571.  This week we talk to Hans Rasmussen about the book he edited, A Girl’s Life in New Orleans: The Diary of Ella Grunewald, 1884–1886. “A Girl’s Life in New Orleans presents the diary of Ella Grunewald, an upper-middle-class teenager in New Orleans at the end of the nineteenth century. Grunewald, the daughter of one of the Crescent City’s leading music dealers, used her journal to record the major events of her day-to-day life, documenting family, friendships, schooling, musical education, and social activities. Her entries frequently describe illness, death, and other tragedies. Though attentive to the city’s classical music scene, Grunewald also recounts theater shows, Carnival balls and parades, Catholic religious observances, and the World’s Fair that the city hosted in 1884.” Hans Rasmussen is head of Special Collections Technical Services at LSU Libraries in Baton Rouge.

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 220 years. Order your copy today! 
2. This week in Louisiana history. April 27, 1874. The White League (a paramilitary organization; its members wore no masks) organized to combat the Kellogg racial policies.
   
3. This week in New Orleans history. The Illinois Central Railroad introduced the original City of New Orleans on April 27, 1947 as a daytime companion to the overnight Panama Limited. EMD E7 diesel locomotives pulled new lightweight Pullman Company coaches. The 921-mile route, which the City of New Orleans covered in 15 hours 55 minutes, was the longest daytime schedule in the United States.
   
4. This week in Louisiana.
   2nd Annual Lincoln Literarium
   Saturday, May 4, 2024
   1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
   910 N Trenton St.
   Ruston, LA
   Website 
   Contact Jeremy Bolom. [email protected]
   Join Bruce and Stephen, as well as other local authors, at the Lincoln Parish library. This will be our first event with our new book, Liberty in Louisiana.
   Head to the Linocln Parish Library for the 2nd Annual Lincoln Literarium event. Enjoy author signings along with book readings. If you are an author who is interested in participating, you can contact Jeremy Bolom at [email protected].
5. Postcards from Louisiana. dba Palmetta Bug Stompers.  

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570. This week we talk to musician Jackson Skillingstad. Hailing from the heart of Ruston, Louisiana, Jackson Skillingstad is a genre-defying singer/songwriter whose music blends the soulful essence of deep South roots with a fusion of rock, country, and hip hop vibes. It's a musical gumbo that mirrors the eclectic sounds of Louisiana, creating a unique experience that feels like a mosh pit of emotions. Influenced by legends like Elvis Presley, modern hip-hop icon Kevin Gates, and contemporary sensation Post Malone, Jackson Skillingstad brings a fresh perspective to the music scene. With a voice that resonates deep within the soul and lyrics that tell tales of life's twists and turns, Jackson Skillingstad invites you to join the journey through the diverse landscapes of their musical universe.Prepare to be captivated by the rhythmic concoction that is Jackson Skillingstad's music – a testament to the rich musical heritage of Louisiana, delivered with a contemporary flair that breaks down genre barriers. Step into the sonic world of Jackson Skillingstad, where every note tells a story, and every beat creates a rhythm that stays with you long after the music fades.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 21, 1804. Gov. Laussat, last French Gov., leaves Louisiana.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history. Robert Tallant.
   Born in New Orleans on April 20, 1909. Robert Tallant was educated in local public schools. He worked as an advertising copywriter, bank teller, and clerk before "drifting" into writing. His friendship with Lyle Saxon led to a position as editor on the Louisiana Writers' Project of the WPA. In this position he completed the writing of “Gumbo Ya-Ya: A Collection of Louisiana Folk Tales,” the Project's compilation of Louisiana folklore. By 1948 his career was fully launched and over the next eleven years he produced eight novels and six full-length works of nonfiction, including three for Random House.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   April 24
   Swing in the Oaks
   The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra performs a program of classics and popular music at the free concert at the Great Lawn and Peristyle in New Orleans City Park. Visit lpomusic.com. 
   for details.
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Easter Sunday in Congo Square.

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569. We welcome Jeroen Dewulf back to the podcast to discuss his new book, Afro-Atlantic Catholics: America’s First Black Christians. "This volume examines the influence of African Catholics on the historical development of Black Christianity in America during the seventeenth century. Dewulf’s analysis focuses on the historical documentation of Afro-Atlantic Catholic rituals, devotions, and social structures. Of particular importance are brotherhood practices, which were critical in the dissemination of Afro-Atlantic Catholic culture among Black communities, a culture that was pre-Tridentine in nature and wary of external influences. These fraternal Black mutual-aid and burial society structures were critically important to the development and resilience of Black Christianity in America through periods of changing social conditions." "Jeroen Dewulf (born 1972 in Nieuwpoort, Belgium) is a Belgian scholar specializing in Dutch culture, the Dutch language, German Studies, slavery and African-American culture, Caribbean Studies, and Latin American Studies. He is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley."

