News

The Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum are partnering with the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mississippi Veterans Affairs, and Mississippi War Veterans Memorial Commission to honor Mississippians who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 10, on the Entergy Mississippi Plaza in front of the Two Mississippi Museums.

“Mississippi’s extraordinary record of military service is one of the most inspiring stories that we share in the Two Mississippi Museums,” said MDAH director Katie Blount. “We are pleased to join with our military service organizations to pay special tribute to all the many Mississippians who have served our country.” 

The program will include a performance by the 41st Army Band, recognition of Veterans Day by Sergeant First Class (Retired) Max Fenn—Chairman of Mississippi Veterans Affairs and tribute to fallen heroes by Major General Janson D. Boyles—the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard. A memorial volley and wreath laying will follow. The museums are offering free admission to those currently serving in the military, Veterans, and a family member of a Veteran on November 10.

The museums are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The museums open free of charge on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free parking is available in the Two Mississippi Museums parking garage, located behind the museums on Jefferson Street. 

Web Heidelberg retired from the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) during its regular meeting in Natchez on Friday, October 21, 2022. Arnold “TJ” Taylor of Madison was elected to the board during the meeting to fill the unexpired term of Edmond Hughes, who stepped down earlier this year. Taylor’s nomination will be submitted to the Mississippi Senate for confirmation.

Heidelberg served on the MDAH Board of Trustees for twelve years. He has been an active leader in preservation, serving on the boards of the Mississippi Heritage Trust and the Mississippi Historical Society. Heidelberg served as the president of the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association in 2011, and has served on the National Register of Historic Places Review Board since 2012. He was involved in the restoration of several properties in the Hattiesburg community, including Saenger Theater and the Forrest County Courthouse.

“Web’s continued dedication to preserving our state’s historic resources is both remarkable and unwavering,” said MDAH director Katie Blount. “He and his wife, Michelle, will be greatly missed by his board colleagues and the MDAH staff.”

TJ Taylor is executive director of the Mississippi Cable Telecommunications Association. He formerly served as counsel, policy advisor, and policy director for House Speaker Philip Gunn. In 2020, Speaker Gunn appointed Taylor to the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag.

“TJ has a strong interest in our state’s history, and has even made history as a member of the Flag Commission,” said MDAH board president Spence Flatgard. “He is highly regarded by our state’s leadership, and I am thrilled he has agreed to join our Board.”

Taylor earned his juris doctorate from the Mississippi College School of Law and is a member of the Mississippi Bar. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Historical Society.

Members of the MDAH board serve six-year terms and must be confirmed by the state senate. Other members of the board of trustees of the Department of Archives and History are Hilda Cope Povall of Cleveland, vice president; Carter Burns of Natchez; Kimberly Campbell of Madison; Nancy Carpenter of Columbus; Betsey Hamilton of New Albany; and Mark Keenum of Starkville.

The board also reviewed plans for MDAH sites in Natchez—the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Historic Jefferson College. MDAH will renovate and expand the visitors center at Grand Village, working closely with Tribal partners and the Natchez community to develop new interpretation at the site.

MDAH will restore the buildings at Historic Jefferson College and create an interpretive center sharing the nationally significant history of the Natchez region. MDAH is working with the Historic Natchez Foundation, National Park Service, Mississippi State University, Tulane University, and other colleges in the region to develop a historic preservation field school at the site. The field school will offer hands-on training in preservation skills that are in high demand.

The Mississippi Legislature has provided $8 million for the MDAH sites in Natchez, and the department is seeking additional funding from federal, local, and private sources.

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

Photo courtesy of TJ Taylor. 

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The Old Capitol Museum will reopen on Wednesday, October 5, with new hours—10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. The National Historic Landmark was closed for repair of long-standing problems with the building’s roof and dome. Admission is free.

"The Old Capitol is the most historically significant building in the state," said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. "We are pleased to reopen and welcome back visitors."

Parking is available on the lower lot accessible from Amite Street. Limited handicapped parking is available on the upper lot. Due to construction at the War Memorial Building, a portion of the lot will remain fenced off.

The Old Capitol Museum is also available for event rental such as weddings, receptions, ceremonies, and lectures. More information about reserving space is available at https://www.mdah.ms.gov/event-rentals/old-capitol-museum, or email eventrentals@mdah.ms.gov.

The Old Capitol is home to a museum exploring the history of the site when it was the seat of Mississippi government from 1839 to 1903. The 180-year-old building is one of the country’s premier examples of Greek Revival public architecture. The massive limestone exterior, copper dome, and grand interior spaces made the Old Capitol at one time the most distinguished building in Mississippi.

The building was the site of some of the state’s most significant legislative actions, such as the passage of the 1839 Married Women’s Property Act, Mississippi’s secession from the Union in 1861, and the crafting of the 1868 and 1890 state constitutions.

For more information call 601-576-6920 or email info@oldcapitolmuseum.com.
 

Change the Pattern is supporting free admission to the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on Saturday, October 1. Admission to the Two Mississippi Museums is free every Sunday. 

“We are grateful to Change the Pattern for their generous support which allows free admission to all visitors for all exhibits,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Change the Pattern is an initiative of the National AIDS Memorial and Southern AIDS Coalition, in partnership with Gilead Sciences to bring displays of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to twelve Southern states. The program will raise awareness about health disparities and social justice issues that continue to disproportionately impact communities of color. 

