Watch video of the William and Elise Winter Celebration of Life on the MDAH YouTube page. Donate to the William and Elise Winter Education Endowment here.
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The World of Marty Stuart

Welcome to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

By preserving Mississippi's diverse historic resources and sharing them with people around the world, MDAH inspires discovery of stories that connect our lives and shape our future.

Great Migration Initiative

Take an in-depth look at the Great Migration—the unprecedented movement of African Americans from the South in the first three-quarters of the twentieth century—through the lenses of history and art. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) and the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) are undertaking a year-long initiative in 2022 to expand understanding of the Great Migration and its impact on Mississippi and the nation.

Read More

Empowering people through Mississippi’s many stories.

That’s our vision at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. We are here to help you explore and discover your Mississippi stories.

You can use this website, and our reading rooms in downtown Jackson, to:

  • Research historical records, archival collections and special publications
  • Discover historical sites and museums to visit all around the state
  • Check out upcoming events, including our History is Lunch series
  • Preserve Mississippi’s historic buildings and archaeological sites
  • Download field trip guides, lesson plans, and teaching units
  • View regulations for managing state and local government records
  • Find out how to volunteer, donate, and more
The Foundation for Mississippi

Donate to the Foundation for Mississippi and support the newest addition to the Hall of Governors—the official portrait of Phil Bryant, the sixty-fourth governor of Mississippi. Located on the first floor of the Mississippi State Capitol, the Hall of Governors features portraits of the former governors of Mississippi since the creation of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 and the state in 1817.

Donate

Research

Discover your story. Search the ultimate primary resource of Mississippi’s historical documents, photos, videos, and more.

You can use our online collections, and the extensive resources at our reading rooms in downtown Jackson, to build your family tree, create an engaging presentation, or simply explore your Mississippi history.

Get Started

Explore

Real stories, real places. Set out on a hands-on history adventure and discover the people and places that shaped your Mississippi.

MDAH welcomes curious visitors of all ages to more than a dozen museums, historic sites and cultural attractions throughout the state.

Go Places

Preserve

Tell your story for generations to come. Mississippi is rich in architectural and archaeological history.

See How

Volunteer

Be part of history. Volunteer with MDAH and help us preserve and connect Mississippi’s rich historic resources with people around the world.

Volunteer

Teachers & Students

Stories are for sharing. Help your students explore their Mississippi history from K-12 to college.

Discover ready-to-use field trip guides, professional development opportunities, a host of classroom resources and information on Mississippi History Day, our history-themed student competition.

Education

News & Articles

5/3/2022
On May 3, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) celebrated the lives of Governor William Winter and First Lady Elise Winter at the Two Mississippi Museums. During the ceremony, Spence Flatgard, MDAH board president, announced the completion of the initial funding goal of the William and Elise Winter Education Endowment, a $5 million fund created to underwrite field trips for Mississippi’s schoolchildren.
4/12/2022
In honor of Eudora Welty’s 113th birthday on April 13, a previously restricted series of Welty’s family papers is now open to the public.
4/7/2022
On Friday, April 15 at 2 p.m., Joseph Ewoodzie Jr. and Carla Shedd will discuss Ewoodzie’s new book Getting Something to Eat in Jackson: Race, Class, and Food in the American South in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium at the Two Mississippi Museums.  
3/30/2022
Due to severe weather, MDAH offices, museums, and historic sites will close at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.
3/28/2022
MDAH offices, archives library, museums, and sites will be closed on Monday, April 4, for staff development. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, April 5. 
3/28/2022
Eddie S. Glaude Jr., educator, author, political commentator, and public intellectual will deliver the Medgar Wiley Evers Lecture on Thursday, April 28, at 6 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. The event is free and open to the public. 

Events

#WeltyatHome Virtual Book Club
Weekly on Monday at 12:00pm until Mon, Jul 25 2022
Upcoming
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On Mondays at noon, the Eudora Welty House & Garden will present weekly online book discussions of Welty's short story collection The Wide

Yoga in the Welty Garden

MDAH education specialist and certified yoga instructor Jennifer Rose will lead free yoga classes in the Welty Garden.

MDAH Board of Trustees Teleconference Meeting
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At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, the MDAH Board of Trustees will hold a teleconference meeting in the William F.