An interview with Charlotte Travieso, Newcomb College, Class of 1964

Carlotte Travieso giving her interview. Photo by Rosie Polins.

Charlotte Travieso loves New Orleans more than anything in the world. Her time spent in the city spans her adolescent years, high school, all the way to graduation from Newcomb College in 1964. After graduation, she spent most of her adult life in Washington, DC, but always longed to return to the Crescent City.

Reminiscing recently on her fondest memories on the Tulane/Newcomb campus brought visions of the old New Orleans and what is was like in the early ’50s, meshed with the present day. Charlotte recalls sitting by the lake, going to restaurants, and simply watching boats pass for hours. One of her favorite places, Audubon Park, was where Charlotte’s father took her to learn to drive. These iconic traditions of this rich city are memories that resonate with many people.

Charlotte’s recollections of the city are ones from childhood. On the Tulane campus, she favors more experiential memory. On a rainy day in the Newcomb Quad, she recalls, a young man asked if she would like a lift. She thought to herself, “Why not, anything to get out of this rain.” But it turns out that he had something different in mind: He proceeded to pick her up and carry her all the way back to Willow Street in the pouring rain. Charlotte loves this story, as she still is in touch with that man today.

Other campus memories include those of her time in the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. She chose that particular Greek organization because of the diversity it offered. Having gone to school in New Orleans all her life, she wanted to make sure she diversified her group of friends, and was happy that she did. Charlotte was nominated and elected president of her chapter.

Charlotte’s time on campus was also one of great historical importance. From the Civil Rights era and Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a dream” speech to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, she had the unique opportunity of seeing how the greater Tulane community reacted to these landmark events. Although she was abroad for King’s speech and much of the Civil Rights activism, she was on campus the day Kennedy was killed. That day, she recalls, was “cold on campus; a wind was blowing as if the whole mood of the day was eerie and solemn.” Charlotte also remembers seeing a teacher come out of Newcomb Hall and lower the flags. The entire community felt the depression of the moment. Classes were canceled and everyone huddled around television sets to watch what was happening. It was a sad day for both Tulane and the nation.

Charlotte’s love for the city and Tulane didn’t stop after graduation. In Washington, DC, she was in charge of alumni relations, and when she eventually moved back to New Orleans in 2000, she was offered the full-time position of Alumni Director. She stayed with the school through Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Now Charlotte is retired and loves living in New Orleans. She’s finding new traditions and activities, like visiting her favorite coffee shop on weekends. If you see her there, you might catch her doing crossword puzzles.

[Editor’s Note: This article was captured as part of the class “Media Histories” taught by Vicki Mayer in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Affairs at Tulane University.]