improved drainage (New York, 1851); Mark Twain, L ife on the Missis Canal and some neighboring chief sippi (Boston, 1883). systems, which solved not only streets, but all along a stretch of sewerage and sanitary problems, five miles of river frontage." but destroyed the moist breeding Through the years other writers grounds of the yellow fever-bearing sought inspiration in this cultur Workshop mosquito which caused annual epi ally rich city, a partial list reading demics. Gas lighting was replaced like an anthology of literature: The Southeastern Registrars As with electricity. The city and the Frances Trollope, Walt Whitman, sociation will conduct a worksho:P. river continued to cast its spell over William Makepeace Thackeray, May 21-23, 1989, on Conservation newsmen and travel writers who Lafcadio Hearn, Stephen Crane, and Condition Reporting. The semi kept the presses humming with Lyle Saxon, Roark Bradford, Wil nar will be held at Colonial Wil descriptions and anecdotes. liam C. Falkner, William Faulkner, liamsburg. Conservators will talk Mark Twain, who arrived as a F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eudora Welty, about the examination and preser cub pilot aboard a steamboat, de Stephen Foster, Joel Chandler Har vation of objects and about per parted from his customary acerbic ris, 0. Henry, James Ryder Ran forming in-house treatment for sta- wit, to observe: "Apparently there dall, William Hodding Carter, Jr., ilizing problems, along with other is a 'boom' in· everything. ...The Ambrose Bierce, Sinclair Lewis, topics. For more information, call water in the gutters used to be Edward Larocque Tinker, Sher Priscilla O'Reilly, collections man stagnant and slimy, and a potent wood Anderson, Malcolm Lowry, ager, at 523-4662.
4 From the John E. Walker Named to Board
Benjamin W. Yancey, president Director of the board of directors of the Kemper and Leila Williams Foun dation, has announced the ap pointment of John Edward Walker to the board. The Williams Founda tion is the governing body of the Historic New Orleans Collection. Mr. Walker, a native of Missis sippi and a graduate of Thlane University, is a civil engineer and surveyor who is president ofWalker and Avery, Inc. For many years he has been a friend of the Historic The theme of our next exhibition New Orleans Collection. -Visitors' Impressions of the Cres With history as his avocation, cent City - brings to mind the Mr. Walker brings special talents modern-day traveler and conven to his duties as a board member. tion participant. June 17 will bring He has been a consultant for sev and is an active layman of the 4,000 of these visitors, who will eral architectural publications, a Presbyterian Church. He is presi attend the annual meeting of the volunteer concerning surveys at dent-elect of the Louisiana Society American Association of Museums. the Louisiana Division of the New of Professional Surveyors, a repre Representatives from the United Orleans Public Library, and a long sentative of the American Public States and from many foreign coun time member of the Louisiana His Works Association to the Regional tries will include leading museum torical Society, Louisiana Land Planning Committee, and a mem directors and curators, tax and marks Society, Friends of the Law ber of the Louisiana Engineering computer experts, registrars, archi Library, and the Friends of the Society, the American Society of vists, educators, and other special Cabildo. Civil Engineers, and the American ists. His present research project is a Congress on Surveying and Map Our staff will have the opportu study of the development of the city ping. nity to attend sessions - and of New Orleans - to chart when According to director Dode Pla THNOC will host a reception for vacant lands were subdivided and tou, "John E. Walker brings to our the AAM Council, as well as offer when streets and houses actually board an unusual combination of an evening tour of our facilities to appeared in those subdivisions. professional, community, and re the AAM membership. One-to-one Mr. Walker serves on the board search experience. We look forward contact with so many professionals of directors of Goodwill Industries to his wise counsel." is the most valuable type of com munication - and a scenario that keeps repeating at the Collection. AAM Host Committee For some time, we have either hosted meetings or offered our facilities to a wide assortment of national and regional groups: the American Library Association, the American Institute for Conserva tion, the Southern Association of Women Historians, the Museum Computer Network, theNorthAmeri can Print Conference. And closer to home, the Louisiana Association of Museums. These "travelers" bring with them new ideas, fresh approaches, and their own impressions of the Cres cent City. We look forward to learning from them - and to sharing knowledge of THNOC's Plans for the American Association of Museum's June meeting in New holdings and facilities with our Orleans have been under way for months. Members of the host committee museum colleagues. And we hope pictured above are, seated, Charles Mackie, Alice Yelen, DodePlatou, and Sue Turner; standing, Carol Gikas, Carol Nelson, Tamra Carboni, and Gay Cun that our exhibition, filled with ningham. Not pictured: John Bullard, Shereen Minvielle, and Phyllis Taylor choice observations from past trav elers, will enrich the stay of our visiting friends. - Dode Platou 5 HISTORIC Future Perfect
