Scope and Content
Collection of field recordings of interviews with Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana, residents about their lives, traditions, and folkways, recorded from 1974-2010, as well as approximately 635 digital images documenting the same traditions. Interviews were conducted by Alphe James (Jim) Delahoussaye at the residences of the interviewees; at reunions, funerals, and other events; and also on boats and in cars. Digital images of family photographs, dating from the 1920s to the present, were created by his colleague, Darlene Soulé, of many of the same informants. Topics include fresh water fishing and shrimping, other animals and animal husbandry, cooking, medicine, weather, logging, community gatherings, religion and churches, boat building, courtship, marriage, and education. They also reflect on the building of levees in the area and environmental change and the histories of the Couvillier, Bailey, Sauce, Daigle, and Millet families. These residents of the Atchafalaya River Basin, many of whom were elderly at the time of the interviews, recall traditions and events experienced from the 1880s and through the 20th century.