Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Cable, George Washington, 1844–1925, American author, b. New Orleans. He is remembered primarily for his early sketches and novels of creole life, which established his reputation as an important lo...

(Encyclopedia) Dunn, Oscar James, c.1825–71, African-American politician, lieutenant governor of Louisiana (1868–71), b. New Orleans. A former slave, he fought for the Union and joined the Republican party (1863...

(Encyclopedia) Oliver, King (Joseph Oliver), 1885–1938, American jazz musician, b. Abend, La. Oliver began his professional career in 1904 with the Onward Brass Band. After playing with leading bands in New Orlean...

(Encyclopedia) Pontchartrain, Lake pŏnˈchərtrān [key], shallow lake, c.630 sq mi (1,630 sq km), 41 mi (66 km) long and 25 mi (40 km) wide, SE La., N of New Orleans. It is linked with Lake Maurepas at its western...

(Encyclopedia) Latrobe, Benjamin Henry (Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe) lətrōbˈ [key], 1764–1820, American architect, b. Yorkshire, England. He is considered the first professional architect in the United State...

(Encyclopedia) Nagin, Ray (Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr.), 1956–, African-American politician, b. New Orleans. A Louisiana cable-television executive before entering politics, Nagin won the 2002 mayoral election handily...

(Encyclopedia) Armstrong, Louis (Daniel Louis Armstrong), known as “Satchmo” and “Pops,” 1901–1971, American jazz trumpet virtuoso, singer, and bandleader, b. New Orleans. He learned to play the cornet in ...

(Encyclopedia)  CE5 Louisiana Purchase (1803) Louisiana Purchase, 1803, American acquisition from France of the formerly Spanish region of Louisiana. Jefferson instructed Livingston to attempt to purchase the �...

(Encyclopedia) Morphy, Paul Charles môrˈfē [key], 1837–84, American chess player, b. New Orleans. At 10 he learned the game and at 21 was acknowledged as the greatest player in the world. Not only was Morphy po...

(Encyclopedia)  CE5 Louisiana ləwēˌzēănˈə, lo͞oēˌ– [key], state in the S central United States. It is bounded by Mississippi, with the Mississippi River forming about half of the border (E), the Gulf o...