crowded the riverfront for miles. The city in 1951 was a clean place patrolled by men in white uniforms who kept all streets free of debris. The streets were paved with an indestructible substance and were "as smooth as a polished floor." The city's water was piped in from the Tchefuncte River's special treat ment plants across Lake Pontchar train and was as pure and clear as water could be. Other city services were models of modern perfection, and every policeman had the latest equipment, which could catch a criminal in the very act and provide indisputable proof of his guilt. In 1951, one of the greatest boons to the business world was the phono-typewriter. The user talked into a phonograph tube which set the typewriter attachment in mo tion, writing out the sentences as they were spoken. Photographs could be sent by telegraph, and informa tion spoken over the telephone could also be printed instantly. The One hundred years ago, Edward nival time in the spring of 1951." pneumatic tube system as described Bellamy published Looking Back From his imagined vantage point by Whyte in 1951 was truly re ward, 2000-1887, a Utopian novel in the future, author J. H. Whyte markable. One simply phoned a set in Boston in which modern described the wonders of the 1951 shop anywhere in the city, placed wonders of daily life in the year carnival in a very idyllic New an order, and deposited the pay 2000 were contrasted with rela Orleans. He took a backward glance ment for the items in his pneumatic tively primitive conditions in 1887. at the city in 1899 to point out its tube which then whisked it to the The book, an instant bestseller, primitive state in comparison with shop. The purchases were sent from remained very popular for years conditions in the mid-20th century. and, with its vantage point in a The author cited 1898 as the technologically idyllic future, evi beginning of true progress in New dently inspired a New Orleans Orleans when a sewer system for newspaper reporter to publish his the entire city was inaugurated. Hotel own ideas about Crescent City life This sewer system, combined with - from a similar perspective. other improvements, signalled the Grunewald During the carnival season of last gasp of the yellow fever epi 1899, an unusual and amusing demics which plagued 19th-cen little volume appeared, entitled tury New Orleans. With improved New Orleans in 1950, Being a Story services and the end of yellow 'TT~~~~ "" 9l:l 1~ on,y to W rM J adiatt ...Wtl"oot'b .\ ~tttrieau p:tlub, ordor lllmomw of the Carnival City, From the Pen fever, New Orleans drew progres lnn(!h I})' ltlkp\u•ue. 'fbuilc> w.b iOJ .._..,.. *" tln .. tn • k>pcanbll;l'lt ~Q81 6 the shop through the tube to one's home almost immediately. NOCCA Students at THNOC Whyte's depictions of the modern home of 1951 with its clean, soot free kitchens said much about do mestic life in 1899. The clumsy coal or wood-burning stoves with their nasty smoke and fumes were a thing of the past, replaced by elec tric ranges which cooked with a touch of a button. Pure Tchefuncte spring water came out of an indoor faucet. The new sewerage system made slop pails obsolete. There were scientific methods of extermi nating flies and mosquitoes, so that screens and mosquito bars were no longer necessary. The chief mode of private transportation was the personal airship or an "aeriocycle." Every home had modern wireless telephones, all-electric lighting and heating, and refrigerating cham bers to cool the air. Reception for NOCCA students at the Collection Even the advertisements were written as if in 1951. The Saint Variegations, an exhibit of work school students in music, visual Charles Hotel boasted "liquid air by students at the New Orleans arts, theater, writing, and dance. chambers ... making each and every Center for Creative Arts will be Shop manager Sue Laudeman, a apartment cool in summer and featured in the Williams Gallery, member of the Royal Street Guild, warm in winter without electric April 27-May 15. Seniors in the serves as project coordinator. fans or steam heaters." The hotel's visual arts will have their work on Students from NOCCA are Julie roof was a major airship depot for view, with performances by music James, Lelia Molthrop, Mary the city. "Wireless telephone serv students scheduled each day, in Scharfenberg, and Desiree Bra ice" with every city on the conti cluding pianists and vocalists. The ganza, classical music; Shawn nent was free to guests, and there Royal Street Guild, a business Verges, Amanda Norman, Lynn were "phono-typewriters" in every association, is underwriting the Spears, and Viviana Gershanik, room. exhibition in honor of the New vocal music; and Andrea Caillouet, Many of Whyte's fantasies in Orleans Center for Creative Arts Jennifer Cooper, Raye Daniels, 1899 are realities today, if not in and its contributions to the city. Brian Gray, Bridget McDowell, Hai 1951. Central air conditioning and NOCCA, part of the New Orleans Nguyen, Heidi Post, and Alison heating are common comforts, and Public School System, trains high Wells, visual arts. the wireless telephone is popular. Spring water may not come out of our faucets, but it is delivered to AT THE COLLECTION subscribers all over the area. Tow John W. Keefe, left, guest curator for A Creole Legacy, recently spoke on the ering skyscrapers have altered the Clarisse Claiborne Grima decorative New Orleans skyline. Broad paved arts collection at THNOC. Mr. Keefe is highways connect even the small principal curator ofdecorative arts at the est towns to the outside world, and New Orleans Museum of Art. air travel is routine. Although Rex does not hover above the parade route in a bril liant airship, who can say what wonders the future may bring? -Pamela D. Arceneaux D. no.sE.S & SON, TWENTIETH CEN1\JitV PHOTOORAPHI!It.