Lessons for Louisiana: Incarceration and Public History

Scholars Andy Eisen, Elizabeth Nelson, Michelle Daniel Jones, Monica Deck, and Anastazia Schmid will screen a short film about the Indiana Women’s Prison History Project and the Public History Research Collective and how their work can inform the Louisiana Women’s Incarceration History Project. The screening will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Stephanie Gaskill of Operation Restoration.

The Indiana Women’s Prison History Project and the Public History Research Collective include scholars impacted by incarceration who began their careers as historians while still in prison as well as faculty who facilitate historical research for currently incarcerated historians. Their efforts have resulted in a variety of public history projects, from scholarly publications and conference presentations to theater performances and museum exhibits. Scholars from both projects serve as advisors to the Louisiana Women’s Incarceration History Project, which promotes new perspectives on the history of women’s imprisonment in the state by training incarcerated women in historical research methods, expanding their access to archival materials, and offering opportunities to present their findings in public venues.

Louisiana is widely recognized as one of the most incarcerated places in the world. Understanding the historical roots of this reality in slavery and convict leasing is a crucial component of dismantling the current system. However, accounts past and present typically focus on men. Centering women’s experiences shifts public perceptions of prisons, their consequences, and what must be done to abolish them.

As part of the Words & Music Festival, this event will be livestreamed free and available to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted. Proceeds from Words & Music support One Book One New Orleans’ year-round adult literacy outreach and free public programming.

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