The William Russell Jazz Collection at the Historic New Orleans Collection, acquisition made possible by the Clarisse Claiborne Grima Fund, MSS 520.155
The William Russell Jazz Collection at the Historic New Orleans Collection, an acquisition made possible by the Clarisse Claiborne Grima Fund, MSS 520.155

Economy Hall: The Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood

New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint
Thu, February 13, 2025

The New Orleans Jazz Museum presents its newest exhibit, Economy Hall: The Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood, a captivating exploration of one of New Orleans' most influential cultural institutions. The exhibit, opening on Thursday, February 13, 2025, invites visitors to delve into the rich history of Economy Hall and its pivotal role in shaping the city's cultural and musical legacy.

Founded in 1836, the Société d'Economie et d'Assistance Mutuelle (Economy and Mutual Aid Society) was a benevolent organization established by free men of African descent in New Orleans. With members hailing from diverse ancestral roots in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Central America, the society exemplified the Creole identity through its language, traditions, and cultural practices. Economy Hall, built in 1857, became an epicenter of social, cultural, and musical life in New Orleans, laying the groundwork for the birth of jazz.

The exhibit will feature rare photographs, artifacts, and in-depth analysis from Fatima Shaik, author of Economy Hall: The Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood and 2021 Louisiana Writer Award winner at the Louisiana Book Festival, and curator David Kunian. Visitors will gain unparalleled insight into the untold stories of Economy Hall and its indelible impact on the cultural and musical heritage of New Orleans.

"Economy Hall set the stage for jazz, opening in 1857 with a concert by the free colored philharmonic and welcoming every new musical form from that year until the building's destruction in 1963. People experienced opera, brass bands, classical European and popular American songs, spirituals, gospel, blues, and 19th and 20th century jazz composed and played by members of their local community and international guests. Over those same years, the hall hosted some of the earliest integrated political meetings, voter registration, union organizing, self-help and community service groups, and was the launching pad for equal rights demonstrations. Economy Hall elevated the importance of the individual no matter his caste or race and incubated jazz, a music that allows every instrument a voice," said Fatima Shaik.

Throughout its 108-year history, Economy Hall hosted a wide array of activities, from the meetings of Black benevolent associations to gatherings of German laborers, Cuban cigar makers, Republican Radicals, and groundbreaking jazz performances by icons like Kid Ory, King Oliver, and Buddy Bolden. The hall served as a unique space where citizens of diverse backgrounds connected, fostering a cultural inheritance that remains vibrant in the present day.