- Right, Rosanne McCaffrey u ... .!!. Mackie and Chuck Patch """M11 l..'t1.,r or by JIDO!auWle IMo with, far right, Kevin O'Sulli ;r!:.ea4 nnr picture. \D IUI,J' pqrl or UJ• wurld b)' ldqril,tl van and Hilary B racegirdle of the Victoria and Albert Museum 7 Focus Above New Orleans, 1922 1 (1979.325.6425) Flying high over New Orleans constructed, and streets were stretch the left of the view are the massive in an airplane in 1922, commercial ing out into new territory. Major Maison Blanche Building (A) and photographer Charles L. Franck streets had been asphalted, and an the Grunewald Hotel (B), now the (1877-1965) made photographs of adequate system of pumps finally Fairmont. In the center is a cluster the city, producing about two dozen helped drain the back-of-town of structures marking the financial aerial views, now part of the Char swamps, thus opening up thou district. Dominating the scene is les Franck collection at the His sands of acres for much needed the Hibernia Bank and Trust Build toric New Orleans Collection. Bird's housing. ing (C) which was completed the eye views from tall buildings, such New Orleans was looking toward year before. As the South's tallest as St. Patrick's Church, were not the future for the first time in many building, it was symbolic not only unusual, but Franck was perhaps years. The Times-Picayune of Sep of the new prosperity in New Or the first person to photograph the tember 4, 1922, summed up these leans but also gave some substance Crescent City from heights that feelings when it proudly boasted to the city's metropolitan aspira only an airplane could reach. that "New Orleans is becoming a tions. In 1922, downtown New Or The New Orleans depicted by really big city .... " The newspaper leans was on the brink of a major Franck was not only growing along hailed "the urge of local pride to get building boom; within ten years, with the rest of the United States together in the interest of better new skyscrapers would even more but was also a city in transition. paving, more and better lighting, drastically alter the skyline. With a population approaching more business harmony and co Municipal improvements left most 400,000, it was still much larger operation for swifter service and a poor neighborhoods entirely un than other Southern cities; and more optimistic outlook on life." touched- if anything could drama with business and industry on the Franck's view of the Central tize this fact, it was the residential upswing, the local economy was Business District reveals an area area in the right foreground of vigorous. that was still marked by low-level Franck's view (D). Considered one New Orleans was also becoming structures. It was also growing of the filthiest, most dangerous a more typical American city. Its upward with the addition of several slums in town, it was razed a silhouette was changing and filling tall buildings that had been built quarter of a century later for a new out, as taller buildings were being during the previous 15 years. To City Hall. 8 One of the city's fastest growing drainage system after 1900, new driven lake waters from inundating neighborhoods is pictured in the houses quickly began to fill in the the heavily inhabited regions. The view which looks across the Fair open spaces between Broad Street territory between the Metairie Ridge grounds (E) toward Lake Pontchar (I), seen to the lower right of the and the lake was still virtually train; Bayou St. John (F) is seen to image, and the Metairie Ridge. unprotected from lake waters; fur the left snaking through the wilder thermore, the drainage system was ness. There were a number of not yet serviceable there. It was not houses here throughout the 19th until the lake reclamation project century, but even as late as 1900, and the construction of the seawall the area was still highly countri To New in the early 1930s - coupled with fied. Two ridges - Metairie/ expansion of the drainage system Gentilly (G), which runs across the Orleanians, the - that the area north of the center of the image, and Esplanade Metairie Ridge Metairie Ridge would be considered (H), which runs from the lower economically safe for development. right to Bayou St. John - are was practically Taken as a whole, the 7,500 slightly higher than the surround accessioned images by Charles ing land and could accommodate the "end of the Franck at the Historic New Or } settlement. Nearby neighborhoods, leans Collection reveal a close, such as Mid-City, were well below earth." detailed portrait of the city and its sea