WE INVITE YOU TO SEE OUR NEWEST EXHIBIT AT THE HERMANN-GRIMA HOUSE

Today, the Hermann-Grima Historic House strives to preserve, record and interpret the stories of all people who lived in and worked on the property. The lives of the Hermanns, the Grimas, the Free People of Color, and enslaved workers are integral parts of our tour and education programming. Therefore the unexplored legacy of the ladies who have owned and operated 820 Saint Louis Street – and the women who resided at the “rooming house” – is the focus of our current exhibit:

Anchored in Respectability:

The Evolution of the Christian Woman’s Exchange, 1924-1975

Between 1924 and 1975, the Hermann-Grima House served as a rooming house for more than one thousand women, some of whom stayed for just a few nights as a visitor to the city, and others who stayed for years. Not only was the rooming house a residence for young women from rural areas who had moved to the city, but it was a home for “the forgotten woman” – the widow or maiden lady who could no longer live alone. Examining museum archives, recording oral histories of emeritus board members, interviewing families of the ”roomers” and researching our own business records has produced a fascinating look at the independence of women.

The remarkable ladies of the Christian Woman’s Exchange actively managed the finances and operations of the house during an era when few women were active in business. This local organization was established in 1881 to assist women in need. The daughters, grand-daughters, and great-grand-daughters of these ladies continue to serve on this board today, now known as The Woman’s Exchange. Their legacy of philanthropy, activism, and volunteerism was firmly established through their businesses at the Hermann-Grima house and will continue into future generations.

Funding for this exhibit comes from the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities, and we thank Beth Willinger, Director of the Newcomb College Center for Research on Women, for her research and scholarship which made this exhibit a reality.