Myldred Masson Costa papers

Collection

Identifier: SC-339-MS

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Myldred Masson Costa papers include correspondence, meeting minutes, promotional material, and other documents related to her activities on a variety of official boards and neighborhood associations dedicated to historic preservation in the French Quarter from the 1970s and early 1980s. These organizations include the French Quarter Task Force, the Vieux Carré Association, the Louisiana Council for the Vieux Carré, and the Louisiana American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. Additionally, the collection includes documents related to Costa’s work with Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, as well as in French societies, such as the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL), Athénée Louisianais, and L'Heure Françhaise. The collection also includes some personal correspondence, newspaper clippings, as well as scrapbook pages from a One Act Play Tournament from the 1930s.

Dates

Creation: 1930-1980

Creator

Costa, Myldred Masson (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Available to registered researchers by appointment.

Requesting Materials

Materials Request Guidelines

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction or use of materials is prohibited without the permission of the City Archives & Special Collections. Please review the Archives' Permission to Publish note.

Biographical / Historical

Myldred Masson Costa was born in New Orleans, LA. She attended Girls High School and Tulane University before getting a graduate degree in special education from Columbia University in New York City. She taught classes for the visually impaired for 31 years in the Orleans Parish public school system. After retiring, Costa began working in historic preservation and promoting Louisiana history, especially colonial French history. She translated the letters of Marie Madeleine Hachard, an Ursuline nun who settled in the Louisiana during 1727 and 1728. She led efforts to restore the Ursuline Convent and joined organizations aimed at preserving the Vieux Carré. Mayor Victor Schiro appointed Costa to form a committee board to determine summer activities and events for tourists in New Orleans. Mayor Ernest Morial appointed Costa to the French Quarter Task Force and Governor Edwin Edwards appointed her to the Louisiana American Revolution Bicentennial Commission.