level, poorly drained, and little dramatic urban expansion between better than swamps after a heavy World War I and 1955. Of these rain. Urbanization there came images, Franck's 1922 aerial views slowly, although by the late 19th Franck's view clearly shows that best reveal New Orleans as it century, housing was expanding in 1922 New Orleans had reached appeared in its entirety at the into the area, as New Orleans the Metairie Ridge, but develop beginning of this period. The city began to move northward at an ment past that point was almost is at once recognizable - yet dis accelerated rate. Despite the threat non-existent. To New Orleanians, tant- as it appears on the thresh of flood, the city had few alterna the Metairie Ridge was practically old of what would become its 20th tives for expansion elsewhere. With the "end of the earth," because it century form. the introduction of its first real acted as a dam to prevent wind- -John Magill F H G I 9 0 ' . ~· . 0 • ; 0 0 ~ The Historic New Orleans Collection acquires thousands of items through purchase and donation during the course of each year. Only a few recent acquisi tions can be noted here. Sketch of Morganza Bend by James Sherwood (88-45-L) MANUSCRIPTS a carpenter in his hometown of ledgers, which will be added to the Norwich, New York, and he often 277 items already in the Bradish mentioned carving souvenirs, as Johnson Collection. "August llth, 1862, I enlisted in the well as tombstones, for his fellow • In 1923, journalist, literary critic, 114th Regiment ... as a Bugler. soldiers. He possessed other artis teacher, and historian G. William Brother Eugene enlisted at the tic skills, and his drawings of Port Nott, in his pursuit of the preserva same time. Just what my reasons Hudson and Morganza Bend on the tion of local culture, undertook to were going I can hardley tell about Mississippi River enliven his mem write various men of letters asking all my young companions were oirs. Besides the six handwritten their opinion of Lafcadio Hearn's going and I didnot want to get notebooks covering Sherwood's serv place in American literature. Nott left .... " So begin the memoirs of ice in Louisiana and later on the had written an article for the Times James W. Sherwood, soldier in the Potomac in defense of Washington, Picayune on September 23 of that New York State Volunteers, who this collection includes photographs, year, in which he describes Hearn recorded in great detail every bite tintypes, and correspondence. as writing "exquisite tales of Creole of food, drop of rain, pang of Among the library's holdings is a belles and gallant beaux, of ro homesickness, and even a battle or volume of published records of the mance that lurked behind hand two in the Teche Campaign and the 114th Regiment of the New York wrought balconies, of beauty that siege of Port Hudson in 1863 and State Volunteers, giving the offi peeped through iron grilles ... and of the Red River Campaign in 1864. cial version of the events so color anything that savored of the weird, Always in search of creature com fully recorded by Sherwood. the bizarre, the somber." forts, Sherwood has written a man • Henry Leovy was a lawyer and Theodore Dreiser, James Branch ual on eating well and sleeping dry publisher who is best known for Cabell, Carl van Doren, Carl in the midst of marches through codifying the laws of the city of Sandburg, H. L. Mencken, Louis the swamps and bivouacs in hostile New Orleans, published in three Untermeyer, Booth Tarkington, and territory. Sherwood was, by trade, editions from 1856 to 1872. He also Sherwood Anderson were among served on Jefferson Davis's staff those asked to comment. The re during the Civil War and published sponse was as varied as the writers the New Orleans Delta. The Collec themselves. Booth Tarkington, ex tion has recently acquired corre pressing a view held by many, spondence to Henry Leovy from wrote: "I have always admired Jefferson Davis, Edward Douglas Lafcadio Hearn, who was, I think, White, Leland Stanford, William one of the greatest and finest of all Preston Johnson, James B. Eads, American writers .. .lt is very odd and other important men of his that he should be passed over as time, covering a period from 1857 often as he is. I think that he is to 1900. hardly known at all by the new • Another prominent businessman generation of readers ...." This pro in 19th-century New Orleans was vocative group of letters is the gift Bradish Johnson, who was involved of Mr. and Mrs. Caffery McCay and in the sugar refining and distilling comes at an appropriate time: business, and the founder of a land Lafcadio Hearn, no longer "passed investment company which bears over," was the inspiration for this his name. Mrs. Frank G. Strachan year's Rex parade. -Catherine C. Kahn James Sherwood (88-45-L) has donated a large surveyor's plan dated 1873 and several business 10 CURATORIAL Stereographs: nearly identical pho tographic views of the same scene, mounted side-by-side, and made to be viewed with a special binocular device to give the illusion of three dimensions. These intriguing pic tures were a staple of parlors throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, and they reappear today as desirable collectibles, par ticularly among descendants who