The New Orleans Research Collaborative: Making History after the 2005 Hurricane Season

In the aftermath of the 2005 storm season, thoughts of New Orleans have become inseparable for many from those of Hurricane Katrina.  Stories and images of the city’s destruction and the desperation of its inhabitants are familiar beyond our national shore. Despite the ready connection between New Orleans and Katrina – one that continues to be found in the media today – the situation begs the question, especially for scholars: what is the effect, even cost, of “reading” New Orleans history or current issues primarily through the Katrina lens?  The New Orleans Research Collaborative uses digital technology to bring together resources that expand the notion and possibilities of writing history post-Katrina.  In the first phase of the project, individuals, college classes, and small groups have used the deceptively simple practice of creating themed bibliographies to demonstrate the possibilities for asking and answering a broad range of questions about the long history of New Orleans (see http://nolaresearch.org ). This paper will discuss the process, possibilities and challenges of collaborative research using digital platforms, with the complex history of New Orleans as a case study.