The Newcomb Archives acquires, preserves, and makes accessible rare, valuable, or unique materials documenting the history of women and gender in the Gulf South. The Archives are also home to the administrative and student records of the former Newcomb College and the Nadine Robbert Vorhoff Collection, a non-circulating special collections library devoted to research on women and gender.
Highlights include:
- The papers of Sylvia Roberts, feminist attorney and lifelong advocate on behalf of victims of gender-based violence, mental illness, workplace discrimination, and the Louisiana legal system.
- The papers of Lena Richard, groundbreaking restaurateur, cookbook author, and the first Black chef to host a culinary TV show.
- Organizational records of leading feminist advocacy groups, including the New Orleans Chapter of Planned Parenthood and the Newcomb College Center for Research on Women, as well as personal papers of activists for LGBTQIA+ rights, reproductive justice, and gender equity in the Gulf South.
The Newcomb Archives and Vorhoff Collection are open to all, regardless of institutional affiliation. Access to collections requires an appointment. Our reading room is also open for quiet study hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday, during the fall and spring semesters. The Reading room is located on the third floor of the Malkin Sacks Commons (43 Newcomb Place, New Orleans, LA 70118).
A portion of our collections are available online in the Newcomb
Archives Digital Repository and the Tulane University Digital Library.
Highlights include:
Jean “Shewolf” Boudreaux lesbian land-based communities photographs collection
Distaff New Orleans feminist newspaper
The personal is political: Portraits of Louisiana second-wave feminists
Newcomb College photographs collection
Select digital exhibits and projects featuring our collections:
Mary Gehman’s feminist ephemera: Violence against women
L'dor v'dor: Jewish women and their impact on New Orleans (unaffiliated)
The Josephine Louise Newcomb letters project (unaffiliated)
Deb Margolin’s performance composition: Writing and embodying
Research appointments can be made Monday - Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm. Email newcombarchives@tulane.edu to make an appointment.
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested at least 2 business days in advance. Visit archives.tulane.edu to browse collections. Select “Newcomb Archives” under Repository to limit your search to our collections.
Our reading room is open to all as a quiet workspace Monday - Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm, during the fall and spring semesters.
We close for all campus holidays and are open by appointment only for research visits during University intersessions (see Tulane’s academic calendar).
43 Newcomb Place, New Orleans, LA 70118
We’re located on the third floor of the Malkin Sacks Commons. An elevator goes directly to our floor from the Freret Street facing the entrance of the building. The reading room is to the left as you exit.
Parking
Visitor parking is available in the Diboll Garage. There is also limited hourly parking in front of Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood.
Use Collections in the Reading Room
Check-in with the staff member at the reference desk when you arrive. They will retrieve your collections and provide forms to complete. We ask that all researchers check large bags and coats. Lockers and hooks are provided for your convenience.
Handling archival and special collections materials
Materials may only be used in the reading room. For the protection of our collections, please follow these guidelines:
- Use a pencil or a personal device to take notes (no ink).
- Use only one box at a time; from each box, use only one folder at a time.
- Keep folders and items in folders in their original order. Our staff will provide place markers.
- You’re welcome to bring refreshments to enjoy in the social spaces outside of the reading room, but please refrain from eating, drinking, or chewing gum in the reading room.
- Handle materials with care. Do not lean on, write on, fold, or trace over materials.
Student records privacy policy
The Archives maintains records of students who attended Newcomb College between 1886 and 1954. In compliance with privacy policies governing student records, records become open after 75 years from the date of graduation or withdrawal from the University, or upon death. Closed records may be used by the students themselves, by authorized campus officials, and in the case of research that reports on the overall student body without the use of names and for a period at least 60 years before the present date. Requests to view records in connection with cases at law or legal proceedings of any kind will be referred to Tulane Legal Counsel.
What to Expect During Your Visit
We strive to make our space a welcoming environment for all. Our offices and reading room are accessible to those with mobility disabilities and service animals are welcome.
Our floor features:
- Single-stall bathrooms for all gender identities
- A parents' room for lactation and childcare needs
- Social areas for eating and drinking
Should you need or desire additional accommodations during your visit, speak with our staff or email us at newcombarchives@tulane.edu. We will do our best to make your visit as comfortable as possible. Please be aware we have limited control over lighting and temperature in the reading room.
Bernadette Floresca
Head of Archives and Special Collections
(504) 314-2722
bfloresca@tulane.edu
