Longue Vue House and Gardens
The Archives
Research access to Longue Vue’s approximate 40,000 items, including blueprints, drawings, letters, photographs, and estate records spanning Longue Vue’s entire history
Location
7 Bamboo Road,
New Orleans, LA 70124
Parking
On-site parking
Hours
Mon-Thurs
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Open by appointment only
Plan a Research Visit
Request an appointment
The archives are open by appointment only. Contact Collections Manager Molly Hay to discuss your research needs and schedule a visit.
Review the finding aid
Browse the existing finding aid before your visit to understand what’s available. An updated version is in progress.
Prepare for your visit
Review archive policies and guidelines prior to your visit. Collections staff can provide a virtual reference appointment by request.
Contact
What’s in the Collection
Architectural and Landscape Plans
Detailed records of the construction, landscaping, and furnishing of the estate, with drawings by Ellen Shipman and the Platt brothers
Personal Papers and Photographs
Personal photos, letters, and various ephemera of the Stern family
Civic and Philanthropic Records
Documents pertaining to projects and civic engagements of the Sterns, including their engagements in civil rights and African American education, the reform of municipal government in New Orleans and Louisiana, the urban development of New Orleans through the public and commercial projects of the Sterns, the history of financiers and philanthropists in America, and numerous arts and music organization
The Edith Rosenwald Stern Papers
As we upgrade archival collections systems to improve long-term stability of historic materials and prepare them for increased access, we are proud to announce a recently processed collection: Edith Rosenwald Stern Papers (LVHA-05). HERE is the in-progress finding aid.
The Edith Rosenwald Stern Papers document the final decade of Edith Stern’s life and the founding years of the Longue Vue Museum. Spanning 1972 to 1980 and comprising approximately seven linear feet of material, the collection was maintained by Edith’s secretary, Vilma Schneydexer, and includes personal correspondence, business records, organizational files, and the early institutional records of Longue Vue itself.
The collection is arranged in two series. The Edith Stern Papers (LVHA-05-01) capture Edith’s personal and civic life: her correspondence, travel, business interests through the Stern Fund and Starwood Corporation, and her sustained involvement with Dillard University, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Voter Registration League. The Longue Vue Foundation Records (LVHA-05-02) document the administrative, legal, financial, and operational history of the museum during the transition of Longue Vue from private residence to public institution.
The Edith Rosenwald Stern Papers are open to researchers by appointment. A partial finding aid is currently available here, with additional information forthcoming as processing continues. This collection was made accessible to the public through the generous support of Sandra Stern McIver.
To schedule a research visit or inquire about the collection, contact Senior Manager of Collections and Archives Molly Hay at mhay@longuevue.com.
Digital archive coming in 2026 — Longue Vue is digitizing approximately 25,000 items related to the physical site, beginning with the Shipman Papers. An online database and the Shipman Digital Reference Library will launch later this year. Check back for updates.
Access Policy
The Longue Vue Archive is open to all researchers and does not require institutional affiliation or impose restrictions on research topics, provided all archive policies are followed. Any publication or commercial use of materials must receive prior approval from archive staff.
Items in the archive do not circulate and may be used in-house only.
See full archive guidelines and policies HERE.