MEMORY IS THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE
The root of all oppression is the loss of memory.
The foundation of all liberation is the preservation of memory.
the project
Stories in Color brings history to new life by colorizing black and white photos and bringing engagement and attention to important stories. Submit your photos for our team to colorize for you by clicking on the Contact button at the top left or the “Share your Story” button below.
STORIES IN COLOR
Sign of the Times brings the stories of old nightclubs, restaurants, and black-owned establishments back to the forefront by recreating old logos and signs and displaying them prominently for communities to see, remember, reminisce and speculate!
SIGN OF THE TIMES
Memory Markers are human scale monuments that tell the stories as told by community members. These stories celebrate culture, community and seldom-told histories.
MEMORY MARKERS
memory in the making
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stories in color
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Sign of the times
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memory in the making - stories in color - Sign of the times -
photo courtesy of the State Library of Louisiana. Colorized by Colloqate. Baby Dolls 1942
photo courtesy of the State Library of Louisiana. Colorized by Colloqate. Baby Dolls 1942
Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.3.24. Little Queen Yellow Pocahontas, Super Sunday 1978
The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2021.0203.11. Maroon Queen Cherise Harrison-Nelson of Guardians of the Flame Maroon Society. 2021
Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.2.85. Barbara Sparks tentatively identified at right. 1978
Photograph courtesy of Christina Ruffins. Buffie Ruffins, Queen of Jolly Bunch Social Aid and Pleasure Club, 2002
Photograph courtesy of Christina Ruffins. Buffie Ruffins, Queen of Jolly Bunch Social Aid and Pleasure Club, 2002
Photograph courtesy of Christina Ruffins. Buffie Ruffins, Queen of Jolly Bunch Social Aid and Pleasure Club, 2002
photo courtesy of the State Library of Louisiana. Baby Dolls 1942
Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.2.85.
Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.2.80. Rita Johnson, Big Queen of the Mohawk Hunters, is seen to the left. George Landry, Chief Jolly of The Wild Tchoupitoulas, on the right. Second Street, Mardi Gras Day 1978.
Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.4.214. Ausettua Amor Amenkum, who later became Queen of the Yellow Pocahontas and Big Chief Donald Harrison of the Guardians of the Flame. Jazz Fest 1990
The Historic New Orleans Collection, gift of Beverly T. Lynds, Acc. No. 2002.84.7. Unidentified Black Masking Indians circa 1950
Jolly Bunch Social Aid & Pleasure Club at Dumaine Street and Claiborne c. 1952. image credit: The John Bernard Photographic Archive at The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 1999.41.1.1.16.
March 3, 1946: Square Deal Boys second line. image credit: The William Russell Jazz Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection, acquisition made possible by the Clarisse Claiborne Grima Fund, Acc. No. 92-48-L.331.339. colorized by Colloqate
1607 St. Philip c. 1946. The Society of Inseparable Friends was started by Creoles of Color in the late 1890s. image credit: The Clarence John Laughlin Archive at The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 1983.347.7.637
1300 block of St. Philip c. 1956. Jolly Bunch Social Aid and Pleasure Club with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band. image credit: Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.4.256
1434 St. Ann Street c. 1937. image credit: The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 1974.25.2.69. colorized by Colloqate. Click photo for a statement on the name of this Tea Room This structure, along with others including San Jacinto Club, was demolished to make way for the parking lot adjacent to Louis Armstrong Park.
St. Bernard at Claiborne Ave. c. 1949. image credit: The Charles L. Franck Studio Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 1979.325.3987. Colorized by Colloqate
Outside of The Busy Bee Hotel, 724 N. Robertson c. 1977. Tentatively identified as Robert McLean of the Creole Wild West. image credit: Jules Cahn Collection at the Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2000.78.1.1443.
August 10, 1947, N. Claiborne at Ursuline. image credit: The Charles L. Franck Studio Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 1979.325.5136. Colorized by Colloqate
Southern Life and Health Insurance building at 2101 N. Claiborne. Now the home to the Hangover Bar. image credit: The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 1994.94.1.104. colorized by Colloqate
Lulu Belles 1528 St. Ann c 1982. Yellow Jackets practice. Charles Taylor, Second Chief, tentatively identified in striped shirt. image credit: Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.4.171.
Armstrong Park. image credit: Special Collections Photograph Collection Courtesy of The City Archives & Special Collections, New Orleans Public Library. colorized by Colloqate
Super Sunday at Hunters Field 1986. image credit: Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.4.191.
Franklin Davis, a City Hall Garage attendant. image credit: Special Collections Photograph Collection Courtesy of The City Archives & Special Collections, New Orleans Public Library. colorized by Colloqate
Jolly Bunch parade with the Pin Stripe Bras Band c. 1984. image credit: Photograph by Michael P. Smith ©The Historic New Orleans Collection, Acc. No. 2007.0103.4.256
image credit: The William Russell Jazz Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection, acquisition made possible by the Clarisse Claiborne Grima Fund, Acc. No. 92-48-L.331.2011. Advertisement mounted to a truck reads "Grand Lawn Party/ Shake for your Nicky/ Lindsey Lewis and Kotch Gram/ 1720 No Villere St. Tickets/ 50 cents. at door 60 cents. July 27, 1952/ Kid Williams and Swingsters. colorized by Colloqate
image credit: The William Russell Jazz Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection, acquisition made possible by the Clarisse Claiborne Grima Fund
Jolly Bunch at Bienville and Derbigny c. 1956. image credit: The William Russell Jazz Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection, acquisition made possible by the Clarisse Claiborne Grima Fund, Acc. No. 92-48-L.331.960. Colorized by Colloqate
San Jacinto Club 1422 Dumaine c. 1942. image credit: The William Russell Jazz Collection at The Historic New Orleans Collection, acquisition made possible by the Clarisse Claiborne Grima Fund, Acc. No. 92-48-L.331.1233. colorized by Colloqate. This structure was demolished in order to make way for a parking lot.
More about the project.
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This is a project associated with the development of the Claiborne Innovation District. A project following in the footsteps of the Claiborne Avenue Design Team.
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This part of the project is about honoring existing spaces and creating spaces for the preservation of memory. We hope to connect with community members, those who were and are impacted by the Bridge, who know the effects of urban “renewal” the best and who can tell the stories that matter.
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The project provides many opportunities to connect. If you want to join in the storytelling, you can join us at our monthly Reunion storytelling events, participate in ongoing community design workshops, or volunteer to organize with us! If you have a story to share, hit the button below!
Treme Market Branch, 800 N. Claiborne, former bank, leather company, empty building and now an events space. image credit: Special Collections Photograph Collection Courtesy of The City Archives & Special Collections, New Orleans Public Library