The Treasures of Tulane

Preserving Louisiana’s Legacy

Did you know that the Louisiana Research Collection (LaRC) preserves letters of George and Martha Washington, John Jay’s commission as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and William Faulkner’s hand-written and illustrated manuscript of Mayday? LaRC’s archival program stretches back to May 3, 1889, when Mrs. L. Dolhonde presented to the Charles T. Howard Memorial Library a letter from Thomas Jefferson to a M. duPlantier of New Orleans. In the more than 120 years since Mrs. Dolhonde’s donation, the Louisiana Research Collection has grown to encompass almost four linear miles of archival documents, books, maps, and other resources central to the study of our state. We hope this exhibit will introduce viewers around the world to the scope and depth of our holdings while also revealing some possibly surprising international cultural treasures. We begin with the Colonial era and letters from William Penn, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other Founding Fathers. We then highlight our renowned Civil War collection, followed by Louisiana arts and literature featuring Mark Twain, John Kennedy Toole, and William Faulkner. LaRC’s Carnival Collection is one of Tulane University’s most precious jewels and includes original costume and float designs from the “Golden Age of Carnival.” The exhibit then moves on to women and gender, religion, and finally Louisiana’s rich and often vivid political heritage.