Mina Lea Crais papers, 1953-2005 | Hogan Jazz Archive

Mina Lea Crais was born Mina Lea Sinske in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1924.  A devoted fan of New Orleans jazz, she first moved to New Orleans in the early 1950s.  Throughout her years in the city, she worked as a librarian at Charity Hospital School of Nursing, Tulane University and the World Trade Center, New Orleans.  In January 1958 Mina and her husband, attorney and jazz trombonist Bill Crais, took over ownership of the Vieux Carré Music Shop at 706 Bourbon Street. They would later become part owners of Carnival Records and talent scouts for Golden Crest Records.

Mina was also an active member of the New Orleans Jazz Club, even serving on the board for several years. Returning from more than a decade away from New Orleans, she brought out the first issue of MECCA, a magazine devoted entirely to traditional New Orleans jazz in January 1974.