Two THNOC publications win awards from the Southeastern Library Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Lauren Noel
The Historic New Orleans Collection
(504) 556-7655
laurenn@hnoc.org

Vicki Voelker
Gambel Communications
(504) 324-4242
vicki@gambelpr.com

 

Two THNOC publications win awards from the Southeastern Library Association

Book on Louisiana furniture and memoir of jazz musician Harold Battiste Jr. both recognized

October 2012 | New Orleans, LA - Two of The Historic New Orleans Collection 2010 publications have won awards from the Southeastern Library Association's Southern Books Competition. "Furnishing Louisiana: Creole and Acadian Furniture, 1735-1835" won the 2010 Overall Excellence award, and "Unfinished Blues: Memories of a New Orleans Music Man" won the 2010 Award of Excellence: Dust Jacket and Cover.

The Southeastern Library Association (SELA) is committed to influencing legislation and attracting foundation and federal funds for regional library projects. Its Southern Books Competition began in 1952 to recognize the outstanding work produced by Southern presses, includes trade publishers, university presses, specialty publishers and private presses, and represents SELA's ongoing commitment to books. Announced in August, the awards will be presented Friday, October 5, in Macon, Ga. in conjunction with the 2012 SELA/Georgia Council of Media Organizations Conference.

After award-winning books are exhibited at the conference, they are made available to interested institutions on loan for traveling exhibits. A permanent archive is maintained at the W.T. Young Library at the University of Kentucky and the Lexington Public Library in Lexington, Ky.

"Furnishing Louisiana" features more than 1,200 full-color images and presents a comprehensive catalogue of furniture forms produced in the upper and lower Mississippi River valley. The book also offers contextual essays on cabinetmakers, hardware, woods, inlay, the import trade at the Port of New Orleans and the interior of the early Louisiana home. Written by Jack D. Holden, H. Parrott Bacot and Cybèle T. Gontar, with Brian J. Costello and Francis J. Puig, "Furnishing Louisiana" was designed by Tana Coman and includes photographs by Jim Zeitz. The publication was also recognized in 2011 by Southeastern Museums Conference's 23rd Annual Publication Design Competition with a Gold Award in the Books and Catalogues category, as well as the Best in Show award.

Designed by Alison Cody, "Unfinished Blues" is the memoir of New Orleans composer, producer, arranger, educator and jazz ambassador Harold Battiste Jr. For more than half a century, Battiste worked behind the scenes in the music industry, launching the careers of Dr. John and Sonny & Cher and helping artists churn out number-one hits. Richly illustrated and featuring excerpts from Battiste's personal letters and journals, "Unfinished Blues" launched The Collection's Louisiana Musicians Biography Series, dedicated to documenting the region's rich musical heritage. The publication also won the Outstanding Contribution to Publishing award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association in 2011.

"Furnishing Louisiana" retails for $95 and "Unfinished Blues" retails for $28.95. Both titles are available for purchase at The Shop at The Collection, www.hnoc.org or (504) 598-7147; at independent booksellers nationwide; and through major online retailers.

Editor's Note:

• Images from "Furnishing Louisiana" and "Unfinished Blues" are available upon request for members of the media. Please contact Lauren Noel at laurenn@hnoc.org  or (504) 556-7655 for digital files.

About The Collection

Founded in 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center and publisher dedicated to the preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, The Collection offers guided tours, free rotating exhibitions, a research facility and a museum shop. For more information, visit http://www.hnoc.org/ or call (504) 523-4662.

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