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The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has named Sarah Campbell as the new director of the Programs and Communications (P&C) Division and Shelia Byrd as the division’s new deputy director. P&C focuses on programming, education, public relations, and marketing for the department.

“Sarah and Shelia bring strong backgrounds in writing, editing, and public engagement to the department,” said Katie Blount, MDAH director. “The P&C division will continue to thrive under their leadership.”

Campbell has more than two decades of experience working in communications and is the author and photo illustrator of four award-winning picture books for children. Her journalism degrees are from Northwestern University, and she has a degree in politics, philosophy, and economics from Oxford University, which she attended as Mississippi’s first female Rhodes Scholar.

In 2019, Campbell came to MDAH as director of programs and publications. After implementing a department-wide programming plan, she was promoted to P&C deputy director in 2023. In this role, she led the effort to contract with a national firm to elevate the agency’s marketing and public relations. Campbell also secured a major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to enhance efforts to tell the stories of religion in Mississippi history.

“Stepping into this role is both an honor and an opportunity,” Campbell said. “I’m eager to work alongside our dedicated team to expand the stories we share, bringing Mississippi’s rich and diverse history to an even broader audience.”

Byrd started her career as a journalist and transitioned into communications roles in the public and private sector, winning industry awards for writing and integrated communications. Byrd comes to MDAH from Mississippi Public Broadcasting, where she was communications director and a member of the PBS/NPR affiliate's executive team.

As a former Associated Press journalist, Byrd covered civil rights, government and education, and was tapped as a rotating AP national writer.

She was previously vice president for strategic communications at HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union and Hope Policy Institute) and served as vice president and managing editor at Weber Shandwick, a global public relations firm that selected her as managing editor for the General Motors Story Bureau.

“MDAH is a valuable resource for the people of Mississippi, and I am honored to be part of this team,” Byrd said.

Byrd received her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Grambling State University.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is the second-oldest state department of archives and history in the United States. The department collects, preserves, and provides access to the archival resources of the state, administers various museums and historic sites, and oversees statewide programs for historic preservation, state and local government records management, and publications. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

The Mississippi Historical Society (MHS) is pleased to announce a call for individual papers and complete panels on Mississippi history topics for its annual meeting on March 6-7, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi.

"Mississippi’s history is full of compelling stories," said MHS president Rebecca Tuuri, associate professor of history and associate dean of The University of Southern Mississippi's Honors College. "Our annual meeting provides a space for us to appreciate our diverse history. From teachers to public historians and archivists, our community benefits from all who have made our history so vibrant and accessible."

Founded in 1858, MHS embraces the contributions of scholars and laypersons interested in the study and dissemination of all aspects of Mississippi history. Undergraduate and graduate student participation is encouraged, in addition to scholarly work from professional historians in a variety of fields—archival, teaching, and public history. MHS values the ongoing work of educators across the state and welcomes proposals from elementary and secondary teachers on Mississippi history curriculum, community-engaged learning practices with local archives/libraries, or other partner-oriented learning opportunities. While all proposals are welcome, we are especially interested in topics and approaches that broaden our shared understanding of Mississippi’s culture, economy, political landscape, social history, and environmental history. MHS encourages interactive presentations that engage our participants’ interest and knowledge of the state’s history through a collaborative approach that solicits feedback.

Individual paper proposals should include a 250-word abstract of the topic, name and affiliation (institution of higher learning, school, business, government entity, museum, archive, etc.), and presenter’s contact information. Panel proposals should include a 500-word abstract that contains a brief description of each proposed topic and includes the names, affiliations, and contact information for each presenter. Proposals are due Friday, September 27, 2024. Please send directly to mhs@mdah.ms.gov. For more information visit the Mississippi Historical Society website at www.mississippihistory.org.

A free, public screening of An Ordinary Hero: The True Story of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland will be held Sunday, Aug. 11, at 2 p.m. in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium of the Two Mississippi Museums.

Mulholland’s son, Loki, directed the film about his mother’s civil rights activism. Both are scheduled to attend the screening, which is part of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s monthly Sunday Screening series.

“Joan Trumpauer Mulholland’s experience during the Mississippi Movement is something we can all learn from and be inspired by,” said Michael Morris, director of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History. “Screening this film is an opportunity reflect on her contributions and share her story with new audiences."

​In 1961, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, then 19, had participated in more than three dozen protests and was incarcerated on death row at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman after joining the Freedom Rides. Upon her release, she enrolled at the historically Black Tougaloo College, becoming the first White woman to do so.

Mulholland served as the secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was a central figure of the Woolworth Sit-in in Jackson, Mississippi. By the time she was 23, she had participated in more than 50 sit-ins and demonstrations, including the March on Washington, the Meredith March Against Fear, and the Selma to Montgomery March.

Joan Trumpauer Mulholland was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Arlington, Virginia. She worked at the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Justice Department and taught English as a second language.

In 2023, Mulholland was awarded an honorary doctorate from Tougaloo College. She is the recipient of the 2020 Simeon Booker Award for Courage, the 2019 International Civil Rights Museum Trailblazer Award, and the 2015 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award.