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 13, 1803. Barbé-Marbois meets with Livingston to offer La. for 100 Million ₣ francs.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Born in New Orleans on April 13, 1926, Cosimo Matassa is the recording engineer and studio owner responsible for nationally renowned R&B and rock and roll recordings at his New Orleans studios. He said that his formula for success was not complicated in any way..."Do it live or do it over again until it was done right".  He did it right for hundreds of young unknown musicians including Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Dr. John, Mickey Gilly and many more from 1945 through 1968. J&M recorded Alan Toussaint's first record, "The Wild Side of New Orleans" which was released by RCA Victor.  He recorded Aaron Neville's "Tell it Like it Is", Robert Parker's "Barefootin'", and Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" in 1956 -- a recording which has been acclaimed as a seminal Rock and Roll song.
3. This week in Louisiana.
   NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL
   (Website)
   April 25, 2024 - May 5, 2024
   Recurring weekly on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
   LOCATION:
   Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, A Churchill Downs Co.
   1751 Gentilly Blvd.
   New Orleans, LA 70119
   ADMISSION PRICE:
   Prices vary
   MORE INFO: (504) 410-4100
   Visit Event Website
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana.
   Lundi Gras on Paydras St.

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568. We welcome author Lisa Wingate to the podcast to discuss her novel, Book of Lost Friends. “From the bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes a dramatic historical novel of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post–Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives” (NYT). "Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous era of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half sister. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following roads rife with vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of stolen inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery’s end, the pilgrimage west reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope" (Wingate).

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 6 1764 First Acadians actually arrived in Louisiana.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history. On April 6, 1893, Andy Bowen and Jack Burke fought 110 rounds to a draw in New Orleans in the longest prizefight in history. The fight lasted seven hours, 19 minutes.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Books Along The Teche Literary Festival
   March 31, 2023 — April 07, 2024. https://booksalongthetecheliteraryfestival.com
   Various venues will celebrate literature and its impact on the area's culture with storytelling, workshops, readers theatre, music, bourée lessons and tournament, bus and boat tours, a 5K run and food, food, food. Anyone who is familiar with James Lee Burke and his fictional character, detective Dave Robicheaux, knows of New Iberia and our fascinating blend of heritage, hospitality and history.
   Amenities
   
   • Family Friendly
   • Handicapped Accessible
   • Free Parking
   • Street Parking
   Phone:
   
   • (337) 369-6446
   Email:  [email protected]
   Social: Facebook
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Lundi Gras parade.

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567. This week we talk to novelist Diane McPhail, author of The Seamstress of New Orleans: A Fascinating Novel of Southern Historical Fiction. Set against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author’s mesmerizing historical novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret — and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other. “Constance Halstead, a young widow reeling with shock under the threat of her late husband’s gambling debts, has thrown herself into charitable work. Meeting Alice at the orphanage, she offers lodging in exchange for Alice’s help creating a gown for the Leap Year ball of Les Mysterieuses, the first all‑female krewe of Mardi Gras.... Piece by piece, the breathtaking gown takes shape, becoming a symbol of strength for both women, reflecting their progress toward greater independence.”

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 30, 1870. 15th amendment gave Blacks the right to vote.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history. Delta Air Lines, Inc., DC-8, N802E, operating as Flight 9877, crashed during a landing approach to Runway 1 at New Orleans International Airport, Kenner, Louisiana, on March 30, 1967. Five crewmembers and an FAA observer were fatally injured. This was a training flight with no passengers aboard; however, impact occurred in a residential area and 13 persons on the ground were also killed. The aircraft, several homes and part of a motel complex were destroyed.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   April 5-7, 2024
   Don't Miss Our 11th Annual Boudin Festival
   Come to the Scott Boudin Festival
   Website
   Boudin is deeply ingrained in Cajun culture, and the Scott, LA community is proud to celebrate and share it. You can find all kinds of mouth-watering boudin at the Scott Boudin Festival. We host local vendors that serve up a variety of boudin types and flavors, like cheese-filled, jalapeño and more.
   You can get your fill of authentic boudin at our festival. Purchase your tickets today.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana.

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566. This week we talk to rap artist Mimzy MC. Rapper. Mimzy MC, born and raised Mim McCoy in Shreveport, LA, has been influenced by artists such as ICP, Korn, Eminem, Timbaland, and Cindi Lauper. She wishes to accomplish visual and listening pleasure with her unique style for all others to enjoy! Her philosophy regarding her visual art is, “My inward energy being manifested outwardly that cannot be expressed verbally. Only visually.” How she feels and how she is moved by music enhances her abstract techniques. She has branded clothing and other merchandise with her images. "There are no rules to art or music everyone is welcome" (Mimzy MC).

