[1] Raised in a Catholic family, she was the sister of well-known Louisiana musician Deacon John Moore.
Kein largely created the field of Creole Studies through her early publications and presentations.
A protégé of Robert Hayden, her poetry is housed in the National Archives, Library of Congress.
In 1981 Provost published Gombo People, a volume of poetry representing the first contribution to American letters of original literature in the Louisiana Creole language.
Provost has been named "Chercheur Associe" of the Sorbonne in Paris, France for her work in Creole culture; and distinguished "Professeur Émérite" of The University of Michigan.