Firsthand Louisiana: Primary Sources in the History of the State brings to its readers a companion to the study of Louisiana's history. Compiled for the first time in a single book, the dozens of important, interesting, devastating, and entertaining firsthand accounts cover Louisiana's history from 1682, when Sieur de La Salle claimed the land for the French, up through recent controversies over the removal of Confederate memorial statues in the state. Read letters, speeches, reports, and diaries to learn how the Bayou State affected and was affected by such events as the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision, World War II, the civil rights movement, and more. Edited by experts in the field of Louisiana history, this collection also provides a fascinating read for non-academics who simply want to gain the perspective of the people-women, men, Native Americans, whites, African Americans, and many others-who created the state's complicated past.

Michael S. Martin holds the Cheryl Courrégé Burguières/Board of Regents Professorship in History at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His research and teaching interests focus on Louisiana history, public history, and the history of the US South. The author or editor of several books of the Bayou State, Martin also serves as managing editor for the Louisiana History Association's quarterly journal, Louisiana History.