Transcribing French New Orleans: Language, Archives, Identity

Catalog description

This course immerses students in the vibrant Francophone history of New Orleans through close reading and transcription of primary texts from the 18th and 19th centuries. We will explore how French-language newspapers, pamphlets, literary texts, and public records shaped the cultural and political life of the city — and how they continue to inform its identity today. With a focus on transcription, translation, and contextual analysis, students will engage directly with the voices and vocabularies of French New Orleans to understand how language shaped the city’s evolution. Knowledge of French is recommended but not necessary.