Topic Guide to Yellow Fever (1853-1905)

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, nearly 8,000 die in New Orleans
1873 - Shreveport loses almost 25% of its population
1878 - Epidemics again spread throughout the Lower Mississippi Valley, killing thousands
1878 - Quarantines established in many southern cities
1905 - Last outbreak in North America; New Orleans has 452 deaths

Suggested Search Terms

Yellow Fever, Yellow Jack, Black Vomit, Bronze John

Sample Articles

• "Yellow Fever -- Its Consequences, &c." The Planters' Banner, September 29, 1853, Image 1
• "Yellow Fever Record" The New Orleans Daily Democrat, August 23, 1878, Image 6
• "The Yellow Fever" The New Orleans Daily Democrat, September 08, 1878, Image 1
• "The Fever in Memphis, Vicksburg, and Other Southern Towns" The Morning Star and Catholic Messenger, September 08, 1878, Image 1
• "Fever Roll for Assumption" Pioneer of Assumption", September 14, 1878, Image 2
• "The Yellow Fever" The New Orleans Daily Democrat, September 15, 1878, Image 1
• “Yellow Fever” Feliciana Sentinel, September 21, 1878, Image 2
• “Bronze John and his Saffron Steed” The Louisiana Democrat, November 27, 1878, Image 1
• "A Tale of Two Cities" The People's Vindicator, November 30, 1878, Image 8
• "The Fever Committee" The New Orleans Daily Democrat, January 08, 1879, Image 5
• “The Yellow Fever Epidemic” The Ouachita Telegraph, January 10, 1879 Image 1
• "Yellow Fever Experts" The Weekly Messenger, September 18, 1897, Image 2
• “Dr. Tebault Talks of Fever Prevention” The Lafayette Gazette, September 25, 1897, Image 1
• "Yellow Fever Situation" St. Landry Clarion, October 16, 1897, Image 2
• “The 1873 Death Roll – Those Who Died of Yellow Fever During the Great Epidemic” The Progress, October 23, 1897, Images 1-2
• "What is Yellow Fever" The Meridional, October 23, 1897, Image 2
• “Dengue and Yellow Fever” The Colfax Chronicle, November 06, 1897, Image 1
• "The Fear of Yellow Fever" The Meridional, October 15, 1898, Image 2
• "Special Council Meeting" The Lafayette Advertiser, July 26, 1905, Image 1
• "Quarantine Yellow Fever" The Lafayette Advertiser. August 02, 1905, Image 6
• “Yellow Fever Breeders” The Rice Belt Journal, August 04, 1905, Image 1
• “Please Heed, Fellow Citizens!” The Weekly Messenger, August 05, 1905, Image 2
• "The Mosquito Theory" The Lafayetter Advertiser, August 08, 1905, Image 6
• "Rules to Observe in Yellow Fever and Suggestions as to Treatment" The Lafayette Advertiser, August 09, 1905, Image 2
• "Major Reed's Work in Havana" The Rice Belt Journal, August 11, 1905, Image 1
• "Biology Practically Applied" The Weekly Messenger, August 12, 1905, Image 2
• "A Criminal Policy" The Weekly Messenger, August 12, 1905, Image 2
• "Yellow Fever Items" St. Tammany Farmer, August 19, 1905, Image 1
• "Yellow Fever Epidemics" The Lafayette Advertiser, August 23, 1905, Image 8
• “The Usual Monday’s Increase” The Rice Belt Journal, August 25, 1905, Image 2
• “The Fever Again” The Weekly Messenger, September 09, 1905, Image 2
• "Kill All Mosquitoes" The Meridional, September 16, 1905, Image 3
• "What Opponents of Mosquito Doctrine Say" The Rice Belt Journal, September 22, 1905, Image 1
• “Yellow Fever is Wiped Out” The Rice Belt Journal, November 17, 1905, Image 1