Digital Initiatives

Digital access is a LaRC priority that we pursue in a wide range of areas, including digitizing complete archival collections, creating web-searchable databases, participating in cooperative digital projects with other research institutions, offering online exhibits, and participating in the potential of social media to interact with and engage our patrons and the wider Louisiana research community.

Digital Collections

Placing complete archival collections online is a LaRC priority. Visit our Digital Collections page to learn which collections are currently available and return often, as new collections are placed online regularly.

Web-Searchable Databases

Archon

We are using the Archon archival information system to publish online guides (finding aids) to our archival collections in an intuitive, easily searchable database.

Ephemera Database

We have created an online database of LaRC’s extensive ephemera / vertical files which allows easy searching of our pamphlets, brochures, menus, programs, and other small publications.

Catalog

LaRC’s book and serial holdings are searchable through the library’s online card catalog. We are also rapidly adding catalog records for our archival holdings.

Consortial Digital Projects

“Civil War in the American South.” LaRC is a contributing institution to this central portal for accessing digital collections from the Civil War Era (1850-1865) held by members of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL).

KnowLA, the Encyclopedia of Louisiana, is a comprehensive online reference guide to the history and culture of Louisiana presented by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. It is accessible to anyone with a web-enabled device, free of charge.

"Le Français a la mesure d'un continent: un patrimoine en partage" (website under construction), a project of the University of Ottawa, Canada, is a large-scale study of French-speaking peoples across North America.

Louisiana Digital Library. LaRC is a partner of this online library of Louisiana institutions that makes available treasures from our state’s archives, libraries, museums, and other repositories.

Mark Twain’s Mississippi draws heavily from our extensive collection of Mississippi River steamboat photographs. LaRC partnered with four other libraries to create this online digital library of sources describing the Mississippi Valley that Twain remembered and imagined in his writings. The project was made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

MediaNOLA. LaRC is a partner in this online portal for New Orleans cultural production histories. Still in development, this digital database will collect the histories and realities of local cultural production, past and present, including cultural memories and oral histories.

Teaching American History in Louisiana (TAHIL) LaRC was a founding member of this cooperative effort to put original resources, lesson plans, and other teaching aids online for teachers of K-12 students. You can learn more about the TAHIL project and review a list of broad subjects visiting our "Services for K-12 Students" page. While focused on K-12, TAHIL’s resources can be useful for teachers and students at any level.

Online Exhibits

We use online exhibits to bring together resources from different collections to highlight noted or unusual aspects of our extensive holdings. Our current online exhibits are:

Victor H. and Margaret G. Schiro

Explores the contributions of a New Orleans mayor and his wife.

Lippmann Collection of Louisiana Postal Aviation History

Stamp-collecting as an avenue for exploring the history of Louisiana aviation.

Lippman Collection of Civil War Postal Covers

Fascinating examples of one way in which color and design were used for political and propagandistic effect during the Civil War.

Natalie Vivian Scott

War hero, newspaperwoman, playwright, explorer, and social worker.

Political Ephemera

Highlights of campaign literature from our extensive Louisiana ephemera collection and examples of how it was used.

Social Media

Social Media is an important way in which we share information about our programs, alert the research community to new resources, and receive suggestions from the public on how to improve our services.

Like LaRC on Facebook for discussions, news, announcements, and images from our holdings.

Tweet with us on Twitter for up-to-date information on our latest collections and services.

Check out our blog for news, announcements, breaking events, changes in hours, and highlights from our holdings.

Check in on foursquare at the Louisiana Research Collection and we’ll give you the first in our series of collectible bookmarks, free.

Visit Yelp for a map of our location, to make suggestions, and to write a review of your experience in LaRC. We welcome your comments and suggestions for improving our services.

Tulane Digital Library

"The Tulane University Digital Library (TUDL) mission is the production and delivery of digitized and native digital holdings that support the teaching, research and public service goals of the University. The online communities of scholars, students and the public have access to the rare and unique collections in areas such as Latin American studies, jazz, New Orleans and Louisiana history and architecture. Contributing departments include the Louisiana Research Collection, Hogan Jazz Archive, The Amistad Research Center, The Latin American Library, Southeastern Architectural Archive, University Archives and Matas Library of the Health Sciences. TUDL partners with the Louisiana Digital Library and other universities and institutions on digital projects and practices."
NB: TUDL is not a product or service of LaRC.