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The Mississippi Historical Society held its annual meeting March 6-7 in Jackson to honor its 2025 award winners, including presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Frank Figgers, a lifelong civil rights and community activist.

Awards were also given for Book of the Year, Journal of Mississippi History Article of the Year, and Teacher of the Year at the gathering that drew nearly 200 people to the Two Mississippi Museums.

Figgers was active in the Civil Rights Movement while a student at Lanier High School and Tougaloo College. Later at Jackson State University, Figgers preserved stories of civil rights activism through oral histories, and he led the interpretation and preservation of M.W. Stringer Lodge, which housed the office of Medgar Evers. The lodge also was the site of numerous significant events during the movement, including the convention of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.

Wright Thompson, senior writer for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine, received the Book of the Year Award for The Barn: A Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi. The book examines the death of Emmett Till in 1955 and provides a wide social, political, and cultural context for understanding the role of place in history.

Eve Wade, a history teacher in Chicago, received the Journal of Mississippi History Article of the Year Award for “Look for Me in the Spring: Migration Clubs and the Black Metropolis,” which examines the movement of African Americans from Mississippi to Chicago in the early twentieth century.

Christina Thomas of Johns Hopkins University won the Outstanding Dissertation Award for What Shall We Teach Our Students Who Are Black?: The Intellectual Biography of Geraldine L. Wilson. Jerra Runnels of the University of Southern Mississippi won the Outstanding Thesis Award for “Black Women in Hattiesburg During World War II."

The Outstanding Local Historical Society Award was presented to the Pass Christian Historical Society. The Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Carlous Smith of Florence Middle School.

Awards of Merit were presented to the Black History Gallery for preserving the history of the Civil Rights Movement in McComb; Bridging Winona for commemorating the life of Fannie Lou Hamer; Catherine C. Myers for compiling a book on the history of Pass Christian; the City of Ridgeland for creating the Ridgeland History Trail as part of the city’s celebration of 125 years; Eddie and Frank Thomas for compiling the book, Miss Lyla’s Papers: A Posthumous History of Iuka, Mississippi; Jackson State University president Marcus L. Thompson for his leadership on historic preservation at the school; DeeDee Baldwin for researching and creating a website, Against All Odds, about the first African American legislators in Mississippi during Reconstruction; the Dr. Jane Ellen McAllister House Foundation for organizing a symposium on the 125th birthday of McAllister of Vicksburg, who was the first African American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in education; the Lafayette Community Remembrance Project for its memorialization work around historical racial injustice; the Laurel Black History Project for its work to expand knowledge about the history of Laurel’s Black community; Mississippi Heritage Trust for its work collecting, documenting, and preserving Freedom Houses; the Monroe County Rosenwald Schools Initiative for its work to preserve the story of Rosenwald Schools; the Neshoba Youth Coalition for commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of Freedom Summer; and the Simpson County Bicentennial Executive Committee and Simpson County Historical and Genealogical Society for organizing the celebration of the bicentennial of Simpson County.

Rebecca Tuuri, associate history professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, completed her term as president of the society and welcomed the new president, Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez. Keena Graham, superintendent of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, was elected vice president. New board members are Richard Damms, Mississippi State University-Meridian; Mandy Hornsby, City of Biloxi; Kristi Melancon, Mississippi College; John Spann, Mississippi Humanities Council; Stefanie Taylor, Alcorn State University; and Al Wheat, Mississippi Department of Education.  

The Mississippi Historical Society, founded in 1858, encourages outstanding work in interpreting, teaching, and preserving Mississippi history. Membership is open to anyone.  Benefits include receiving the Journal of Mississippi History, the Mississippi History Newsletter, and discounts at the Mississippi Museum Store. For information on becoming a member, visit www.mississippihistory.org. 

Robert George Clark, Jr, died on Tuesday, March 4. He became the first African American elected to the Mississippi Legislature since Reconstruction, serving from 1967 to 2003 and rising to the rank of Speaker Pro Tempore in the Mississippi House. Speaker Clark was a longstanding supporter of the Mississippi Department and Archive and History’s (MDAH) work, specifically the creation of the Two Mississippi Museums.

