Mary Niall Mitchell

Mary Niall Mitchell is Professor of History at University of New Orleans and Director of the Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies. Her research reconstructs African American experiences through archival materials, notably leading the Freedom on the Move database of runaway slave advertisements.

Current projects include developing K-12 curricula using fugitive slave archives and directing public engagement initiatives with New Orleans museums and schools. Her scholarship examines racial formation, visual culture, and the aftermath of slavery, with publications spanning monographs, edited collections, and digital humanities projects.

Recent collaborations with Whitney Plantation Museum and Neighborhood Story Project connect academic research with community education. Mitchell secured $300,000 for initiatives transforming historical archives into experiential learning programs exploring urban geography and resistance narratives.