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 23, 1805. The Corps of Discovery left Fort Clatsop and began their return journey.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history.  The last French Prefect (governor), Pierre Clément de Laussat, arrived in New Orleans on March 23, 1803, formally took control of Louisiana for France on November 30, 1803, only to hand it over to the U.S. on December 20, 1803. In the meantime he created New Orleans' first city council.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   March 29-31, 2024
   8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
   Admission: Free before 5 PM
   Louisiana Lao New Year Festival
   Wat Thammarattanaram Temple
   7913 Champa Ave.
   Broussard, LA 70518
   (337) 378-9469
   Website
   Lafayette, LA
   Lanexang Village celebrates the Lao New Year every Easter weekend with a three-day festival that includes live music, a beauty pageant, parades, sand castle building, kids activities, and several vendors selling clothes, jewelry, music and food from Southeast Asia.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. William Orman at the Apple Barrel.

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565. Catharine Cole, Louisiana journalist. Louisiana Studies Conference presentation. Stephen & Bruce give their presentation about Catharine Cole, one of Louisiana's first women journalists. Catharine was best known from visiting every parish in the state at that time, writing articles on each one that reached every corner of Louisiana and beyond. "Martha Reinhard Smallwood Field (May 24, 1854 – December 19, 1898), known as Mattie Field, was an American journalist. She usually wrote under the pen name Catharine Cole. She was one of the earliest professional women newspaper reporters in New Orleans, Louisiana. A champion of women's education and social justice, she also founded the city's first circulating library and helped found a number of other civic institutions." Wiki.

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 16, 1806. Norbert Rillieux, inventor of sugar refining, born 1806-1894.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history. Musician Leon Joseph Roppolo (nicknamed "Rap") was born on March 16, 1902 in Lutcher, Louisiana. His family, of Sicilian origin, moved to Uptown New Orleans about 1912. Young Leon's first instrument was the violin. He was a fan of the marching bands he heard in the streets of New Orleans, and learned to play clarinet.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   March 20-24, 2024.
   Website
   Schedule
   Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival
   A New Orleans affair for readers, writers, & theatre lovers!
   We're excited to present our 38th Annual TWFest, including writer's craft sessions, literary panels, theatre events, author interviews, literary walking tours, culinary & cocktail events, and music events. And don’t forget our Stella Shouting Contest kicking it all off on Sunday, March 17! Join award-winning writers, historians, scholars, journalists, actors, musicians, and cultural experts for five days of literary revelry in the lush Bohemia of New Orleans.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. John Joyce at the dba.
   

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564. Candidate Richard Anderson talks to us about his campaign to be elected to the Louisiana DSCC. The Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) is the governing body for the Democratic Party of Louisiana and has sole responsibility for the affairs of the Louisiana Democratic Party. This is Richard's call for support: "For a NEW DAY, VOTE # 3 for Richard R Anderson of the Richard Anderson Campaign as the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee Member representing District 11-B encompasses BIENVILLE, CLAIBORNE and LINCOLN PARISHES in NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA during the March 23rd Election Cycle. Please REPOST and SHARE to ALL YOU KNOW in that region of Louisiana. Thanks for your time and help." "A PROACTIVE Democratic Party working on behalf of its constituents is key to gain the confidence and stimulate future participation but it's time to organize and get back to work with people that want better for themselves."

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 9, 1804. Three Flags Ceremony in St. Louis - Spain transfers Upper Louisiana to France, France then transfers it to the United States (March 9-10)
   
2. This week in New Orleans history. James Mather (c. 1750 in England – 1821 in St. James Parish, Louisiana) was mayor of New Orleans from March 9, 1807 to October 8, 1812. His place of birth is variously given as Coupland in Northumberland; or London. A merchant by trade, he moved to America in 1776, and by 1780 he was working in New Orleans, contracting with the Spanish Government to operate two vessels out of the port and importing articles required in the trade with the Indians of Louisiana and West Florida. Mather & his descendents owned a large sugar plantation in Lutcher, Louisiana until 1879. He was appointed mayor of New Orleans by William C.C. Claiborne, governor of the Louisiana Territory.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Choctaw Firemen's Fair
   March 08, 2024 - March 10, 2024
   Visit Website
   2854 Choctaw Road
   Thibodaux LA 70301
   Thrown by the Choctaw Volunteer Fire Department, the Fireman's Fair is a fun 3-day celebration for the whole family. Enjoy live music, great Cajun food, amusement rides, a live auction, and a parade on Sunday.
   Phone:
   (985) 633-2888
   Email:
   [email protected]
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Boardwalker & the 3 finger swingers sing at Bamboulas.