“We’re honored to hold the Robert George Clark, Jr., Collection at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Along with his historic election win in 1967, Representative Clark is remembered for his support of education initiatives in our state and as an advocate for MDAH’s work to share and preserve Mississippi’s authentic stories. His life’s work has left an indelible impact for future generations,” said Katie Blount, director of MDAH.

Born in Ebenezer, Mississippi, Clark was chairman of the Education Committee when the Education Reform Act of 1982 was passed. His other leadership roles included chairman of the Ethics Committee and vice chairman of the Apportionment and Elections Committee. Clark earned scholarships to attend Jackson State College (now Jackson State University) and graduated in 1952. When Clark decided to seek election to the legislature as an independent from Holmes County in 1967, he received support from the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, and his win was one of the results of a longstanding voter registration effort in the county. Clark narrowly defeated the White incumbent J.P. Love.

Clark also served on the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum Advisory Commission since its formation and he participated in the 2015 MDAH documentary ”50 Years and Forward: The Voting Rights Act and Mississippi,” co-produced with the University of Mississippi. Clark and his wife, Joanne, were frequent attendees of department programs, and in 2017, we were honored to celebrate Clark in the historic House Chamber of the Old Capitol Museum. The event featured leaders of both political parties in the state, a testament to Clark's bipartisan agility.

To honor the legacy of the late Gov. William Winter, the Two Mississippi Museums will offer free admission to the public on Friday, Feb. 21. The free admission is made possible by Jones Walker LLP, which acquired Watkins, Ludlam, Winter and Stennis, where Governor Winter worked for over 50 years.  

"We are honored to acknowledge the contributions of Governor and First Lady Winter by facilitating access to the Two Mississippi Museums," stated Bill Hines, managing partner of Jones Walker LLP. "We trust visitors will come away with an understanding of their passion for Mississippi's history and their dedication to educating future generations." 

Known for his staunch support for public education in Mississippi, Winter helped raise endowment funds to bring Mississippi’s school children to the Two Mississippi Museums—the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. 

The Two Mississippi Museums stand at the intersection of Winter’s greatest passions — history, education, and racial justice. He was a leading force behind the public/private partnerships that created the site’s conception and eventual construction. He once said the museums “were built for all of us, but most especially they were built for our children and our grandchildren and future generations.” 

Winter served on the MDAH Board of Trustees for more than 50 years and was president for nearly that long. He died Dec.18, 2020, at the age of 97. Elise Winter, his wife of 70 years who was a community activist and author, died just six months after her husband on July 17, 2021.  

The Foundation for Mississippi History established The William and Elise Winter Education Endowment to memorialize Mississippi’s former governor and first lady and their commitment to education and preservation. Funds are used to defray costs such as admission, travel, and on-site lunches for students.  

For more information, email info@mdah.ms.gov or call 601-576-6850. To learn more about school field trips to the Two Mississippi Museums or to make a field trip reservation visit https://2mm.mdah.ms.gov/learn/field-trips.

A new exhibit – Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers, Photographs by Melody Golding – opens at the Two Mississippi Museums on March 8. The exhibit opening is the first in a slate of programming marking the 20th anniversary of the devastating storm. 

The exhibit tells the story of Mississippians’ resilience in the aftermath of the catastrophic storm through photographs by Golding, a photographer, author, and artist from Vicksburg. The exhibit also features Hurricane Katrina-related artifacts from the MDAH collection. The free exhibit will be on display March 8 through Nov. 7. HORNE, a Ridgeland-based professional services firm, is the title sponsor of the exhibit. 

“At least 238 Mississippians died as Hurricane Katrina made its way through Mississippi 20 years ago, and it caused more than $125 billion in damage to the state," said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. "This exhibit explores Hurricane Katrina through the lens of Mississippians. It allows us to reflect on the immediate and long-term effects of the storm, which is the most devastating natural disaster in Mississippi history.” 

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in American history after making landfall on the Mississippi-Louisiana coastal border Aug. 29, 2005. The storm’s 125-mph winds and 30-foot storm surge left a swath of devastation – lives lost, families displaced, homes and businesses submerged or destroyed.  

