FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Lauren Noel, The Historic New Orleans Collection
(504) 556-7655 | laurenn@hnoc.org

 New Orleans, LA (December 2014)- Joining the city-wide commemorations of the Battle of New Orleans bicentennial, The Historic New Orleans Collection's annual symposium will gather scholars from around the country to discuss War of 1812's impact on the South and the battle's legacy. The 20th annual Williams Research Center Symposium, "Forgotten Conflicts: Indians, Andrew Jackson and the War of 1812 in the South," will take place Friday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at the Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., in the French Quarter.

The war pitted a young American republic against the established military might of Great Britain. Presentations at the symposium will explore the war's impact on the South, particularly the Gulf Coast and New Orleans; the experiences of women and people of color during the War of 1812; the Creek War of 1813-14; British perspectives on the Gulf campaign and the famous Battle of New Orleans. The symposium is presented in conjunction with "Andrew Jackson: Hero of New Orleans," a free exhibition on view at 533 Royal St.

In celebration of this event's 20th year, THNOC has added a keynote lecture Friday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 p.m. Scholar, author, and symposium moderator Matthew Warshauer will discuss the life and career of Andrew Jackson. A professor of history at Central Connecticut State University, Warshauer is the author of several books and articles including "Andrew Jackson in Context" (NOVA Science Publishers 2009) and "Andrew Jackson and the Politics of Martial Law: Nationalism, Civil Liberties, and Partisanship" (Tennessee University Press 2006).

The remaining sessions will continue on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the following speakers.
• Patricia Brady, author and independent scholar
• Kathryn Braund, Hollifield Professor of Southern History at Auburn University
• Donald R. Hickey, professor of history at Wayne State College (Nebraska)
• Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History at King's College (London)
• Gene A. Smith, director of the Center for Texas Studies at Texas Christian University
• Jason Wiese, associate director of the Williams Research Center at The Historic New Orleans Collection.

Registration is required to attend the symposium. Early registration is available through Friday, Jan. 2, with rates ranging between $45 and $80. Rates will increase to $55-$90 after that date. Registration fees include the Friday keynote lecture, the full day of presentations on Saturday, and two receptions offering opportunities to view the companion exhibition and interact with the speakers. For more information, including a complete schedule of talks and links to online registration, visit www.hnoc.org/programs/symposia.html.

The 20th annual Williams Research Center Symposium is presented by The Historic New Orleans Collection with support from ClearBridge Advisors, Inc. Additional support is provided by St. Denis J. Villere & Co.; Becker Suffern McLanahan, Ltd.; Hotel Monteleone; ORX Exploration; Bywater Woodworks; LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors; Premium Parking and Solaris Garage.

Related programming

"Andrew Jackson: Hero of New Orleans"
An exhibition on view now through March 29, 2015
Gallery hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
533 Royal St.
Admission is free.

Presented in conjunction with the bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans, THNOC's exhibition chronicles Andrew Jackson's rise from humble beginnings to immortality as a war hero and president. It also sheds light on some of the controversies-such as martial law and Indian removal-that attended Jackson's storied career.

Lesson plan for teachers and educators related to
"Andrew Jackson: Hero of New Orleans"

The Historic New Orleans Collection has teamed with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to create unique lesson plans for teachers and educators, drawing on primary sources from THNOC's archival holdings. The lesson plan for "Andrew Jackson: Hero of New Orleans" is based on a letter recounting the Battle of New Orleans from a New Orleans resident named Laura Florian.

For more information, contact Daphne Derven, curator of education at THNOC, at (504) 598-7154 or daphned@hnoc.org.

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About The Historic New Orleans Collection
Founded in 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center and publisher dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region. For more information, visit www.hnoc.org or call (504) 523-4662.

Editor's Note:
Images pertaining to the symposium and the related programming are available to members of the media. Contact Lauren Noel at laurenn@hnoc.org or (504) 556-7655 to make a request.