Jamie Barker

Jamie Barker is a New Orleans native, born at Baptist Hospital on Napoleon Avenue. Her formal education was in Catholic schools, and she graduated from the University of New Orleans with a degree in education. She grew up learning a lot of misinformation about the history of her city. When she became a tour guide, she began to delve into scholarly works that have enabled her to do quite a bit of “myth busting.” Her interests are French, Spanish and Afro-Caribbean colonial histories — with a focus on women in New Orleans prior to, and just after, the Louisiana Purchase. Now in the 21st century, she jokingly states that she is three centuries behind. That’s why she loves the cemeteries and the PRC/SOC mission to preserve them and their history.