02/03/2025
The Filles à la Cassette, or “Casket Girls,” were young women sent from France to the French colonies in Louisiana in the early 18th century to become brides for settlers. They arrived with small chests (cassettes) containing their personal belongings. Unlike the earlier group of women sent to the colonies, some of whom had questionable backgrounds, the Casket Girls were carefully selected for their virtue and upbringing, often coming from orphanages or convents.
Upon arrival, they were taken in by the Ursuline nuns in New Orleans, who provided them with shelter and education until they married. This initiative was part of a broader effort by the French government and Catholic Church to encourage stable family life and population growth in the colony.
Over time, legends have surrounded the Casket Girls, with some folklore suggesting supernatural connections, particularly with vampire myths in New Orleans.
Some stories claim their caskets held something more mysterious than simple belongings, adding to the city’s long history of eerie tales. However, historical records support their role as respectable women intended to help establish French colonial society.