have inherited a stereoscope, the device for viewing. A group of these views was recently added to the collection in an effort to build a significant body of such formerly ubi qui to us images. They were made by the Keystone View Company, established in 1892 in Meadsville, Pennsylvania, which was adver tised as the largest view maker in thP. world at the turn of the cen Margaret Haughery (1989.14) tury. The THNOC stereographs include such disparate subjects as the lee Monument, the Palm Court albums which have descended in a and include a number of plantation ofthe St. Charles Hotel, and barges family are always welcome addi houses, some the work of Koch taking on cargo in the Calcasieu tions to the photographic collection. himself. Others were made by the River at Lake Charles. Another photograph album, dated noted turn-of-the-century photogra The New York firm of Under about 1870, contains 16 images of pher George Franc;ois Mugnier; and wood and Underwood was another faculty members, and perhaps stu there is a rare series by Nina A. large distributor of stereographic dents, of the Medical School of the King, sister of writer Grace King. cards, and THNOC has acquired University of Louisiana (later 'Ill • The work of philanthropist Mar Underwood's view ofPresident Wil lane University). Notable figures garet Gaffney Haughery (1813- liam McKinley during his visit to portrayed include Joseph M. Jones 1882) is legendary; through her New Orleans in 1901, the year of and Stanford Chaille. Dr. Jones was orphanage, she cared for the aban his assassination. The president is a surgeon at the school from 1868 doned, orphaned, and homeless shown returning the salute of the to 1894 and a highly respected youth of the city for nearly 50 boats passing in a parade along the researcher and writer. Dr. Chaille years. Mrs. William Francis Scheyd Mississippi River in his honor. had an even longer association with recently donated a dramatic photo THNOC acquired another series the school (1867-1908) as professor graphic portrait of this important of 24 stereographs, noteworthy be of physiology and anatomy. He was New Orleanian. Although the cause of their early dates (ca. 1870) also the personal physician to J ef photographer who made this image and because they were produced ferson Davis. is yet unknown, the albumen photo locally. All the scenes in this group Local artist Lin Emery has do graph is in an ornate period frame, depict a variety of buildings and nated her collection of official with the paper label of the framer, street scenes in New Orleans and mayor's office photographs taken Laurent Uter, No. 38 Royal Street, were retailed through the city's during the 1950s and early 1960s. still attached. Uter is listed at this leading photographers, Theo. Lilien They provide a comprehensive vis address between 1875 and 1881. A thal and S. T. Blessing. ual documentation of the admini statue of Margaret Haughery, the • A small photograph album con stration of Del.esseps S. "Chep" first in the United States to honor taining carte-de-visite photographs Morrison and of his tenure as a woman, is located on a triangular was recently donated by Charles ambassador to the Organization of plot of ground at the intersection Rush. Dating from the mid-19th American States. Samuel Wilson, of Camp and Prytania streets. Those century, the photographs were used Jr., a generous benefactor to familiar with the Margaret statue as calling cards, and each is mounted THNOC's collections, has given a will note that the shawl seen in the with a portrait of members of the large group of film and glass nega photograph is the same as that Hebert, Dupuy, and I..efevbre fami tives and photoprints that had been depicted on her statue. lies. Pictured among them is Paul collected by his late partner, Rich • Coincidental with the exhibition Hebert, governor of Louisiana from ard Koch. Nearly all the scenes are 'Way Down Yonder in New Orleans: 1853 to 1856. Such documented identified by location and subject Visitors' Impressions of the Cres- 11 cent City, the department acquired • A scarce postcard view of Third for their attractive appearance. five prints by American artists who Street in Baton Rouge (postmarked Ephemeral materials exemplify the visited the city during the 1920s May 14, 1912) was given by former craftsmanship of the long-forgotten and 1930s. The earliest seems to THNOC employee, Richard C. lithographers, engravers, and print be an undated drypoint etching by Marvin, Jr., a frequent donor of ers who produced them and, more Irishman John McGrath (born 1880), New Orleans memorabilia. The important, provide a visual com a self-taught artist who settled in sender of the postcard writes that mentary on political, commercial, Maryland in the 1920s. The scene the city was flooded at the time of and social life. The following para is characteristic of the street views his visit, an important historical graphs highlight but a few recently drawn by artists visiting the French footnote. Another gift is a bronze acquired examples of ephemera Quarter. A second ~tching is a medal given by Robert Whitman. available at THNOC. sensitive portrait of a 1920s "street Emblazoned with the name "Louisi • Programs and playbills of musi person," named Marguerete, who ana," it