Politics in Louisiana is famous for its drama, originality, and humor. Louisiana politicians figure not only among some of this country's great leaders, but also among its great characters. Preserving their history is a special mission of the Tulane Manuscripts Department.

We preserve more than 50 collections relating to political and governmental leaders, including such national figures as:

• Jefferson Davis (1862-1888)
• Thomas Jefferson, 30 items (1808-1821)
• George Washington, 23 letters (1782-1793)

Papers of Louisiana governors include:

• David Treen (600 linear feet; restricted)
• Baron Hector de Carondelet, 40 items (1792-1795)
• William Charles Cole Claiborne, 22 items (1802-1815)
• Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, 21 items (1797-1799)
• Luther E. Hall, 67 items, including 1 volume (1918)
• Sam Houston Jones, ca. 54 cu.ft (1939-1968)
• Francis Tillou Nicholls, 54 items (1847-1893)
• The William B. Wisdom Collection on Huey Pierce Long (775 items)

Papers of members of Congress include those of:

• Bob Livingston (700 linear feet, restricted)
• Hale Boggs (200 linear feet)
• Lindy Boggs (300 linear feet)
• David Treen (600 linear feet; restricted)
• Thomas C. Catchings, 3,028 items (1862-1925)
• Randall Lee Gibson, 266 items (1852-1893)
• Henry Hosford Gurley, 41 items (1815-1831)
• F. Edward Hebert, ca. 350 cu.ft. (1915-1976)
• Isaac Morse, 107 items (1833-1860)
• Adolph J. Sabbath, 27 volumes (1934-1953)
• Louis St. Martin, 240 items (1842-1873)
• John Slidell, letter book, 344 letters, (1829-1833), B 286
• Pierre Soule, 4 items plus 1 diary (1855-1861)

Papers of other state and local officials include those of:

• Cecil Morgan, ca. 4,800 items (1923-1971)
• deLesseps Story Morrison, ca. 176 cu.ft. (1929-1965)
• Victor Schiro

• Alvan Henry Lafargue (1883-1962) noted physician, civic leader, and politician in Sulphur and Lake Charles, Louisiana;  mayor of Sulphur from 1926-1932. LaFargue Family papers, Manuscripts Collection 923, 1813-1917 (bulk, 1813-1870s) .3 linear feet (1 manuscripts box and 1 oversize folder). Correspondence, military records, marriage licenses, and other papers of a distinguished French Louisiana family noted for its contributions in a wide variety of fields, among them government, journalism, justice, law, medicine, and politics. Complete finding aid available online.

Collections containing political material include the papers of:

• Martha Gilmore Robinson, ca. 83 cu.ft. (1927-1971)
• Dave McGuire, ca. 16 cu.ft. (1928-1971)
• Scott Wilson, ca. 73 cu.ft. (1937-1967)

Other political collections include:

• Copy of the Official Precinct Register for Women, 17th Ward, 2nd Precinct, New Orleans, 1931-1935. M 1113. Lists date, name age, race, address, and party affiliation for registered female voters in the 17th Ward, 2nd Precinct, of the Parish of Orleans, from January 2, 1931-April 10, 1935.
  
  
• Autograph Series (formerly Presidential Autographs), M1115. Primarily thank you notes. Contains letters from Grover Cleveland, September 24, 1890; Woodrow Wilson, February 3, 1911; Manuel Quezon, December 20, 1913; Theodore Roosevelt, June 16, 1915; Herbert Hoover, June 30, 1917; Franklin Roosevelt, October 15, 1928; Herbert Hoover, June 30, 1941.
  
  
• Jesuit plantation survey report, M1114. English translation; [1763], 15 pp, folio. Original English translation of the official report and minutes of the survey of the Jesuit plantation above New Orleans. The survey is certified July 22, 1763, by Olivier Duvezin, Surveyor General of Louisiana, and the minutes are dated November and December of that year. The document establishes the boundaries of the Jesuit lands seized by the French Crown.

Another important resource is our Political Ephemera Collection with material on more than 1,800 political groups.

The Tulane Manuscripts Department is proud to be part of the Special Collections Division of Howard-Tilton Memorial Library.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 04:08 PM
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