Loki Mulholland is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, author and activist. He is the author of “She Stood for Freedom” and “Get Back to the Counter.” His films include “An Ordinary Hero: The True Story of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland,” “Black, White & Us,” and “The Evers.”

The Two Mississippi Museums opened Dec. 9, 2017, in celebration of the state's bicentennial. Museum hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.– 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North St. in Jackson. For more information, visit the MDAH Facebook page or email info@mdah.ms.gov. 
 

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has repatriated the remains of 95 Native American Ancestors and 1,500 lots of funerary objects to the Chickasaw Nation from sites across northern Mississippi. 

“We continue to work closely with Tribal representatives and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation ACT (NAGPRA) in our commitment to the repatriation of Native American Ancestors and cultural objects currently held in the care of MDAH,” said Katie Blount, director of the state agency. “We are grateful to the Chickasaw Nation for their partnership and consultation during this important process.”

Throughout the process of repatriation, MDAH prioritizes transparency, respect, and connection to the original inhabitants of Mississippi lands. In 2021, MDAH transferred the remains of 403 Native Americans and 83 lots of burial objects to the Chickasaw Nation.

Since the 19th century, archaeological excavations have unearthed hundreds of the ancestral remains of people who once inhabited the state and whose cultures, languages and traditions continue today. The passage of NAGPRA gave Native populations the right to claim ancestors and cultural objects in the care of institutions receiving federal funds.

Amber Hood of the Chickasaw Nation said: “These ancestors are not just numbers or statistics; they are family members who were loved and grieved at the time of their death. We maintain a spiritual connection to the people that came before us. Working on NAGPRA cases takes an emotional toll, but it is up to us to advocate on their behalf. The Chickasaw Nation remains committed in our pursuit to repatriate and respectfully rebury our ancestors’ earthly remains. We appreciate that MDAH shares that same goal and has committed to their Repatriate Mississippi Initiative.”

For more information email info@mdah.ms.gov. Learn more about NAGPRA at  www.nps.gov/nagpra and nagpra.mdah.ms.gov.
 

The Nissan Foundation has named the Two Mississippi Museums—the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History—as a 2024 grant recipient.

The $50,000 grant will help fund field trips during the 2024-2025 school year, defraying costs for admission, travel, and on-site lunches for students. The gift will continue to help bring thousands of students each year from Title I schools to the Two Mississippi Museums.

“We are grateful to the Nissan Foundation for their continued support of our field trip program,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. “Students are our most important visitors. Nissan’s support creates opportunities for them to learn and interpret history free of charge at a state-of-the-art museum complex.”

“We’re honored to support the work of the Two Mississippi Museums,” said Chandra Vasser, president of the Nissan Foundation and Nissan’s first chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. “The Nissan Foundation is about building community by valuing diversity, and this field trip program from the Two Mississippi Museums brings that mission to life.”

In the 32 years since its conception, the Nissan Foundation has awarded nearly $17 million to more than 150 nonprofit organizations to support innovative programs that break down societal barriers and build inclusive communities through education and outreach. Grant recipients promote cultural diversity across a variety of arts, education, social, and public programs in seven U.S. communities where Nissan operates.

The Two Mississippi Museums opened on Dec. 9, 2017, in celebration of the state's bicentennial. Museum hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.– 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North St. in Jackson. For more information, visit the MDAH Facebook page or email info@mdah.ms.gov.  To reserve or learn more about field trips at the Two Mississippi Museums, contact Candace Williams, group tours coordinator at the Two Mississippi Museums, at cwilliams@mdah.ms.gov.

The Nissan Foundation was created in 1992 as a thoughtful response to civil unrest that occurred near Nissan North America’s then-U.S. sales and marketing operations in Southern California following the Rodney King trial verdict. Nissan established a $5 million endowment to promote cultural diversity.
 

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum has been recognized in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards for 2024. The award honors businesses that consistently earn great reviews, placing them among the top 10 percent of listings around the world on Tripadvisor.

As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners. This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, firsthand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of great places to visit.

“We are honored to be included among travelers’ favorites this year,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums – the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History. “While we’re grateful to all our visitors, this recognition also reflects the commitment of our staff, donors, and members who support our work to tell Mississippi’s stories.”

“Congratulations to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on its recognition in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2024,” said John Boris, chief growth officer at Tripadvisor. “Travelers’ Choice honors businesses that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence. This means you have made such a memorable impact on your visitors that many of them took the time to go online and leave a great review about their experience. We hope this recognition continues to drive business to you in 2024 and beyond.”

Check out all the reviews and discover more about the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum here.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opened in tandem with the Museum of Mississippi History on December 9, 2017, in celebration of the state's bicentennial. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum explores the period from 1945 to 1976, when Mississippi was ground zero for the Civil Rights Movement nationally. The Museum of Mississippi History explores the entire sweep of Mississippi’s territorial and state history and inhabitants of its land. 
The Mississippi State Legislature provides majority of the funding for the museums, with visitor fees and private donations supplementing the operation of the facilities. The Legislature also provided $90 million for construction; another 20 million was raised privately for exhibits and endowment.

