International Relations Records

Sub-Series

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records include correspondence files (including correspondence with the local Consular Corps), financial records, miscellaneous office documents, subject files, travel records, and records relative to international visitors (including official representatives of foreign nations, representatives of international organizations, and State Department sponsored visitors). There are also detailed records of the long-running Plaza de Espana project to develop the foot of Canal Street into a Spanish Plaza.

Also included are records dating from the administration of Moon Landrieu, 1970-1978. These documents appear to have been retained in the International Relations Office beyond the end of Landrieu's terms in office; they were later transferred to the archives along with the files from the Morial years. There is also a series of International Relations Office records in the Landrieu papers within the City Archives.

Dates

Creation: 1977-1986

Creator

From the Series: Division of Intergovernmental Relations (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Available to registered researchers by appointment.

Requesting Materials

Materials Request Guidelines

Biographical / Historical

In the Morial administration the International Relations Office was responsible for handling the city's relationships with foreign countries in order to promote trade and economic development through tourism and import/export activities. Its origins were in the old Public Relations Office within the Mayor's Office and, as such, it tended to play more of a "goodwill" role than an economic development one. Through the Mayor's International Trade and Relations Committee the Office cooperated with other local foreign trade agencies such as International House, the International Trade Mart, and the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans. In addition to its general functions, the Office also acted as liaison between City Hall and the local Consular Corps and worked with the U.S. Department of State's Inter Communications Agency visitor program.