A largely important part of New
Orleans's culture is its architecture. Riding the streetcar and admiring all of
the beautiful houses on St. Charles Avenue is a favorite activity for both
residents and visitors. For residents, buying a house in New Orleans means
adding yourself to a long list of its history. But often times, homeowners
don't know how to access information about the life of their home before they
move in. To help homeowners learn more about who previously owned the house
they live in, how old it is, and what secrets it may hold, Friends
of the Cabildo
will host a resourceful seminar. Robert J. Cangleosi Jr., an adjunct lecturer
at the Tulane School of Architecture, will present a program on historic home
research via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11.
The seminar will focus on how to
research your property by using primary sources, rather than relying on oral
traditions or secondary sources. Cangleosi will teach attendees how to prepare
a "chain of title," where the essential first step in developing a history will
be discussed. Creating a chain will follow a list of everyone who owned the
home at one point. This information could go back to the early 1700s, during
the French colonial period. This pertains only to the property and not the renovations
or improvements. In order to research improvements made on a property
throughout history, research into key aspects like the census, tax, water,
building permits, contracts, and newspaper is required. In addition to this,
architectural style of improvements can help identify them and when they were
made.
This presentation is sure to be resourceful. If you are interested in learning where to find the first steps to researching your New Orleans home, contact the Friends of the Cabildo office at 504-523-3939 for reservations. Space is limited, so don't hesitate! Admission is $30 for the public and $20 for FOC/LMF/PCR Members.