Museum hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum—Two Mississippi Museums—are located at 222 North Street in Jackson. For more information visit the MDAH Facebook page or email info@mdah.ms.gov.  

The Wikipedia Edit-a-thon scheduled for September 23 has been cancelled. MDAH will work with the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative to reschedule this program.

To learn about all MDAH programs, please subscribe to our Weekly Update. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

US Country 96 and MDAH have collaborated to host Women in Country Music: Songs and Conversation at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, at the Two Mississippi Museums. This event is free and open to the public.

“Country music is about stories,” said Traci Lee, program director of US Country 96. “I'm so excited that we're part of an event that gives the women in our industry an opportunity to tell the stories that make them who they are and shape our format.”

Inspired by The World of Marty Stuart special exhibit, this event will celebrate country music and spotlight female country music performers, creating a conversation about identity, musical influences, and the next steps in the future of country music.

The event will feature a panel discussion moderated by Traci Lee and acoustic performances from country performers Hannah Everhart—an up-and-coming country music artist inspired by souls and blues music and nicknamed “The Country Katy Perry” on American Idol—the sibling trio Track45—Jenna, Ben, and KK Johnson—who have songwriting credits from Justin Timberlake, Charlie Puth, Dierks Bentley, Weezer, Lee Brice, HARDY, and Lauren Alaina.

The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North Street in downtown Jackson. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

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The Two Mississippi Museums, Eudora Welty House & Garden, and the archives library will be closed Tuesday, August 30, 2022, due to the low water pressure in Jackson.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for updates. Visit www.mdah.ms.gov/explore-mississippi for more information about our one-of-a-kind museums, historical sites and cultural attractions throughout the state. Learn more about researching at archives here.

MDAH offices, archives library, and Grand Village of the Natchez Indians will be closed Monday, September 5, in observance of Labor Day.

Visit www.mdah.ms.gov/explore-mississippi for more information about our one-of-a-kind museums, historical sites and cultural attractions throughout the state. Learn more about researching at archives here.

The Mississippi Historical Society is pleased to announce a call for individual papers and complete panels on topics related to the study of Mississippi history for presentation at its annual meeting March 2-3, 2023, in Jackson, Mississippi.

“Mississippi’s history is full of compelling stories,” said Mississippi Historical Society (MHS) president Daphne Chamberlain. "Our annual meeting provides a space for us to appreciate the diverse contributors to our history and its preservation. From teachers to public historians and archivists, our community benefits from the various investments that have made our history so vibrant and accessible."

Founded in 1858, MHS proudly 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 practices—archival, teaching faculty, and public historians. MHS values the ongoing work of educators across the state and would welcome proposals from elementary and secondary teachers offering unique deliveries of 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, and social history. MHS encourages interactive presentations that engage our participants’ interest and knowledge of Mississippi’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, October 7, 2022. Please send directly to mhs@mdah.ms.gov. For more information visit the Mississippi Historical Society website at www.mississippihistory.org.

Isabel Wilkerson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, will deliver the Medgar Wiley Evers Lecture on Thursday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Galloway United Methodist Church in Jackson. The event will be hosted in partnership with the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) as part of their joint year-long initiative to expand understanding of the Great Migration and its impact on Mississippi and the nation. The event is free to the public, and registration is required. 

“We are honored to have Isabel Wilkerson give this fall’s Medgar Wiley Evers Lecture,” said MDAH director Katie Blount. “Her examination of the Great Migration and its impact nationally, and on Mississippi, will be the culmination of our shared initiative with the Mississippi Museum of Art to examine this pivotal moment through history and art.”

Wilkerson is author of critically acclaimed New York Times bestsellers The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. She won the Pulitzer Prize for her “deeply humane narrative writing” while serving as Chicago Bureau Chief of The New York Times in 1994, making her the first Black woman in the history of American journalism to win a Pulitzer Prize and the first African American to win for individual reporting. In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded Wilkerson the National Humanities Medal for "championing the stories of an unsung history."

The event is free to the public, and book sales will follow. Registration is required. Reserve now at msmuseumart.org/rsvp/.

MMA’s partnership on this lecture is a part of closing weekend for their exhibit, A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of The Great Migration. MMA will host other events such as "Two Wings: The Music of Black America in Migration" and a final gallery talk with Leslie Hewitt.

The Medgar Wiley Evers Lecture Series was established in 2003 to honor the legacy of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, one year after Myrlie Evers made an extraordinary gift to the people of Mississippi when she presented the Medgar and Myrlie Evers papers to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). Previous Evers lecturers include Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Lonnie Bunch, Henry Louis Gates, Robert P. Moses, and Manning Marable.

In 2014, the Kellogg Foundation awarded $2.3 million to MDAH to support programming at the Two Mississippi Museums and fund a partnership between MDAH and the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute. Wilkerson’s lecture is also supported by the Mississippi Museum of Art and The Chisholm Foundation. The event will be held at Galloway United Methodist Church, located at 305 North Congress Street in Jackson. For more information, call 601-576-6850. To register, go to msmuseumart.org/rsvp/.