About the Louisiana Research Collection

© Joseph Kennedy

LaRC’s lark is better known as the Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna). Found throughout the state of Louisiana, it ranges from New England to New Mexico. It is not a true lark (which is mostly an Old World bird) but is instead a member of the same family as blackbirds and orioles.

The Louisiana Research Collection (LaRC) is the most comprehensive and possibly largest research library and archives for New Orleans and possibly the second largest for Louisiana as a whole after Hill Memorial Library at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. As an integrated research library and archives, LaRC provides researchers with a full range of library and archival research resources, from books and manuscripts to maps and images.

Our first acquisition occurred in 1889. Thomas Jefferson to M. du Plantier, Sept 24, 1808.

Our first acquisition occurred in 1889. It was a letter from Thomas Jefferson to M. du Plantier of New Orleans discussing their mutual friend, Lafayette. In the more than 120 years since, LaRC has acquired almost four linear miles of research materials about our city and state.

LaRC supports almost every aspect of Louisiana research, but among our special strengths are Carnival, the Civil War, Jewish studies, LGBT, Louisiana politics, medicine, social welfare, Southern literature, waterways, and women's studies.

Holdings of particular note include:

• The papers of Jefferson Davis and Stonewall Jackson, the Gettysburg letters of Robert E. Lee.
   
• One of the finer nineteenth-century Louisiana libraries in existence.
   
• The papers of more than a dozen Louisiana Members of Congress, including Bob Livingston, Lindy Boggs, Hale Boggs, and David Treen.
   
• The largest paper Carnival collection extant, including original float and costumes designs from 1873 to the present.
   
• The records of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and the records of most Jewish synagogues and temples in the greater New Orleans area.
   
• The records of social welfare organizations just as the Louisiana ACLU, the New Orleans YWCA, the Council of Social Agencies of New Orleans, the Jewish Children’s Home, Kingsley House, Protestant Children’s Home, the Traveler’s Aid Society, the Community Chest of New Orleans, and more.
   
• The records of many women’s organizations, such as the New Orleans YWCA, the New Orleans League of Women Voters, the Quarante Club, the Ruth McEnery Stuart Clan, the Independent Women’s Organization, the New Orleans Women’s Club, the Metairie Women’s Club, Cancer Crusaders, and perhaps most notably, the records of the Poydras Home, which is probably the oldest organization in the country established for women and continuously run by women.

Because we preserve international cultural treasures, we have an ethical obligation to make our holdings available to everyone on an equal basis; and, we believe we have a responsibility to make our holdings available in a manner that is comfortable and welcoming.

We look forward to your visit to the Louisiana Research Collection.