Louisiana for Bibliophiles
Exhibition on display in the Hill Memorial Library Lecture Hall through September 3, 2011
Though Louisiana is better known for its politics and laissez les bons temps rouler approach to life, the state also has a long and colorful literary history. The exhibition Louisiana for Bibliophiles: A History of Reading in the Bayou State explores little-known aspects of the history of reading in this corner of the South from the 18th century to the 1940s. Several books from colonial and antebellum Louisiana will be on display, highlighting the importance of books as artifacts. Also included are materials on women’s reading, libraries, and scientific knowledge. Four Louisiana Creole authors are profiled in the context of America’s “forgotten literature,” i.e., American literature written in languages other than English. Aspects of the history of Louisiana newspapers, perhaps the most common and accessible reading material, are also featured.
The LSU Libraries includes the LSU Library and the adjacent Hill Memorial Library. Together, the libraries contain more than 4 million volumes and provide additional resources such as expert staff, technology, services, electronic resources, and facilities that advance research, teaching, and learning across every discipline.
