Whether the impetus for their entrepreneurial pursuit was a family or community tragedy, a desire for independence, a creative passion, or simply to turn a profit, women in New Orleans have impacted every aspect of the city’s business landscape. Female entrepreneurs were and still are instrumental in shaping our culture, from food to crafts, real estate to education. Some built successful businesses only to give away their profits to charitable causes, or built orphanages, hospitals, or schools. Not all businesses positively impacted the city and surrounding area; many women profited from the labor of enslaved people. The abundance of local female business owners early on can be attributed to a few factors, including the financial independence provided them by the unique laws of Louisiana, based in the French code, and the presence of a large community of free women of color who were able to transact business like their white counterparts.   

The exhibit will examine the reasons female entrepreneurs from the 18th century to the present were able to thrive in Louisiana, and more specifically New Orleans. It will highlight specific women who broke barriers – whether racial, economic, political, or social—and how they inspired and continue to inspire future generations of women to follow in their footsteps.

Images:
Milliner's Shop, Woman sewing baby bonnets, courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection, Bequest of Charles C. Crawford
The Praline Lady, courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection