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Hurricane Archive

Collecting and Preserving the Stories of Katrina and Rita

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The Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media (CHNM) at George Mason University and the University of New Orleans organized the Hurricane Digital Memory Bank (HDMB) in 2005 in partnership with many national and Gulf Coast area organizations and individuals. HDMB was awarded the Award of Merit for Leadership in History, and is the largest free public archive of Katrina and Rita with over 25,000 items in the collection. Read More.

Items (8462 total)

Charcoal portrait of Dan Smith, Jr. First line of text: My name is Dan Smith Jr. I was born on December 25, 1922...\" Describes his memories of Hurricane Betsy and flooding at textile plant and on Lasalle St. Did not…

Portrait & Narrative…

Common Ground volunteer describes her experiences. Text begins: \"In times of crisis, when people are displaced, it takes community and collective strength of individual wills to gather resources and repair. Last line:…

Charcoal portrait of Common Ground volunteer who helped set up a community radio station. Text begins: \"It was not till I came to New Orleans that I discovered my passion for community radio...\"

Charcoal portrait of ADH. Text begins: \"This, I, come/s from love...\" Narrative includes rap poem. \r\nPoem begins:\r\n\"You know we stormed through those flood gates thinking we could come here and save this…

Portrait & Narrative…

Charcoal portrait of Common Ground volunteer from New England. Text begins: \"I saw the TV and wanted to come...\" Quotes Randy Newman\'s song \"Louisiana 1927.\"

Portrait & Narrative…

Charcoal portrait of Common Ground volunteer Chris Joseph, who describes his experience in English and Spanish. English text begins: \"I arrived here 2 weeks ago and what I found was not what I thought I would find. The…

Portrait & Narrative…

Charcoal portrait of Common Ground volunteer. Text begins: \"The endless cascade of miracles continues before me. Katrina brought me back to New Orleans in search of the good in man....\"

Former school employee describes returning to New Orleans on September 3, 2005 to rescue some \"older folks with special needs.\" Text begins: \"It was a horrific experience when I left the city...\"

Portrait & Narrative…

DC, a Common Ground volunteer, describes her experiences. Text begins: \"Before coming to New Orleans my world was this bubble where nothing really terrible happened and people were all treated fairly.\" Last line:…

Portrait & Narrative…

Charcoal portrait of Common Ground volunteer. Text begins: \"The city has become a broken mirrored image of itself. It reminds me of what I have a heart for....\" Describes seeing barge that smashed the Industrial Canal…

\"Portrait &…