A Peek at Carnival History

“His Majesty commands your presence at the Grand Ball to be held on Shrove Tuesday …” — that invitation to a Carnival ball from the Krewe of Rex is one sample of the historical collection of paper Carnival ephemera in the Louisiana Research Collection at Tulane. It's the largest of its kind in the world and dates to the beginnings of Carnival in New Orleans in the early 19th century, says Leon Miller, head of the research collection, which is part of Howard-Tilton Memorial Library's Special Collections. From a 1906 Krewe of Proteus ball invitation in cardinal red and gold, to a paper fan labeled “Rex 1890,” to dance cards with tiny pencils attached, the collection is truly one of a kind. It also includes the largest collection of drawings of original float and costume designs, some of which are now posted on the Louisiana Research Collection website.