was a souvenir from the cal and theatrical events lend in 1893 World's Columbian Exposi- sight into the sort of entertainment tion. available to New Orleanians and -John A. Mahe II reveal the names of the performers who provided it. "Souvenir and Musical Programme of Music Hall, World's Exposition, 1885," for ex LIBRARY ample, specifies 12 songs played on Thursday, March 18, and in The great English diarist Samuel cludes an illustration depicting the Pepys and Isaiah Thomas, the Revo popular Mexican Band, which lutionary War printer and founder played to immense success during of the American Antiquarian Soci the World's Industrial and Cotton ety, both held an interest in collect Centennial Exposition (1884- ing printed ephemera. THNOC 1885). Another program lists selec also recognizes the importance of tions presented by "the incompara these materials which were in ble" Anna Pavlova at the Lafayette tended to be used briefly and then Theatre on February 13, 1922. The to be discarded. Ephemera - from Russian dancer was considered the a Greek word meaning short-lived greatest ballerina of her time. or of current and passing interest Playbills promoted coming and - include playbills, menus, tick current stage productions. Among ets, programs, billheads, labels, recent additions to a growing col greeting cards, topical pamphlets, lection of these broadsides is one and a variety of other materials of announcing Sarah Bernhardt's ap transitory value. Frequently frag pearances in several one-act plays ile and easily torn, ephemera have on January 28 and 29, 1917. It was Marguerete by E. Gerry Peirce (1989.8) physical characteristics that con Mme. Bernhardt's final engage is fondly remembered as one of the tribute to an already high mortal ment in the Crescent City. Seventy city's enigmatic characters with no ity rate. Those that survive often three years of age, she had lost a leg last name and an unknown past. were kept as souvenirs, cherished and had to restrict her repertoire The artist, E. Gerry Peirce, must for sentimental reasons or admired to parts that allowed her to remain have frequently seen her on the streets of the French Quarter where he occupied a studio at 541 St. Ann Street during 1932-1933. Chica goan Charles A. Wilimovsky (born 1885) visited New Orleans in 1920, the date of his abstract blue-inked linocut interpretation of Jackson Square. Printmaker Victoria Hut son Huntley created her lithograph, "Stairway in New Orleans," in 1949, ten years after her only known exhibition in the city at the Arts & Crafts Club. The fifth print is a scene of field hands picking Louisiana hot peppers. The undated lithograph is a very rare local Mexican Band, World's Industrial subject by Merritt Mauzey (born and Cotton Exposi 1898), a former export clerk raised tion, 1885 (88-539- . on a cotton farm in west Texas. RL) 12 acquisitions include several menus Among them were poetry and nov of dinners sponsored by fraternal els, grammars and travelers' guide T1lf DAUPIIINf TllfATRf organizations in 1871 and 1872 at books, and nonfiction on subjects L&--- Victor's Restaurant and at the Cos ranging from the French Revolu ...... ,... 1917 mopolitan Restaurant on Royal tion to divorce laws. Canonge, a &~HARDT Street near Canal, and another former director and manager of the ----..:o-=='=''1:1:\"'- - given by the alumni of the law French Opera, also collected the department at the University of scores of 79 operas and nearly 50 Louisiana (now Thlane University) librettos. Worthy of special note are at Boudro's Restaurant at Milneburg his copies of works by other local in 1876. Dating from the more writers, including George W. Ca austere Reconstruction period, these ble, Grace King, and Alfred Mer menus are less elaborate than those cier. printed before the Civil War. • Anniversaries and special events • Before the first printing press often inspire the publication of in New Orleans arrived in 1764, the commemorative booklets that are public was notified of official infor distributed briefly and are soon , VITRAIL mation by the town crier and by the unavailable except on the secon ...... ,. __ ...... , ...... posting of handwritten announce dary market. To celebrate its dia 1\.t.....W: --.... ~ ...... ::~~~.• ;:::_·_: ---- -..:=_.W:U..,"";t:: ..,..,,..,,k.,., -"""~··~-' ments. Printing supplemented these mondjubilee during the 1947-1948 efforts, and well into the 19th season, the New Orleans Fair (88-490-RL) century, printed notices continued Grounds published The Fair seated or to recline. One of these, to be distributed and posted to Grounds Race Course: A Time offered on the second night, had announce news, including elections. Honored American Institution by been written especially for her. In A proclamation of Jacques Philippe Louis J . Hennessey, which presents the melancholy "From the Stage to Villere, the second governor of in text and illustrations the history the Field of Honor," the "divine" Louisiana, announced a special elec of horse racing in New Orleans. Sarah portrayed a young man who tion to fill a vacated seat in the Similarly, the New Orleans Chap lay dying alone on a battlefield House of Representatives, and an Book was issued as a souvenir of after his leg had been shot off. The other enumerated the districts