Tulane University's
Louisiana Research Collection

Edgar A. Perilloux (1895-1969), a New Orleans insurance executive, left behind his personal and business papers, which his wife donated to the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library in 1971. Although Mr. Perilloux was not widely famous, his papers provide enjoyable and surprising insight into the mid-twentieth century New Orleanian way of life. The history of Carrollton was one of Mr. Perilloux’s special personal interests. The New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad, the forerunner of today’s St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, opened for business in 1835, connecting the city of New Orleans with the village of Carrollton. The town was incorporated by the state legislature in 1845, became a city in 1856, and was annexed into the City of New Orleans in 1874. Mr. Perilloux felt that the long history of his area was significant, and that it was important to retain its earlier name in common usage when referring to the area or neighborhood previously known as Carrollton, Louisiana, located in the “rive...

The Special Collections Reading Room, 202 Jones Hall, will be closed on Saturday January 15 and Monday January 17 in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday. The main Howard-Tilton Memorial Library building will be open Saturday and Sunday, but will be closed Monday. Please see today's New Wave article which describes the Week for Peace events being sponsored by Tulane, Xavier, Loyola and Dillard universities, in the coming week, to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King. Posted by Susanna Powers

Last month we released over a dozen new online finding aids. Here are some of the highlights: John M. Galbraith papers (Manuscripts Collection 449) - This collection contains the Civil War diary of Lt. John M. Galbraith of the Washington Artillery, family correspondence, newspaper clippings and other items. The diary describes camp life, meetings with relatives, and includes a roster of soldiers. Galbraith was wounded at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff on May 16, 1864, and died on September 19, 1864. U.S. Army Quartermaster records (Manuscripts Collection 356) - This collection contains account records of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps in New Orleans during the Civil War. Accounts vary but include accounts for living expenses of officers, inventories of goods of registered enemies seized and sold, payrolls, and accounts of articles purchased (mostly ships). Abner Phelps diaries (Manuscripts Collection 1064) - This collection contains four diaries from Abner Phelps. Phelp...