The Diaspora in segregated Louisiana: an archival and oral history research initiative

FAIN: AB-50016-06

Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA 70125-1056)
Edith Rosepha Ambrose (Project Director: September 2005 to April 2006)
Gary A. Donaldson (Project Director: April 2006 to March 2010)

A project to involve faculty and students in the recovery of the cultural heritage of the African diaspora in Louisiana by locating and preserving transcripts of original interviews produced in the Federal Writers' Project and by incorporating additional interviews and other relevant resources.

The History Department at Xavier University of Louisiana proposes to create a national repository of materials capturing the life experiences of African Americans in segregated south Louisiana between 1890 and 1964. The project will build on research faculty and students have conducted during the last three years. We will: train students in research methods, develop new upper division courses and collect print materials from the Louisiana Federal Writers Project. The project will enrich the teaching experiences of faculty in a variety of courses and offer new opportunities for professional development for all faculty members at Xavier University.