Hilma Burt

Hilma Burt (sometimes misspelled Helma or Hilda Burthe or Burtte)[1] was an American brothel madam in Storyville, New Orleans, Louisiana during the early twentieth century.

[2] Burt was mistress to political boss and 4th Ward Representative to the State Legislature (1904-1920), Tom Anderson.

[3] It is said that Anderson helped Burt finance her purchase of Flo Meeker's Place in Basin Street.

Blue Books were created for tourists and those unfamiliar with this area of New Orleans and contained, in alphabetical order, the names of all the prostitutes of Storyville.

[11] The composer and pianist Jelly Roll Morton was employed by Burt, while still a youth, to entertain customers.

Basin Street, New Orleans c.1909. Anderson's saloon is on the left and Hilma Burt's brothel is the adjacent building. The other buildings on the block are, left to right, the brothels of Diana & Norma, Lisette Smith, Minnie White , Josie Arlington (with rounded cupola), Martha Clarke (smaller older building), Lulu White 's Mahogany Hall (with pointed cupola) and Lulu White's Saloon