348. Nathan Rabalais, part 1

348. Part 1 of our interview with Nathan Rabalais. Finding Cajun. Louisiana French, folk tales. Nathan earned his Ph.D. in French Studies from Tulane University and a Doctorat en Langues et littératures from Université de Poitiers. His research focuses primarily on literatures, cultures, and oral tradition of Francophone North America (primarily Louisiana, Acadia, and Quebec). Professor Rabalais's courses include The Craft of Writing, Heroes, French and Creole Louisiana, and Pop Culture of Francophone North America. His most recent publications and feature-length documentary Finding Cajun (2019) focus on the intersection of language and identity in Louisiana and Acadian communities of Canada. His original poetry has been featured in several literary journals and in his book Le Hantage: un ouvrage de souvenance (2018). He is currently completing a monograph, Folklore Figures of French and Creole Louisiana, forthcoming with LSU Press.

1. This week in Louisiana history. January 18, 1838. Caddo Parish created from Natchitoches District, named for Caddo Indians.
2. This week in New Orleans history. The New Orleans Public Library first opened its doors to the public on January 18, 1897.  The system began in 1896 as the Fisk Free and Public Library in a building on Lafayette Square. Abijah Fisk was a merchant who, over fifty years earlier, had left his house—at the corner of Iberville and Bourbon Streets—to the city for use as a library. Subsequent donations had resulted in libraries and collections not completely free and open to the citizenry. An 1896 city ordinance proposed by Mayor John Fitzpatrick combined the Fisk collection with a newer municipal library. It eventually became known as the New Orleans Public Library.
   
3. This week in Louisiana. 
   Centenary College
   Shreveport, LA
   January 20, 2020.
   5:00 am - 3:00 pm. Room 108.
   Dream Week 2020 —MLK service day.
   MLK Service Day is a large scale event open to Centenary students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other local community members to participate in a "day on instead of a day off" in honor of Dr. King's birthday.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bourbon Bandstand Bar.

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