A young girl in glasses, wearing a striped shirt, thoughtfully playing chess with purple and yellow pieces. She is sitting at a blue table among other concentrated players in a room with several chess games in progress.

2025 Chess Club Meeting

July 12, 2025, 1–3 p.m.

New Orleans Public Library REACH Center
2022 St. Bernard Ave.
Corpus Christi Building C

Free admission, registration required

HNOC Chess Club blends the game of chess with creative activities and historical research. Members learn about the rich history of chess in New Orleans from the 19th century to the present day. HNOC Chess Club is youth-led. Members in the 6th–12th grades are given the opportunity to plan HNOC’s annual Chess Fest, where we host a community chess tournament and showcase club members’ chess-related creative projects.

In 1856, members of the Morphy family lived nearby in Faubourg Marigny—a neighborhood known for Black homeownership, educational strides, and political leadership. In this meeting, after chess instruction we’ll dive into the social world of this vibrant community and sharpen our skills in a space rich with legacy.

Admission is free with registration required. For questions, please contact us via the form at the bottom of this page.

2025 Chess Club Schedule

Save the dates for upcoming Chess Club and Chess Fest events.

Williams Research Center
410 Chartres Street
Boyd Cruise Room

Le Musée de f.p.c.
2336 Esplanade Ave.

At this meeting, chess instruction will be followed by an exploration of Ernest T. Morphy’s legacy. An accomplished player in his own right, he was also the uncle and early promoter of chess prodigy Paul Morphy. We’ll examine rare games played by Ernest and trace his connections to the Saulay family, a prominent free family of color linked to Afro‑Creole leader Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez.

New Orleans Public Library REACH Center
2022 St. Bernard Ave., Corpus Christi Building C

In 1856, members of the Morphy family lived nearby in Faubourg Marigny—a neighborhood known for Black homeownership, educational strides, and political leadership. After chess instruction, we’ll dive into the social world of this vibrant community and sharpen our skills in a space rich with legacy.

BK House & Gardens
1113 Chartres St.

This meeting will take place at the historic BK House—a residence that once brought together the Morphy, Lauve, and Le Carpentier families in ways that helped shape the culture and identity of 19th-century New Orleans. After chess instruction, we’ll explore the intertwined histories of these families, uncovering fresh insights into early New Orleans society and the world that shaped chess legend Paul Morphy. Even the most dedicated Chess Club members may discover something new!

TEP Center
5909 St. Claude Ave.
Free admission, registration required

Schedule of events coming and registration information coming soon