Although the world was captivated by stories emerging from New Orleans and the Louisiana coastline, Mississippi’s plight was barely mentioned by national and international media. Golding, who initially traveled to the Gulf Coast as a Red Cross volunteer to deliver water and MREs to storm victims, soon recognized the urgent need to document the state’s unique and tragic story. She pulled out her cameras and began capturing not only the hurricane’s physical devastation but also the resilience of the people forced to rebuild their lives.  

“These photographs are the result of my journeys to the Mississippi Gulf Coast shortly after Hurricane Katrina came ashore in August 2005. They are my personal witness to the events of this sweeping and non-discriminating catastrophe,” said Golding. 

 
Golding’s prior documentary exhibit, Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember, was acquired by The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History Archives Center. Her book of the same name was published by the University Press of Mississippi. All royalties from book sales go to artists who were impacted by the storm.  

Golding’s accolades include the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Chair’s Award for Special Achievements in the Humanities for her contributions to the public humanities in her body of work related to Hurricane Katrina. This work was featured and published by the Royal Photographic Society Awards Journal in Bristol, England. 

Additional Hurricane Katrina-related programming at the Two Mississippi Museums includes gallery talks, school programs, special panel discussions, and personal stories of Mississippians. Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers was created by the curatorial staff at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in partnership with Melody Golding. 

HORNE has been a supporter of the Two Mississippi Museums since 2017. The firm also played an integral role in managing Katrina recovery by overseeing federal disaster relief funds and ensuring compliance with funding requirements.  

“Sponsoring this exhibit is an honor,” said Rusty Butcher, CEO and managing partner of HORNE. “Hurricane Katrina changed the landscape of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mississippi businesses, and the lives of nearly every Mississippian, including everyone at HORNE. We remain proud to be a part of the long-term recovery efforts and proud of the lessons learned and skills gained. Mississippians who were impacted are now able to help people throughout the country as they recover from natural disasters.” 

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. Admission to the museums is free every Sunday. The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North St. in Jackson. Free parking can be found alongside North Street or in the visitor garage of the Two Mississippi Museums on Jefferson Street. 

For more information, contact 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

Country and rock singer and “American Idol” finalist Colin Stough will headline the 2025 Mississippi Makers Fest – a free music, food, and arts festival sponsored by Nissan. The annual event will take place at the Two Mississippi Museums on the Entergy Plaza in downtown Jackson on Saturday, May 10.  

Stough, whose sound is a distinctive mix of Southern rock distortion and pure-country style, will share the stage with American folk rock band HAPPY LANDING, blues artist Jamell Richardson, and bluegrass band The BTJ Trio. All four acts are Mississippi natives. 

More than 50 vendors and food trucks will set up outside the Two Mississippi Museums during the festival dedicated to celebrating Mississippi’s creativity in its finest forms. Handcrafted pottery, paintings, handmade woodwork, jewelry, and more will be sold by local vendors. At Mini Makers, located inside the Two Mississippi Museums, children will create make-and-take crafts, among other activities.   

"Nissan is a proud supporter of Mississippi Makers Fest, bringing friends and neighbors together to celebrate the immense creativity of the Magnolia state,” said Chandra Vassar, chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer for Nissan Americas and president of the Nissan Foundation. “Supporting artists and creators helps foster community, bolster innovation and encourage empathy, creating a world where everyone feels that they belong. In collaboration with the Two Mississippi Museums that share our values, we’re honored to give back to Mississippians that have given us so much during the more than 20 years we’ve been manufacturing in the state." 

“We are grateful to have Nissan as the title sponsor again for the 2025 Mississippi Makers Fest,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. “Nissan’s continued support provides free admission that day and an incredible musical lineup, creating a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience mouth-watering food and original art from vendors all over the state.” 

Other sponsors include Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, AT&T, The Foundation for Mississippi History, StateStreetGroup, Mississippi Arts Commission, Visit Mississippi, and Lucid Ink Printing.  

Blankets and one collapsible lawn chair per person are allowed. Only clear bags will be allowed, including purses, fanny packs, diaper bags, and all other bags.   

