This week
June 6, 1930: A charter was proposed to create Dillard University
On June 6, 1930, the boards of two historically Black colleges – New Orleans University and Straight University – proposed a charter for the opening of a new institution to meet the needs of a growing population seeking opportunities in higher education. Dillard University was established as a private, faith-based institution meant to serve as…
Past weeks
June 1, 2019: Leah Chase, the Queen of Creole Cuisine and culinary icon, dies
In the realm of culinary excellence and Black history in New Orleans, few figures have left as indelible a mark as Leah Chase. Author, TV personality, art collector, award-winning executive chef, co-owner of the historic Dooky Chase Restaurant, and beloved “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” Chase revolutionized the New Orleans culinary scene and created a platform…
May 23, 1934: American crime couple Bonnie and Clyde killed in police ambush in Louisiana
Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were shot to death by officers in an ambush in Bienville Parish, Louisiana on May 23, 1934, after a 21-month crime spree and a wild manhunt.
May 16, 1932: Louisiana State Capitol building opens its doors
Former Louisiana governor and U.S. senator Huey P. Long was known for making radical changes during his tumultuous political career. Through his modernization program, he expanded Louisiana’s public education system by providing free textbooks and busing for students; he increased enrollment at Louisiana State University, tripling its size and making it the 11th largest state…