the 'Iburo Infirmary Fair, which great French actress also inter wherein voters would soon choose was held the first week of February preted for her audiences such tragic senators and state legislators. Both 1896. It contains brief essays by roles as the heroines of "La Mort proclamations were issued in 1818. local authors, appropriately lead de Cleopatre" and "La Dame aux • Discovering the contents of Lou ing off with "Charity Fair" by Camellias." Observers reported that, isianians' private libraries discloses Grace King. despite her infirmities, her golden what publications were available Although examples of 19th voice remained as magical as it had and of interest locally. One such century ephemeral materials are ever been, and her manner as library was that of L. Placide Can now increasingly confined to librar charming and gracious. onge (1822-1893), a New Orleans ies and museums, many can still • The custom of providing printed educator, playwright, and journal be found in privately owned scrap souvenir menus to persons attend ist, whose extensive collection of books and collections of memora ing special dinners began in New books was dispersed at public auc bilia. And 20th-century ephemera Orleans in the 19th century and tion a year after his death. A lurk everywhere, their significance continues today. Antebellum exam recently acquired copy of the cata to future generations of historians ples already in the collection in logue of that sale inventories Can obscured by their current utilitar clude some decorated in bright onge's library, listing some 600 ian functions and ready availabil colors and highlighted in gold; oth books and pamphlets, of which ity. ers contain delicate openwork. New more than 500 were in French. -Florence M. Jumonville ,., .. Illustration, New Orleans Fair Grounds commemorative booklet (88-435-RL) 13 weddings and other events. Re Joffrion (B.S., LSU) is an assistant searcher Helen Wetzel was appointed in the manuscripts division ... she is by Governor Roemer to the study pursuing a master's degree in his commission for the Notarial Re tory at UNO, specializing in archi cords. val work. Joining the staff as sys tems department assistant is Char PUBLICATIONS PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES maine P. Forti (B.A., Loyola Uni Jill Roberts, chief curatorial cata Dr. Alfred E. Lemmon, reference versity). archivist, was elected president of loger, compiled a catalogue, Penn Beth Joffrion Save Our Cemeteries ... he also has sylvania German Fraktur and served as a consult~nt to the Na Printed Broadsides: A Guide to the tional Archives of El Salvador. Collections in the Library of Con Judith Bonner, assistant curator, gress for the American Folklife spoke on "Art in New Orleans Center. during the 1870s" at the sympo Head librarian Florence M. Jumon sium, "Kate Chopin's New Orleans: ville and Alfred E. Lemmon collabo The 1870s," sponsored by THNOC rated on an article for the LLA and the Xavier Review in Decem Bulletin, "From Piano Bench to ber... at the same meeting, John History Book: Using Louisiana Magill, assistant curator, spoke on Sheet Music in Research," which the city environment in the 1870s appeared in the fall issue ... Miss and Alfred E. Lemmon, on music Jumonville's review of Celine: Re at that time. Mrs. Bonner also membering Louisiana, 1850-1871, served as chair for "World Litera the memoirs of Celine Fremaux ture" at the Conference on Christi Garcia, appeared in the January anity and Literature in New Or 1989 issue of Southwestern Histori leans in February. cal Quarterly. Dr. Patricia Brady, director of Judith Bonner contributed six art publications, presented a paper, reviews to the November/December "Black Artists in Antebellum New 1988 issue of the New Orleans Art Orleans," at the Louisiana Histori Review ... John H. Lawrence also cal Association in Baton Rouge, contributed a review of Tina Free March 17. man's work to the same issue. Mr. John H. Lawrence, curator of Lawrence wrote an essay on the photography, gave the keynote ad work of A. J. Meek for the Southern dress on photography at Hill Me Arts Federation Photography Fel morial Library at Louisiana State lowships catalogue. University in April...one of his Thinh Phi of the maintenance photographs was included in an MEETINGS staff has been joined by his wife exhibition at NOMA, concerning Director of Systems Rosanne Mc Thuan Thi Le Phi, who has recently the work collected by Clarence Caffrey Mackie attended the an arrived from Vietnam, via Thai John Laughlin. nual conference of the Louisiana land. Association of Museums in Monroe, April 6-7 ... she is president-elect of LAM. Priscilla O'Reilly, collections man ager, attended the annual seminar of the American Law Institute American Bar Association on legal problems for museum administra tion in Washington in March ... she will attend the Southeastern Regis trars Association workshop in Wil liamsburg, May 21-23. John H. Lawrence attended the meeting of r___ __..