The information and links below include search tips and a selection of articles covering this topic in the digitized Louisiana newspapers. The dates and suggested search terms can help to further explore this topic on Chronicling America. For the most search results, try the search terms in different combinations, in proximity, and as phrases.

Significant Dates

1769 - First case of Yellow Fever to strike Louisiana
1796 - First epidemic transpired, 638 perish
1853 - The worst year of the epidemic, over 8,000 die in New Orleans
1873 - Shreveport loses approx. 25% of its population
1905 - Last outbreak in North America; New Orleans has 452 deaths

Suggested Search Terms

Yellow Fever, Yellow Jack, Black Vomit, Bronze John, Saffron Scourge

Sample Articles

• “Bronze John and his Saffron Steed.” The Louisiana Democrat. (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, November 27, 1878, Image 1.
• “Please Heed, Fellow Citizens!” The weekly messenger. (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, August 05, 1905, Image 2.
• “Yellow Fever Breeders.” The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900 – 19??, August 04, 1905, Image 1.
• “Dr. Tebault Talks of Fever Prevention.” The Lafayette gazette. (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, September 25, 1897, Image 1.
• “The Yellow Fever Epidemic – Conclusions of Dr. Choppin.”The Ouachita telegraph. (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, January 10, 1879, Image 1.
• “The 1873 Death Roll. – Those Who Died of Yellow Fever During the Great Epidemic.” The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, October 23, 1897, Images 1-2.
• “The Usual Monday’s Increase.” The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900 – 19??, August 25, 1905, Image 2.
• “Yellow Fever.” Feliciana sentinel. (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, September 21, 1878, Image 2.
• “Yellow Fever is Wiped Out.” The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900 – 19??, November 17, 1905, Image 1.
• “The Fever Again.” The weekly messenger. (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, September 09, 1905, Image 2.
• “Dengue and Yellow Fever.” The Colfax chronicle. (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, November 6, 1897, Image 1.