Undercurrents — Melissa Smith

Melissa is an archivist and historian specializing in Louisiana history. A New Orleans native, Smith grew up in St. Tammany Parish where she also now makes her home. She received her BA in history from Loyola University of New Orleans with a focus in Louisiana history and women’s history. She received her MA in history from the University of New Orleans with a focus on New Orleans history and African-American history, specializing in African-American education in New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century. Smith is a huge Saints fan, and in the past wrote for football blogging site www.chicksinthehuddle.com, which was cross-published in the Huffington Post and Fox Sports. She also sits as a regular guest for the Saints News Network. Smith is the author of “Historic Photos of New Orleans” (Turner Publishing, 2007) and “Remembering New Orleans” (Turner Publishing, 2010), and contributed chapters to a series on Mardi Gras Indians published by the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame. Smith explores life with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease as both a patient and as a caregiver.