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563. Cordelia Frances Biddle visits with us this week. She has written a biography of Saint Katharine Drexel, the founder of Xavier University. Saint Katharine: The Life of Katharine Drexel. "Katharine Drexel devoted her life to social justice, creating schools for those whom racism marginalized and persecuted. Born in 1858, she died in 1955; her life reflects the nation’s history: the tumultuous years leading to the Civil War, Lincoln’s assassination, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the movement for Women’s Suffrage, and the Equal Rights Movement.” “Cordelia teaches creative writing at Drexel University’s Pennoni Honors College. She won the Honors College Teaching Excellence Prize in 2012, and The Adjunct Faculty Award in 2021.”

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 2, 1805. Louisiana becomes "organized" territory, upper part becomes District of Louisiana with capital at St. Louis by act of Congress
2. This week in New Orleans history. March 1, 1967, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison arrested Clay Shaw on the charge of conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. Precisely two years later, on March 1, 1969, Shaw was acquitted by the jury in less than an hour of deliberation.
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Here’s the Beef Cook-Off.
   The annual Here's the Beef Cook-Off in Opelousas is the best place to sample brisket, roast, gravies, and stews. There's also live music and a trail ride.
   March 2, 2024
   8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
   Yambilee Building
   1939 West Landry Street Opelousas, LA 70570 United States
4. Postcards from Louisiana. John Joyce at dba.

562. This week we talk to Greta de Jong about civil rights in North Louisiana.  "Civil rights in North LA. Examining African Americans' struggles for freedom and justice in rural Louisiana during the Jim Crow and civil rights eras, Greta de Jong illuminates the connections between the informal strategies of resistance that black people pursued in the early twentieth century and the mass protests that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. Using evidence drawn from oral histories and a wide range of other sources, she demonstrates that rural African Americans were politically aware and active long before civil rights organizers arrived in the region in the 1960s to encourage voter registration and demonstrations against segregation." "Greta de Jong is Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her research focuses on the connections between race and class and the ways that African Americans have fought for economic as well as political rights from the end of slavery through the twenty-first century. She is the author of A Different Day: African American Struggles for Justice in Rural Louisiana, 1900-1970 (2002)."

1. This week in Louisiana history. February 24, 1843. Bossier Parish created out of Natchitoches District, named for Pierre E. Bossier. 
2. This week in New Orleans history. "Ernest Kador, Jr, known by the stage name Ernie K-Doe (the self proclaimed "Emperor of the World") was born at Charity Hospital on February 22, 1936. He recorded as a member of the group the Blue Diamonds in 1954 before making his first solo recordings the following year. "Mother-in-Law",  his best known 1961 hit single, written by Allen Toussaint, was his first hit, and was #1 on both the Billboard pop and R&B charts."  “I'm not sure, but I'm almost positive that all music came from New Orleans.”
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   4th Annual Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie (Pork BBQ)
   March 02, 2024
   Downtown Houma
   8043 Main Street
   Houma, LA
   Website
   "Join us downtown on March 2, 2024, at the fourth Annual Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie for a day of food, festivity, and teamwork. In addition to mounds of pork, there will be live music and the now-famous Cajun Cup (a series of bayou-themed competitions). Whether spectating or participating, it'll be a day of good Cajun fun for the whole family. C'mon out, and let's have a good time! Proceeds will go towards quality-of-life projects in Terrebonne Parish, making our home a better place to live."
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Boardwalker & the 3 finger swingers sing at Bamboulas. 

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561. Part 2 of our friend Kelly Jackson's return to the podcast to discuss her Metoyer documentary. “Kelly is the creator of the Cane River Film Festival. The film festival is sponsored by her historical preservation nonprofit – the Resurrection Fern Foundation. Resurrection Fern serves as a way for Kelly to support her community events and historical films. A project close to Kelly’s heart is the documentary “Resurrection Fern: The Life and Times of Marie Thérèse Coincoin,” a film about her ancestors in 17th Century Natchitoches, Louisiana. Kelly Jackson is a 7th generation descendant of Marie Thérèse Coincoin and Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer. “On Facebook in 2010, I noticed others with the odd name of my grandmother from Louisiana,” Kelly says. “She never knew of her family history, so finding these roots was life-changing.” Kelly was so inspired by Coincoin’s story from slavery to freedom that she wanted her to be the focus of her next film” (Soul Vision Magazine).

1. This week in Louisiana history. February 17, 1805. New Orleans is incorporated as a city
2. This week in New Orleans history. On February 17, 1805, Governor William C. C. Claiborne approved "An Act to Incorporate the City of New Orleans" that had just been passed by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Orleans. New Orleans thus had its first charter seven years before Louisiana had its first constitution, and was now officially an American city after serving for eighty-three years as the capital of a vast European colony in North America.
3. This week in Louisiana.
   "Eagles — The Long Goodbye" 
   Smoothie King Center
   February 17, 2024.
   1501 Dave Dixon Drive
   New Orleans, LA, 70113
   This iconic venue will set the stage for an unforgettable evening of legendary music.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. TBC at Satchmofest 2023.

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