Rex: The 150th Anniversary of the School of Design
AN EXHIBITION at the LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM
Brought to Life by the Louisiana Museum Foundation
and our Generous Supporters
now on view at the PRESBYTèRE
The Louisiana State Museum creates a major exhibition in the Presbytère Museum, commemorating the milestone 150th anniversary of the Rex Organization, the foremost New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe. Since its founding in 1872, Rex has taken on an unparalleled leadership role in Carnival, setting the standard of excellence for the dozens of krewes formed since and even inspiring the formation of similar civic organizations in other states. The Rex parade was the first daytime parade in modern Carnival, and the man selected as the monarch of the organization, known also by its incorporated name, the School of Design, serves as the King of all New Orleans Carnival.
a storied history
The exhibition also discusses the vital civic function that the krewe has always performed since it was founded in part to boost economic development in the city during the tumultuous years of Reconstruction following the Civil War. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Rex assumed a crucial philanthropic mission through its Pro Bono Publico Foundation, to date funneling over $10 million to the New Orleans Public School system through the contributions of the krewe’s members. Numerous kings and queens of the krewe have been honored by municipal and humanitarian organizations for their broad-ranging support of essential community causes.
SPECIAL THANKS
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the LA Dept. of Culture, Recreation and Tourism
SPONSORS AND PATRONS
HIS MAJESTY’S COURT
Mr. Erik F. Johnsen
CLAIBORNE
Mrs. H. Mortimer Favrot, Jr.
Eugenie & Joseph Merrick Jones Family Foundation
Mrs. Paul Carr Polk McIlhenny
Mr. and Mrs. Clark Pipes Fitz-Hugh
Ms. Rosemary Goodwin McIlhenny
The Gustaf W. McIlhenny Foundation
Boatner Reily Family Fund
CARONDELET
Mrs. Gayle Benson
Anne Lynne and Storey Charbonnet
Michele Reynoir and Kevin Clifford
Katherine and Tony Gelderman
Mr. and Mrs. R. Hunter Pierson, Jr.
MIRO
Ms. Ellen C. English
Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Freeman, Jr.
Goldring Family Foundation/Mr. William A. Goldring
Mr. Edward B. Poitevent II
Tia Nola and Jimmy Roddy
Robert E. Zetzmann Family Foundation
GALVEZ
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Beau J. Box
Peggy and Timber Floyd
M. and Mrs. Philip N. Hodges
Mr. and Mrs. Jean Paul Hodges
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Sherrill
Melissa and Jerry Steiner/ Pontchartrain Materials Corporation L.L.C.
Patrick F. Taylor Foundation
ULLOA
Ms. Mary L. Cavanaugh
Ms. Dorothy M. Clyne
Bitsie and Grover Mouton
Richard C. Adkerson Family Foundation
PERIER
Anne and Luis Baños Susan and Ralph Brennan
Helen and Kim Butcher Caroline and Murray Calhoun
Mr. John D. Charbonnet Mr. and Mrs. John J. Charpentier
Katie and Howell Crosby Elaine and Claiborne Deming
Shaun and R. Foster Duncan Mr. and Mrs. T. Semmes Favrot
Anne and Bill Goliwas Nancy and Stephen Hales
Fenner French Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Kearney
Anne and John E. Koerner III Mrs. Diane Sustendal Labouisse
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis P. Lauscha Alexa Pulitzer and Seth Levine
LCMC Health Dr. and Mrs. J. Lockwood Ochsner, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Gray S. Parker Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Patrick
Standard Mortgage Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Westfeldt II
Virginia and Michael White
BOISBRIAND
Helaine and Ned Benjamin Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Benjamin
Jane Nelson Bensel and Gregory Charles Bensel Mrs. Julie F. Breitmeyer
Ashley and Edgar Bright Mr. and Mrs. A. Vernon Brinson
Mr. and Mrs. George E. Brower II Joey and Buzzy Brown
Kia and Christy Brown Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin A. Dupuy
Dr. and Mrs. Peter A. Feringa III Courtney and Louis Freeman, Jr.
Mrs. Pam D. Friedler & Dr. Eduardo E. Rodriguez Mr. and Mrs. Cyril P. Geary III
Dana and Steve Hansel Debbie and Roth Kehoe
Peggy and John P. “Jack” Laborde/ The Alden and Margaret Laborde Foundation
Elizabeth and James Landis Elly and Merritt Lane
Cynthia and Robert LeBreton Mr. and Mrs. F. Rivers Lelong, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Merrick New Orleans and Company/ Mr. J. Stephen Perry
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Pettit, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Edmund E. Redd
Mr. and Mrs. James J. Reiss, Jr. Nuria Rojas and Ronald Rowley
Mr. and Mrs. Neal Reynolds Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd N. Shields
Ms. Debra Shriver Mrs. Bertie Deming Smith
Dr. and Mrs. Charles C. Smith III Mr. W. Howard Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. St. Denis J. Villere III Tina Freeman and Philip Woollam
Nell Nolan and Robert Young Warren and Usha Bourgeois Charitable Giving Fund
BIENVILLE
Ms. Anne R. Atkinson
Mrs. Renee F. Carrere
Ms. Eleanor T. Farnsworth
Mr. Peter E. Moss II
Mr. and Mrs. James J. Reiss III
