The short life and long legacy of Memphis Mardi Gras
One of several invitations to Memphis Mardi Gras events in the 1870s in the Colton Greene Collection. (Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center)
Memphis Mardi Gras returned after the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1878. Despite this ornate invitation from 1888, the event never returned to the grand scale it took on before the epidemic. The last Memphis Mardi Gras was held in 1901. (Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center)
A Memphis Mardi Gras Invitation from Memphi, the krewe that organized the 1870s celebrations and was resurrected in the 1930s during the Cotton Carnival. (Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center)
Sketches by artist Carl Gutherz that appeared in national magazines and publication were essential to the success of Memphis Mardi Gras. (Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center)
Memphis Mardi Gras in the 1870s was organized as a way to promote the city as a center of business and commerce much like the Cotton Carnival and Memphis in May International Festival that followed. (Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center)
For a while, the good times rolled when Memphis had its own Mardi Gras. Then Yellow Fever happened. This year, as the pandemic takes a toll on Fat Tuesday, we look at 1870s images that recall a citywide celebration.
Topics
Memphis Mardi Gras Colton Greene Memphis Public Libraries Subscriber OnlyAre you enjoying your subscription?
Your subscription gives you unlimited access to all of The Daily Memphian’s news, written by nearly 40 local journalists and more than 20 regular freelancers. We work around the clock to cover the issues that impact your life and our community.
You can help us reach more Memphians.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we provide free news access at K-12 schools, public libraries and many community organizations. We also reach tens of thousands of people through our podcasts, and through our radio and television partnerships – all completely free to everyone who cares about Memphis.
When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Bill Dries on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Bill Dries' stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Bill Dries
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.