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Atomic Alert!: Confronting ‘The Bomb’ in the New Atomic Age, a free traveling exhibition designed by Overland Traveling Exhibits, opens Sept. 7 at the Two Mississippi Museums and will be on display through Nov. 8. The exhibition explores the history of the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) established to prepare Americans for the perils of the new Atomic Age.

In August 1945, in the waning days of World War II, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on cities in Japan. Four years later, the Soviet Union tested its first atomic weapon, and the Cold War began. Nuclear testing made its way to Mississippi through the detonation of two nuclear devices outside of Hattiesburg. The first test, Project Salmon, occurred in October 1964 and, roughly two years later, Project Sterling followed, which used a smaller bomb in the cavity left behind by the first blast.

“The Two Mississippi Museums are excited to share this free, special exhibit,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. “We welcome the public to explore and learn about Mississippi’s role in nuclear testing during the Atomic Age.”

The exhibition puts a special focus on the educational and volunteer programs of the FCDA, which encouraged the building of bomb shelters, the establishment of neighborhood wardens, and taught children to “duck and cover.” Atomic Alert! includes a striking artistic interpretation of the impact of a nuclear blast, featuring the silhouette of a bomb roughly the size and shape of the bombs dropped in World War II.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the era with Mississippi artifacts that tell the story of the state’s response to nuclear threat, including stocking civil defense hospital supplies. Other exhibit artifacts include a Geiger counter used to detect ionizing radiation on objects at ground level and a booklet that instructed families who did not have designated shelters on how to construct a shelter within their home.

Atomic Alert!: Confronting ‘The Bomb’ in the New Atomic Age programming includes two free History Is Lunch programs on Sept. 25 and Oct. 9 and two free gallery talks on Oct. 10 and Oct. 22.

Atomic Alert! was developed, designed, built, and toured by Overland Traveling Exhibits and independent Atomic Age scholar Michael Scheibach. Founding institutions for the exhibition include the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County in Moorhead, Minnesota.

For more information, go to https://2mm.mdah.ms.gov/atomic-alert or call 601-576-6850. 

Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, the fifth democratically elected chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, has been elected to the board of trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). The action took place at the regular meeting of the MDAH Board of Trustees on Friday, July 12. His nomination will be submitted to the Mississippi State Senate for confirmation.

Chief Ben will be the first Native American and member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians elected to the MDAH Board of Trustees.

“Chief Ben brings an excellent background of public service and leadership experience,” said Spence Flatgard, MDAH Board of Trustees president. “MDAH will benefit greatly from his expertise and dedication.  We are thrilled to have him on our Board.”

A lifelong resident of the Pearl River community, Chief Ben has a 15-year record of public service and leadership to the Choctaw Tribal government, including eight years as the Tribal Council representative for the Pearl River community. He was elected as Tribal Chief in July 2019 and re-elected in 2023. He also served on the Mississippi State Flag Commission, which oversaw the selection of the new state flag that includes a symbol of native territory before statehood.

Chief Ben holds a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College and an associate’s degree from East Central Community College. 

A member of the Mississippi USA Semiquincentennial Commission that will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, Chief Ben is also a board member of the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service and serves as a delegate on the Health Resources and Services Administration Tribal Advisory Council, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity Tribal Advisory Committee.
Board nominees must be confirmed by the state Senate. Members serve six-year terms. Other members of the board of trustees are Flatgard of Ridgeland, president; Nancy Carpenter of Columbus, vice president; Reginald Buckley of Jackson; Carter Burns of Natchez; Betsey Hamilton of New Albany; Mark E. Keenum of Starkville; Lucius M. Lampton of Magnolia; and TJ Taylor of Madison. 
 

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is the second-oldest state department of archives and history in the United States. The department collects, preserves, and provides access to the archival resources of the state, administers various museums and historic sites, and oversees statewide programs for historic preservation, state and local government records management, and publications.  For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.  
 

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has named Sara Nordin the new director of the Eudora Welty House & Garden (EWHG) in Jackson, Mississippi. The EWHG museum is the home of acclaimed author Eudora Welty, who wrote numerous award-winning fiction and essays. The EWHG opened to the public in 2006 and has drawn visitors throughout the state and across the world.

“The Eudora Welty House & Garden is an important part of our literary history that has spoken to many people. I look forward to building its success,” said Nordin.

Nordin earned her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University, where she studied art history and design. Her career has included roles in high-end hospitality management at the historic Roosevelt New Orleans hotel and cultural education and programming at the Kentuck Knob, a Frank Lloyd Wright house museum.

In 2023, Nordin began her career at MDAH as the director of visitor experiences at the Two Mississippi Museums. She supervised front desk operations, coordinated volunteers and group tours, and spearheaded strategic enhancement of visitor engagement.

“I am looking forward to the great work Sara will continue at the Eudora Welty House & Garden,” said Cindy Gardner, division director, MDAH Museum Division. “She brings a strong background in visitor engagement development, so I have no doubt that the site will continue to thrive under her capable leadership.” 
 
Located at 1119 Pinehurst St. in Jackson, the EWHG Visitor Center is free and open to the public Tuesday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Parking can be found alongside 1109 Pinehurst St. To book a tour or for more information, call 601-353-7762, visit