Jeanette Gottlieb Hardy, 1943-2020

Jeanette Gottlieb Hardy first came to New Orleans in her mid-twenties, and quickly became a notable journalist and storyteller in the city. She was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and after graduating from Cabrini College (now Cabrini University), she spent a few years traveling across the United States. Following her travels, she landed in New Orleans, where she worked as a waitress at Café Banquette and became secretary to Bill Bryan, who had recently bought the Vieux Carre’ Courier. In 1970, Hardy and her husband, James Derbes, bought the Vieux Carre’ Courier, a weekly newspaper that was central to preservation efforts in the 1960s and 70s.

Though she had no discrete experience working in journalism, Hardy was a natural storyteller, and the acquisition of the Vieux Carre’ Courier launched her headfirst into a lifelong career as a New Orleans journalist. After writing for the Vieux Carre’ Courier for several years, she became the editor of the States-Item’s weekly entertainment section, Lagniappe. Following the States-Item’s merger with The Times-Picayune, she edited the newspaper’s Sunday magazine, Dixie. She later wrote for the Living section, focusing on gardens. Her dedication to the gardens of New Orleans also led her to publish Gardens of New Orleans: Exquisite Access in 2001. Hardy is known not only for her work as a journalist, but also for her dedication to mentoring and cultivating young writers in New Orleans.

The first issue of the Vieux Carre’ Courier, published November 21, 1961.