LSU Libraries Special Collections will feature materials related to Governor and Senator Huey P. Long in its next “Afternoon in the Archives,” which will be held 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, in Hill Memorial Library.

A native of Winnfield, La., Long served as Governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932, then as Senator until his death. Long died of complications from gunshot wounds he sustained in an assassination attack by Dr. Carl Weiss. He had announced his candidacy for President of the United States less than a month before his assassination. September 10, 2015, marked the 80th anniversary of his death.

A divisive figure in his day and still much-debated among historians and citizens alike, Long is credited with playing a large role in transforming LSU into a modern university. He greatly increased the university’s state funding, expanded enrollment by establishing programs that made it possible for poor students to attend, and popularized the university through his efforts to enlarge and enliven the marching band and promote the football program. At the same time, he was often criticized for meddling in the school’s affairs by, for example, choosing the president and having seven student newspaper staff members expelled for publishing a letter to the editor that was critical of him.

Special Collections holds extensive collections about Huey Long, including papers of the Kingfish himself, family members, associates, and adversaries; the collection of his biographer the late LSU history professor T. Harry Williams; and ephemera and publications that reflect his time in office. Items selected for “The Afternoon in the Archives” will touch on his relationship with LSU, Long’s political career, family, and assassination. All are welcome to this free event.

For additional information, contact Curator of Manuscripts Tara Laver at tzachar@lsu.edu.