Step back in time and explore the 1920s bohemian French Quarter

Written By Alicia Vial

Historic New Orleans Collection to host free public lectures followed by a 20s-themed Swingin’ Soirée

NEW ORLEANS – To mark the centennial of 1920s French Quarter bohemia, the Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) will host a special public program that explores the vibrant and creative world of 1920s New Orleans. “French Quarter Bohemia, 1926” will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, and include free presentations and lectures followed by a ticketed Swingin’ Soirée.

“One hundred years ago, the French Quarter stood at the crossroads of a literary, artistic and preservation renaissance,” said Daniel Hammer, HNOC president and CEO. “"We're excited to present this unique program exploring the people, places, trends and colorful social scene in the early 20th-century French Quarter.”

The presentations begin at 2 p.m. with acclaimed author and scholar John Shelton Reed’s lecture, “Literary Bohemia,” which will explore the teeming literary scene of the French Quarter and the national fascination with New Orleans in the early 20th century.  This discussion will celebrate the 100th anniversary of “Sherwood Anderson and Other Famous Creoles: A Gallery of Contemporary New Orleans,” a who’s-who of bohemian New Orleans featuring caricatures by William Spratling and a foreword by William Faulkner.

Judith Bonner, former HNOC Senior Art Curator known for her seminal work on the era, will then take the stage for “Painting the Quarter: The Arts and Crafts Club of New Orleans,” where she will discuss the visual arts renaissance of the 1920s French Quarter, highlighting artists’ circles, artists and notable works of the era. To close out the free presentations, architectural historian and lifelong French Quarter resident Ann M. Masson will present “Saving the Vieux Carre,” highlighting the 1920s preservation movement and specifically touching on the contributions of William Ratcliffe Irby, who owned HNOC’s Seignouret-Brulatour Building at 520 Royal St. at the time.

All lectures will take place at HNOC’s Williams Research Center located at 410 Chartres St. from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but advance registration is required. The day will conclude with a ticketed 1920s-themed soirée at HNOC’s museum at 520 Royal St. featuring refreshments, an open wine-and-champagne bar, and live music by the Slick Skillet Serenaders, a New Orleans-based ragtime band with a touch of Vaudeville whimsy. Tickets to the soirée are $20 and available to anyone; attendees are encouraged to wear 1920s attire.

To register for “French Quarter Bohemia” or to purchase tickets to the Swingin’ Soirée, visit hnoc.org.

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‍ ‍Historic New Orleans Collection:
Home to the world's largest collection of materials related to the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South, the Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) is a nonprofit institution dedicated to preserving the region's distinctive heritage. Established in 1966 through the Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation, HNOC functions as a free museum, research center and publisher, spread across more than 14 historic buildings in the heart of the French Quarter. For more information, visit www.hnoc.org.       

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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