Interested vendors should visit 2025 Mississippi Makers Fest for application information. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov. Follow us at @msmakersfest for updates.  

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has announced the 2025 Mississippi Historic Site Preservation Grant program (MHSPG) grantees.

In 2021, the Mississippi Legislature authorized the creation of the MHSPG program to acquire sites related to Civil War battles, Native American archaeology, and civil rights history. The funding supports the preservation of endangered and historically significant properties.

“The MHSPG program assists applicants with the acquisition of eligible properties,” said Barry White, director of the Historic Preservation division at MDAH. “Ultimately, preservation of these sites ensures our state’s history is told to future generations.”

Eligible properties must be listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or the published 1993 Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields or identified as nationally significant in a National Park Service Special Resource Study.

The 2025 grants were awarded for the following projects:

• Chickasaw Bayou, Warren County, American Battlefield Trust - $278,250. There are five proposed grants for properties in the Core and Study Areas of the Chickasaw Bayou battlefield. These are the Curry, Creekmore, Dunham, Tarver, and 4 J Properties tracts.
   
• Mills Tract, Alcorn County, American Battlefield Trust - $14,500. This tract is within the Core Area of the Corinth battlefield.

Funds in the MHSPG program are used to defray costs for land acquisition to protect historic properties. A one-to-one match is required.

A receiving property may have significance in more than one area, such as a battlefield with a recorded archaeological site within its boundaries, which is considered in scoring applications.

For more information, call 601-576-6941, or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum (MCRM) has been nominated – for the second consecutive time – for the Best History Museum in the United States in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.  

Voting begins on Monday, Jan. 13, at noon EST and ends on Monday, Feb. 10, at 11:59 a.m. EST. The top 10 winners, as ranked by USA TODAY 10Best readers, will be announced on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at noon EST. Readers can vote here. 

“We are honored that the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum has been nominated again in the category of Best History Museum,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums – The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. “This recognition comes from the collective efforts of staff and visitors to elevate this museum among top institutions in the country.” 

Visitors to MCRM are greeted with a timeline of African American history in Mississippi before moving to interactive exhibits that chronicle the events of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement from World War II through 1975. 

The museum also embraces complex stories of Mississippians like Medgar Evers, James Meredith, Fannie Lou Hamer, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, and Vernon Dahmer with unflinching academic rigor, engaging visitors through historic records, artifacts, impactful programming, curated exhibits, and archival photographs and footage.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opened in tandem with the Museum of Mississippi History on Dec. 9, 2017, in celebration of the state's bicentennial and is administered by MDAH. 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 the inhabitants of its land. 

For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.  
 

FedEx will sponsor free admission to the Two Mississippi Museums during an extended observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Jan. 18-21.

The holiday weekend events include the MLK Night of Culture on Monday, Jan. 20, at 6 p.m. in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium, with a theme inspired by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Other activities during the free weekend at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History include themed crafts, student performances, museum tours on voting rights, and gallery talks from Freedom Rider Hezekiah Watkins. Additionally, staff from the Elections division of the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office will be on-site for voter registration.

“We are grateful to FedEx for their continued support of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which administers the Two Mississippi Museums. “Welcoming the public as guests of FedEx allows more people to experience the rich, historical stories in the museum and honor this important holiday.”

Having sponsored free admission on MLK Weekend for six consecutive years, FedEx generously extended the 2025 celebration to include Tuesday, Jan. 21, a day designated as National Day of Racial Healing.

“At FedEx, we believe that every person deserves a chance to access opportunities that lead to success in work and life,” said Rose Jackson Flenorl, Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity. “Dr. King dreamed this vision and we are proud to continue supporting the Two Mississippi Museums and their efforts to help visitors connect with Dr. King’s legacy.”

The MLK Night of Culture features local artists performing original pieces. The program is hosted by Vicksburg native Alexis Noble, owner of Vibe Studio Jxn and curator of The Mash Up, an online platform for Mississippi artists. 2025 Night of Culture artists and performers include:

The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians will be closed Monday, December 30, due to a power outage. It will close at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, and remain closed on Wednesday, Jan. 1.