Missed the Intentional Listening: Mardi Gras Indians event on February 17? Access the Guide to Materials

On February 17, the Intentional Listening series, presented by Media Services of the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library (H-TML), collaborated with Tulane University Special Collections (TUSC). This special edition celebrated Black History Month and Carnival in New Orleans by highlighting archival materials representing Black Masking Indian culture and the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians.

Led by lisa Hooper, Head of Media Services at H-TML, and Melissa A. Weber, curator of the Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music and New Orleans Jazz at TUSC, the event also featured Dr. Matt Sakakeeny, Associate Professor in the Newcomb Department of Music, and special guest Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. of the Wild Magnolias.

If you missed it, use the guide and links below to listen to digitized recordings or access physical or archival materials that were featured at the event.

GUIDE TO MATERIALS

AUDIO RECORDINGS:

• The Wild Magnolias sing “Shallow Water O Mama” and “Ho Na Nae,” April 1973, unidentified location in New Orleans; Laurraine Goreau interviews and recordings, LG043, Tulane University Digital Library. (Digitized from the Laurraine Goreau papers HJA-059, Tulane University Special Collections)
  • Click here to listen online
     
• “Handa Wanda” by the Wild Magnolias, The Wild Magnolias album, 1974.
  • Check out CD from Media Services at H-TML
     
• “What About Us,” Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, My Name Is Bo, 2021.
  • Check out LP from Media Services at H-TML
  • Check out a portable record player from Media Services at H-TML
  • How to Play Vinyl Records - Tutorial

ARCHIVAL MATERIALS:

Physical materials at Tulane University Special Collections can be accessed by scheduling a TUSC reading room appointment. To learn more about TUSC visitor information, click here.

• Interview transcript with the Wild Magnolias, 1974, Robert Palmer papers HJA-027, Box 296, Folder 126, Tulane University Special Collections.
• Promotional poster for The Wild Magnolias LP, 1974, Hogan Archive poster and calendar collection HJA-095, Tulane University Special Collections.
• The Wild Magnolias LP cover with lyric sheet, 1974, Tad Jones papers HJA-056, Tulane University Special Collections.
• Mardi Gras Indians photographs, 1966, New Orleans, Louisiana image collection LaRC-1081, Box 199, Folder 2, Tulane University Special Collections.
• Photos taken on Mardi Gras, March 4, 2003, and Super Sunday, 2004, New Orleans, Yuki Ito photographs of Mardi Gras Indians HJA-103, Tulane University Special Collections.

For more information about H-TML Media Services and the Intentional Listening series, contact lisa Hooper at lhooper1@tulane.edu. To learn more about Tulane University Special Collections, visit the TUSC website at library.tulane.edu/tusc or email specialcollections@tulane.edu.

Published February 17, 2025

Photos by Alan Velasquez