Mid-Century Mardi Gras

As we enter Mardi Gras season and as a reminder to history buffs who may not be aware of the Southeastern Architectural Archive's growing number of digital collections, the Cole Coleman Louisiana Photographs includes a large number of historic parade images such as the one reproduced above.

A commercial photographer, Coleman specialized in local subjects developed in series. The collection includes straight photographs and corresponding negatives of visiting celebrities, jazz musicians, notable structures, festival culture, restaurants, wildlife and foreign trade operations.

In 2014, the Tulane University Digital Library digitized over 500 Coleman photographs housed in the Southeastern Architectural Archive. View the Mardi Gras images here.



Image above:  Howard "Cole" Coleman, Mardi Gras on Canal Street. Undated photograph. Thelma Hecht Coleman Memorial Collection, Southeastern Architectural Archive, Special Collections Division, Tulane University Libraries.