~-:::-: . d Thinh Phi Jan White the Photographic Materials Group . Le Pht an in Kansas City, March 3-4. Thuan Tht Free-lance work by Jan White, MEDIA head of photography, has appeared John Magill, assistant curator, in the following publications: The CHANGES was interviewed about the Grima Nation Reunited: War's Aftermath, Priscilla O'Reilly married John Fund on "Breakfast Edition," That's Jazz: Der Sound de 20 H. Lawrence in March. WDSU ... and on "Steppin' Out," Jaherhunderts, and Satchmo. Judy Jude Solomon has been promoted WYES. Jan White was interviewed Tarantino, photography assistant, to the position of curatorial assis about breast cancer on "Life Plan is a free-lance photographer for tant. New staff member Beth ning," WDSU. 14 INTERNS VOLUNTEER Mary Ann Hymel is a volunteer docent in the education depart SPEAKERS BUREAU ment ... she has been at the Collec Left to right . tion for six years. H~ros, Tre 'iterns Ricky Staff members have recently made M_zller En'Jtehoeller, and presentations to the following or Pictured St ardt. Not ganizations: John Magill, American Lee H ubb~rd even Gewirz, Concrete Institute, Bywater Neigh The internship program at the Col borhood Association, Entre Nous Judy Tarantino lection attracted college students Book Club, Marigny Neighborhood Jan White from Thlane University and from the Association, and the Tennessee Wil University of New Orleans. liams Festival. The holdings of the Collection are Jim Fontaine Richard C. Marvin, Jr. increased substantially through the C. B. Fox Maryland Historical Society Free Press D. Caffery McCay generosity of our donors. We grate Elmer Freed Jackson L. Molaison fully acknowledge their interest in Louis Frierson Nebraska State Historical Society our institution and in Louisiana Fabian G. Fromherz New Orleans Paddlewheels, Inc. Garden District Guide, Ltd. Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation, Inc. history. Mary Gehman James B. Norris - Dode Platou John Geiser III Priscilla O'Reilly Mrs. E. J . Gibert Avis R. Ogilvy Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Prof. Marcel Giraud Osage Publications Acropolis Books, Ltd. Mrs. Rolland Golden Daniel Piersol Archdiocese of New Orleans Arthur Hardy Richard C. Plater, Jr. Daniel D. Arden Herbert Hemphill Mrs. Ralph V. Platou Edward H. Arnold Tracy Hendrix Janice A. Poller Barbara Bacot Belinda Hernandez Portier Gorman Publications Ann Barnes 'Ibm Houston Morris Raphael Marilyn Barnett J . Norcom Jackson, Jr. Mrs. Edmund E. Richardson Marion Hoben Belanger Jack Jackson J. Raymond Samuel Mary Ann Bellocq Jefferson Parish Historical Commission Flora Scheib Peter Bernard Jefferson Parish Library Mrs. William Francis Scheyd George Bey John A. Jones School of Design Dr. Alejandro Bolaftos-Geyer George E. Jordan Mrs. Solis Seiferth Peter Briant Florence M. Jumonville Lloyd Sensat J. Roger Brown, Jr. Mrs. Warren P. Jumonville New Orleans Spinners Charles E. Bryan Charles N. Kahn, Jr. Irma M. Stiegler Mr. and Mrs. James B. Byrnes Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kahn II Mrs. F. G. Strachan Leslie B. Cambias Betty Killeen Texas A & M University Press John E. Carter Jake Hyman Kleindorf Joyce Thedy Mary A. Castleman James Lamantia Thornhill Foundation Mrs. William K. Christovich Gladys Landry Lucie Thornton Robert L. Clark Susan R. Laudeman Times-Picayune Publishing Corporation Dr. Eugene D. Cizek Spencer Lazarus Mrs. Ben C. 'lbledano Contemporary Arts Center Mr. and Mrs. Denvrich LeBreton United States Army Corps of Engineers Patricia Gromiller Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, United States Geological Society Jerome Cushman and 'lburism University of Georgia Press Claire de Ia Vergne Louisiana State University Press Jean Ellen von Wittenburg Frederick G. Deiler Margie Laws Luke Elizabeth Wells Maureen Donnelly John A. Mahe II Wesleyan University Press Samuel Dorris Dickinson Mahoning Valley Historical Society Muriel and Robert Whitney E. L. Ehrensing Margaret Media, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. J . Herbert Williams Lin Emery Martha Sheridan Salmon Mark Samuel Wilson, Jr. Mrs. Ashton J . Martin Mrs. J . Thornwell Witherspoon Fontaine Martin Mrs. M. Truman Woodward 15 Audubon Prints Available The shop at the Collection has acquired a selection of first-edition prints from John J. Audubon's royal octavo series of Birds of America. The first edition was published in New York and Phila delphia in 1840-1844 in seven vol umes. It was the first series to combine the plates with the text in a conventional book size of 6 1/2 x 10 inches or 6 112 x 10 3/ 4 inches, depending on how the book was bound. Audubon referred to the royal octavo series as his "Birds in Miniature," and many of the prints were based on Audubon's original drawings of birds in New Orleans or in other parts of Louisiana. Each was printed and meticulously hand colored by John T Bowen and assistants, under the direct super vision of John J. Audubon. Also available are a limited number of Audubon's first edition prints, Quad rupeds of North America, in the octavo size, printed 1849-1854. Purple Martins by John J. Audubon Non-Profit · :~. · THE HISTORIC Organization U.S. Postage ':: ; NEWORLEANS PAID , -,_ COLLECTION New Orleans, LA Permit No. 863 · NEWSLETTER THE IDSTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION Museum • Research Center • Publisher Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation 533 Royal Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 (504) 523-4662 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED