Tulane collection preserves voices and rhythms of 1970s New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians

A newly accessible collection at Tulane University Special Collections (TUSC) brings the sights and sounds of Mardi Gras Indian traditions from 1970s New Orleans back to life - offering a rare, immersive window into a cultural legacy rarely captured in such depth.

The David Elliott Draper Collection on Mardi Gras Indians features members of several Mardi Gras Indian tribes during the early 1970s, including the Black Eagles, Golden Arrows, Golden Eagles and Wild Magnolias. Audio recordings capture Mardi Gras Indian practices and gatherings across New Orleans, including at the intersection of Second and Dryades streets in Central City, as well as at events such as St. Joseph's Night and the 1971 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Draper, who passed away in 2015, captured the photographs and recordings for his 1973 PhD dissertation, The Mardi Gras Indians: The Ethnomusicology of Black Associations in New Orleans.

"The music of the Mardi Gras Indians is often overshadowed by the spectacular suits they hand-sew each year," said Matt Sakakeeny, associate professor of music and ethnomusicology and chair of the Department of Music for Tulane's School of Liberal Arts. "The first serious study of Mardi Gras Indian music was a dissertation written by anthropologist David Elliott Draper in 1973, while a student at Tulane. For over 50 years, scholars and fans have pored over his foundational research on the chants sung at practices and processions. Now, through a donation from the Draper family, the sights and sounds described in those pages are finally being brought to life. The reel-to-reel tapes, photographs and field notes from Draper's collection will reveal entirely new understandings of Mardi Gras Indian music for researchers and listeners of Mardi Gras Indian music."

The collection provides online access, including digitized audio of reel-to-reel and cassette recordings, photographic negatives, research notes and annotated drafts, along with other related materials that broaden access to these important historical materials.

"Tulane University Special Collections helps preserve the history of New Orleans not as artifacts removed from their context, but as living cultural memory meant to be accessed, studied, remembered and shared," said Lindsay Cronk, dean of Tulane University Libraries. "The efforts to make the Draper collection accessible reflect our commitment to ethical, long-term stewardship and broad access. We are grateful to the Mardi Gras Indian communities and to the Draper family, whose trust makes this work possible. Collaborations like these are foundational to our ability to care for and connect people with the stories and traditions of our city."

Donated to Tulane by Draper's family in 2024, the collection arrived with mold damage. TUSC staff stabilized, rehoused and digitized the materials, ensuring their long-term preservation and safe access.

"The Draper collection is an invaluable resource for knowledge seekers who wish to find new insights and be inspired by this unique aspect of New Orleans culture. We couldn't be more excited to share it with the public," said Jillian Cuellar, director of Tulane University Special Collections.

In keeping with TUSC's approach to responsible stewardship, the collection is presented with recognition that Mardi Gras Indian and Black Masking Indian traditions are living cultural practices shaped and sustained by the communities who carry them.

"When this collection came to us, it required immediate preservation work, but also thoughtful consideration about how it should be shared," said Melissa A. Weber, curator of the Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music and New Orleans Jazz at TUSC. "Processing and digitizing the materials was a truly collaborative effort across teams at Tulane Libraries. Just as importantly, this work prioritized connecting with leaders of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes represented in the collection before making it public, to make sure these materials are shared in a way that respects the communities whose histories they document."

While TUSC stewards the materials, ensuring that their description, access and use remain accurate and respectful, Weber said cultural authority remains with the tribes and individuals represented.

For more information, contact the TUSC by email, visit the website or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

(Recording of unidentified Mardi Gras Indians, including the Golden Arrows, singing chants and playing percussion instruments, from David Elliott Draper Collection on Mardi Gras Indians. Chant titles include "Hey Mambo!" (00:02 through 05:24) and "Tu way pak a way" (05:38 through 12:49).