Tulane University's
Louisiana Research Collection

Cory MacLauchlin’s critical biography of John Kennedy Toole will be released on March 26, 2012, and Cory will be in New Orleans to mark the occasion. Butterfly in the Typewriter: The Tragic Life of John Kennedy Toole and the Remarkable Story of A Confederacy of Dunces gives readers the benefit of MacLauchlin’s in-depth research, in archival resources as well as by finding and interviewing many people who knew Toole during his lifetime. In Special Collections, we have had the pleasure of meeting and working with Cory MacLauchlin during his many research trips, over the last several years. His primary resource in learning about Toole’s life and writing has been LaRC’s Manuscripts Collection 740, John Kennedy Toole Papers ; his research also led him to the staff and collections of Tulane University Archives, Rare Books, and other New Orleans libraries and archives. We’ve also enjoyed learning about the book’s progress over time, by following his blog, which has now been incorporated into

The Louisiana Historical Association held its 54 th annual meeting at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the French Quarter, March 1-4, 2012. We all enjoyed hearing the lively presentations, and seeing so many familiar faces of visiting researchers. Thematic sessions of several short talks were guided along quickly—these emphasized racial and gender issues in 19 th century Louisiana, 20 th century politics, and other wide-ranging topics. Octavia Books arranged tables displaying their Louisiana literature for sale, including an appealing array of many of the scholarly monographs of the conference speakers. Featured above is Professor Arthé Anthony, of the American Studies Program, Occidental College, delivering her talk, “ The Photography of Florestine Perrault Collins: From Downtown to Midtown .” Professor Anthony’s research and teaching interests include an interdisciplinary examination of the American South, a socio-historical view of 20th-century African-American literature,