From Our Archives To The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History And Culture

Preservation Hall, The Preservation Hall Foundation and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band are honored to be part of the festivities celebrating the opening of The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History And Culture on Saturday, September 24 in Washington, D.C. 

We are also honored to have an article featured amongst the close to 37,000 objects on display in the Museum; a print created from the original negative of the iconic image of Sweet Emma And Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

The print, which will be proudly displayed in the hallowed halls of this newly opened Museum, has been on quite a journey. 

The Preservation Hall Foundation conserved and restored the original negative, using cold storage techniques to help reverse any damage caused by environmental effects of New Orleans humid climate. Upon proper conservation, a print was created from the negative, and then it was digitally preserved into our archive. Finally, the image made it's way up the coast to the Museum in Washington, D.C. 

Photo courtesy of Dan Leyrer. 

You can learn more about the opening celebration of The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History And Culture by clicking here.

You can purchase tickets to The Preservation Hall Jazz Band's performance at The Lincoln Theatre on Friday, September 23 in celebration of the opening the Museum by clicking here.