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The LSU Rural Life Museum is proud to present its 2025 theme,
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Event Details:
This symposium is an invitation to honor the legacy of African American women who
navigated systemic barriers, preserved cultural traditions, and forged paths of strength
and influence. Through panel discussions, thought-provoking lectures, and personal
stories, attendees will explore the richness of Louisiana’s history through the lens
of women’s work across generations.
Admission:
- $45.00 General Admission
- $30.00 Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum, Docents, Faculty of Louisiana Universities (ID required)
- $15 Students of Louisiana Universities (ID required)
Admission includes:
- Lunch
- Meet the presenters & book signing
- Museum Admission
Don’t miss this transformative celebration of history, resilience, and culture.
Reserve your spot today by clicking the link below!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!
Ione E. Burden Symposium 2025
Her Roots, Her Rights:
African American History & Heritage in Louisiana
Februrary 15, 2025
Featured Speakers:
Joyce Jackson, PhD is Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Anthropology and Director
of African & African American Studies at Louisiana State University. She is the recipient
of the Board of Regents Award to Louisiana Artists and Scholars (ATLAS). “Hidden Currents:
The Rural Roots of Jazz in South Louisiana”; has served a President of the Louisiana
Folklore Society; and served as co-curator of “New Orleans Black Mardi Gras Indians:
Exploring a Community Tradition from an Insider’s View.” Smithsonian Anacostia Community
Museum.
She also served as the LSU facilitator for the Rural Life Museum’s initiative, Reimagining
and expanding “Interpretation: Moving Toward Museum Accreditation.”
Dr. Jackson will deliver opening remarks, offering her insights on the symposium theme and its relevance to Louisiana history and the Rural Life Museum.
LaKisha Michelle Simmons, PhD is Associate Professor of History and Women's & Gender Studies at the University
of Michigan. She is the author of Crescent City Girls: The Lives of Young Black Women
in Segregated New Orleans and the co-editor of The Global History of Black Girlhood.
She is currently working on a book on the history of Black family life after the Civil
War called Labor, Love, and Loss: Black Women, their Children and the Ancestors.
Dr. Simmons will present “Generations: Tracing Black Families in Slavery and Freedom.”
Mary Farmer-Kaiser, PhD is the Dean of the Graduate School and a Professor of History at the University of
Louisiana at Lafayette, where she began her academic career in 2000. An award-winning
teacher, she specializes in the history of citizenship, southern women’s history,
and public policy. Her research includes the book Freedwomen and the Freedmen’s Bureau:
Race, Gender, and Public Policy in the Age of Emancipation (Fordham University Press)
and co-editing Louisiana Women: Their Lives and Times, Vol. 2 (University of Georgia
Press) with Shannon Frystak. Farmer-Kaiser’s contributions to education extend beyond
the university classroom. She has participated in Smithsonian Institution-led teacher
education initiatives at the national level and directed U.S. Department of Education
Teaching American History programs for Lafayette Parish educators. A recognized leader
in graduate education, she remains ever committed to expanding access to high-quality
education and believes in its transformative power for individuals, families, and
communities. She holds degrees in History from Kansas State University, Clemson University,
and Bowling Green State University.
Dr. Farmer-Kaiser will present “Friend and Foe: Freedwomen and the Freedmen's Bureau in the Fight for Freedom.”
Dr. Shannon Frystak, PhD is a Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in the History Department at
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Her first book, Our Minds on Freedom:
Women and the Struggle for Black Equality in Louisiana examined the state's female
civil rights activists, placing them at the center of the history of the movement.
She has published widely in several other collections and is author and co-editor
of the second volume of Louisiana Women: Their Lives and Times, with Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser.
Her current research looks at the extraordinary, and wild, life of Lucille Watson,
owner, manager, and chatelaine of Cross Keys Plantation in Tensas Parish.
Author of Our Minds on Freedom: Women and the Struggle for Black Equality in Louisiana*
Dr. Frystak presents "Civil Rights are Economic Rights: Louisiana Women and the Struggle for Black Equality.”
Zapp’s International Beerfest XX
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Early Admission: 2:00 PM
Raise your glass and join the celebration at the 20th Annual Zapp’s International Beerfest, hosted by the Friends of LSU Rural Life Museum and proudly sponsored by Utz Brands! This beloved Baton Rouge tradition offers an incredible opportunity to sample over 200 domestic and international beers and ales, including crowd-favorite homebrews.
All proceeds benefit the LSU Rural Life Museum, supporting its mission of research, education, and preservation.
What to Expect:
Beer Tastings: Discover unique flavors from around the world and enjoy local homebrew creations.
Food & Drinks: Non-alcoholic beverages and a variety of food options will be available to keep you
fueled and ready to mingle.
Great Vibes: Immerse yourself in a lively, fun-filled atmosphere while supporting a great cause.
Ticket Information:
Early Admission: $65
(Includes 1 food ticket, 1 non-alcoholic beverage,
and early entry at 2:00 PM)
General Admission: $45
Designated Driver: $20 (Includes 1 food ticket and 1 non-alcoholic beverage)
Tickets are limited to 2,000—secure yours before they sell out!
Important Details:
Ages 21+ only. Valid photo ID required for entry and ticket purchase.
No children or pets allowed. Please plan accordingly.
No refunds.
Don’t miss out on one of Baton Rouge’s most anticipated events! Grab your friends, raise your glasses, and support the LSU Rural Life Museum while enjoying the best beerfest experience around.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!