Hereditas Archivum
Preserving the living memory of New Orleans and Louisiana
Hereditas Archivum is a long-term cultural archive dedicated to documenting the stories of Louisiana’s culture bearers — musicians, chefs, Mardi Gras Indians, social clubs, elders, and more. This short film offers a glimpse into the project and the vision behind it.
About Hereditas Archivum
Louisiana's rich culture and heritage is at risk of being lost due to the aging population of culture bearers and lack of comprehensive documentation. There is a critical need to preserve the stories and traditions of the state's diverse communities, including Creoles, Cajuns, Native Americans, Mardi Gras Indians, Chefs, Historians, Social Clubs, and Storytellers. To accomplish this mission, we will interview, transcribe, and store 1,500 interviews from New Orleans and around Louisiana.
How It Works
Through research and community engagement, we connect with culture-bearers, professionally interview and film them, and make that content available for responsible use by universities, documentarians, sociologists, educators, artists, and more. All footage is shot in 4K/6K with professional filmmakers, and our content will be searchable by keyword in the interview transcripts so you can easily find the topics you are looking for.
Support the Archive
Hereditas Archivum is dedicated to preserving the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. We welcome partnerships, sponsorships, and philanthropic support from individuals and institutions who believe in long-term cultural preservation.
To discuss funding, collaboration, or in-kind support, please visit our Partnerships page or contact us directly.