HNOC in the News

WWL Radio: Daniel Hammer Discusses Pope Leo XIV and Upcoming Exhibitions

June 2, 2025

HNOC’s president and CEO went on the Newell Normand Show to talk about the organization’s role in discovering the ancestry of the new pope and much more.

“Besides our museum . . . . we have a large staff who provide the community with access to our collections for research, and who themselves are expert researchers. Jari Honora is a certified geneaologist, one of only five in the state of Louisiana, and he is a specialist in family histories—especially within the Creole community here in New Orleans.”

Daniel Hammer, HNOC president and CEO

Listen Listen

Visit

Learn about New Orleans history in the heart of the French Quarter. See an exhibition or program, explore our historic buildings, or shop and relax.

View View

20190917 Enigmatic Stream Reception MD096 adj web

Research

Genealogy Resources

Our experts at the Williams Research Center are available to help you dive into your family history.

View View

People reading and working at tables in a spacious, well-lit library with high ceilings. Theres a mezzanine level with bookshelves and more seating. Large windows, elegant chandeliers, and a patterned carpet add to the classic ambiance.

Related Collection Highlights

A close-up of an ancient artifact showcasing intricate circular engravings with faded symbols and a star design. The piece is metallic with a worn, darkened surface, suggesting historical significance.

Ursuline Communion Wafer Iron

What this waffle iron look-alike tells us about female agency and spirituality in colonial New Orleans

Learn More

Portrait of a woman with dark hair, wearing a black dress with a white collar. She is seated, holding a small object in her left hand, against a plain background. Her expression is calm and composed.

Cane River Collection

Over 1,400 legal and financial documents amount to a detailed record of one slice of 19th-century Black Creole life.

Learn More

A nun stands outside a building with three large arched windows. She is facing the windows, holding a book. The building is white with some visible plants and a tree on the right. The scene has a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

Mother St. Croix Photographs of Ursuline Convent

The ebullient nun documented her cloisters, sisters, and pupils with care and skill. In doing so she became the earliest known woman to photographically record daily life in New Orleans

Learn More