The Carnival Collection

Tulane University’s Louisiana Research Collection (LaRC) preserves possibly the largest collection of New Orleans Carnival paper and ephemera, such as invitations, dance cards, call out cards, printed float plates and bulletins, and original float and costume designs.

Perhaps most notable among our Carnival collection are the more than five thousand original designs for Carnival floats and costumes we preserve. Many of these are from the “Golden Age” of Carnival and feature the work of noted designers such as Jennie Wilde, B. A. Wikstrom, and Charles Briton. LaRC also preserves the works of more contemporary designers, including Patricia Hardin, Olga Peters, and designer and noted Carnival historian Henri Schindler. Complete sets of float and costume designs from Carnival's "Golden Age" are now available online to the public.

The online collection currently consists of over 5,500 float designs from Comus (1901-1975), Proteus (1882-1939), Momus (1902), Rex (1912-1914), Elves of Oberon (1896), and other krewes.

Support for our Carnival Collection comes in part from the continuing generosity of Charles L. "Pie" Dufour (1903-1996), who bequeathed to the Louisiana Research Collection funds for preserving the contributions of Carnival to Louisiana's culture. Digitization of this collection was made possible by the generous support of the Office of the Provost, Tulane University.

Last updated on June 21, 2012.