What We Collect

The Southeastern Architectural Archive (SEAA), a department within Tulane University Library's Special Collections Division, retains the largest collection of architectural records in the southern United States. Since its founding in 1980, the SEAA has built an archival collection that documents the built environment of New Orleans and its surrounding region. The archive sustains research and education endeavors by collecting, preserving, promoting, and providing access to its collections.

Since 1986, the SEAA has been home to the Garden Library of the New Orleans Town Gardeners, the latter a member of the Garden Club of America.  Dedicated to the study of landscape architecture, gardens and horticulture of the southeastern Gulf Region, the Garden Library has grown to a collection numbering over 1000 individual titles, with books dating from the seventeenth century to the contemporary.

Collection Development Guidelines

SEAA:  General Collection Development Guidelines

A.    Languages:  The collection is primarily in English, but no restrictions are placed on language.

B.    Chronological guidelines:  No limitations.

C.    Geographical guidelines:  Emphasis is placed on materials that document the southeastern Gulf Region (coastal Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi), especially greater metropolitan New Orleans.

D.    Treatment of subject:  Architectural records significant to the Gulf South region; landscape/gardening records significant to the Gulf South region; architectural records associated with New Orleans architects and firms.

E.    Types of materials: Architectural records in all formats, but reviewed on their individual merits (scope and content, uniqueness, state of preservation).  Preference for original renderings and photographic works.  We generally do not accept models and architectural remnants because they are difficult and costly to preserve and store.

F.    Other general considerations:  Acquisitions by donation. SEAA requests a monetary gift with any donation as the processing, preservation, and storage of architectural records is costly.

G.    Qualifications:  Materials are collected at the Research Level (4).

Garden Library:  General Collection Development Guidelines

A.    Languages:  The collection is primarily in English, but no restrictions are placed on language.

B.    Chronological guidelines:  No limitations.

C.    Geographical guidelines:  Emphasis is placed on materials that document southern horticulture, especially that of the southeastern Gulf Region (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi).

D.    Treatment of subject: Documents associated with landscape, environment, gardening and horticulture of the southeastern United States, especially the Gulf region; documents associated with women’s gardening culture in the southeastern United States, especially diaries and planting schemes.

E.    Types of materials: Preference for books, journals, diaries, brochures, and nursery, seed and trade catalogs.  Special consideration to works by and about members of the New Orleans Town Gardeners.

F.    Other general considerations:  Acquisitions by donation. Items reviewed on their individual merits (scope and content, uniqueness, state of preservation).

G.    Qualifications:  Materials are collected at the Research Level (4).

Preserving our cultural heritage is a costly and worthwhile endeavor.  Please consider a financial contribution to help maintain the Southeastern Architectural Archive.

Please make inquiries to:

Keli Rylance
Head, Southeastern Architectural Archive
Tulane University Libraries
Jone Hall Room 300
6801 Freret Street
New Orleans, LA  70118
krylance@tulane.edu
504.247.1806

What We Do Not Collect:

• Damaged or Poorly Preserved Materials
• Newspaper Clippings
• Photocopies
• Textbooks
• Student Papers
• Media with Inherent Vice
• Documents that Duplicate Existing Holdings
• NHPA Section 106 Documents
• Collections that May Provoke Ethics Conflicts with Other Institutions