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FedEx will sponsor free admission to the Two Mississippi Museums during an extended observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Jan. 17-20. Events include the MLK Night of Culture and National Day of Racial Healing programs.

The annual observance invites visitors to learn more about King’s legacy and Mississippi’s pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement through education, performance, and dialogue.

“We are grateful to FedEx for its continued support of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. “This weekend offers meaningful opportunities for reflection, learning, and community engagement.”

FedEx has sponsored the weekend for seven consecutive years. This is the second year FedEx has generously extended the celebration to include Tuesday, Jan. 20, a day designated as National Day of Racial Healing.

“At FedEx, we are guided by the belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to thrive in work and life,” said Rose Jackson Flenorl, manager of Equality, Opportunity, and Diversity. “This conviction echoes Dr. King’s powerful vision and affirms our ongoing commitment to the Two Mississippi Museums.”

King’s ties to Mississippi include his support of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party during Freedom Summer in 1964 and his participation in the March Against Fear in 1966, which concluded in Jackson.

“The MLK Celebration provides an important opportunity to reflect on Mississippi’s place in our nation’s history,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which administers the Two Mississippi Museums. “Support from FedEx helps ensure these stories remain accessible as we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.”

The MLK Night of Culture will feature the theatrical production, A Carefully Calculated Murder, on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium. The 45-minute performance by Meridian High School students is based on the true story of the June 1964 Neshoba County murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman. 

The evening’s emcee is Amanda Furdge, a Mississippi-based writer, poet, and community organizer. 

The 2026 National Day of Racial Healing will be observed Tuesday, Jan. 20, with a panel discussion on faith and philanthropy, honoring activists Rims and Judy Barber. The program begins at 11 a.m. in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium, with free lunch provided by the Foundation for the Mid South.

Later that day, a reception will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums, offering space for attendees to share stories and reflections on the Barbers’ legacy. 

Rims Barber, a Presbyterian minister from Iowa, came to Mississippi in 1964 as a Freedom Summer volunteer and went on to play a significant role in civil rights, community organizing, and public policy efforts across the state. His work included service with the Delta Ministry, support of the Freedom City project in Greenville, assistance with redistricting lawsuits, and leadership with the Children’s Defense Fund. He and his wife continue to live in Jackson and remain engaged in community advocacy.

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The Two Mississippi Museums opened Dec. 9, 2017, in celebration of Mississippi’s bicentennial. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

The 2025 Mississippi listings in the National Register of Historic Places include Provine Chapel at Mississippi College, the home of a lauded quiltmaker in Jefferson County and five historic districts across the state. In all, 15 properties were listed in the National Register this year.

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of historic resources worthy of preservation. Mississippi has 1,534 listings in the National Register. Most of the listings in the National Register are buildings, but other historic resources which have been listed are historic districts, objects, sites, and structures.

The Mississippi National Register Review Board, administered by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, reviews and makes comments on any changes needed to be made to the nominations. The approved nominations are forwarded to the National Park Service, which makes the final determination to list the resource.

These historic resources tell Mississippi’s stories. For example, the Hystercine Rankin House near Lorman was shared by the award-winning quiltmaker and her husband, Ezekiel. The John R. Lynch Street Civil Rights Historic District, comprised of a few buildings on the campus of Jackson State University, was a hub for civil rights activism in the 1960s. The J. W. Randolph School, a Rosenwald school in Pass Christian, survived Katrina, and has been restored to its 1927 appearance. Rosenwald Schools were funded by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to advance education for African American children in the segregated South.

The following is the full list of the 2025 Mississippi sites and the chronological order in which they were listed in the National Register:

• John R. Lynch Street Civil Rights Historic District, Jackson, Hinds County, Jan. 16 – The district was a hub for the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s, with an inventory including the building which housed the state office of the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO), and the M. W. Stringer Grand Lodge, where Medgar Evers’s office was located and where Freedom Summer 1964 was organized and executed. 
   
• Whitehead & Lloyd Motor Company, Jackson, Hinds County, Jan. 22 – The automobile dealership was constructed in 1945 and designed by Jackson-based architect Edgar Lucian Malvaney in the Art Moderne style meant to symbolize that the car industry and the country were entering a new modern era. The building is the only dealership from the “automobile row” of dealerships on State Street that retains its historic integrity.
   
• Holly Bluff on the Jourdan Historic District, Bay St. Louis vicinity, Hancock County, Jan. 30 – The historic district is significant for its landscape designed gardens, meant for public recreation and touring. In addition, the district is significant for its excellent grouping of Rustic-styled buildings, containing a lodge and cottage. The picturesque placement of the gardens by the Jordan River made this a well-traveled public garden along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
   
• Tupelo Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase I) Tupelo, Lee County, Jan. 30 – This boundary increase expands the original district, listed in the National Register in 2014, to the railroad tracks. The area has commercial and industrial buildings that were built from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. 
   
• J. W. Randolph School, Pass Christian, Harrison County, Feb. 19 – The Colonial Revival building was constructed in 1927 as a Rosenwald school. Originally named the Harrison County Training School, the school was the only public high school for black students in Pass Christian in 1939. In that same year, it was renamed in honor of J. W. Randolph, a former Mississippi House of Representatives member, and a prominent African American schoolteacher in Pass Christian. The school survived Katrina’s destruction in 2005 and was restored to its 1927 appearance.
   
• Walker High School, Oakland vicinity, Yalobusha County, March 3 – Constructed in 1954, and designed by Edgar Lucian Malvaney, this Equalization school is where many African American children were taught until desegregation in 1970. The consolidation which followed caused the school to lose numbers until it closed permanently in 1999. 
   
• Holmesville Historic District, Holmesville, Pike County, March 13 – Established in 1816, Holmesville served as the first county seat for Pike County, along with having a Shelbyville Square-designed street grid system, which was common in Mississippi during this time period. Holmesville would remain the county seat and a bustling area until 1873, when the county seat was moved to Magnolia by act of the state Legislature.
   
• Raymond House, Verona, Lee County, April 1 – Also known as the Verona Heritage House, this is a rare surviving example of a single dwelling cottage built in the antebellum Gothic Revival style in Verona. The house is the oldest surviving residence in Verona and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the town.
   

• Evans House and Barn, Laurel vicinity, Jones County, June 10 – The house and barn are the remaining elements of an early homestead, dating back to the second half of the 19th century. Though the house has undergone multiple remodels (including necessary repairs after Hurricane Camille in 1969), it still retains its core elements, such as the house’s I-house form and the barn’s original crib. 
   

• J. W. Crawford and Co. General Store, Hickory Flat, Benton County, June 18 – Constructed in 1913, the store is a highly intact example of an early 20th century country store. Such stores were once common but have been slowly disappearing from the architectural landscape of Mississippi. 
• Greater Biloxi Subdivision Historic District, Biloxi, Harrison County, Sept. 18 – Constructed between c. 1949 and c.1969, the subdivision was designed to serve as a place of residence for World War II veterans returning home. The district primarily contains single dwellings, but includes a former church, a few apartment complexes, and a commercial business building. The subdivision is one of the largest and most intact examples of a post-World War II residential subdivision in Biloxi.
   
• Mitchell & McLendon General Merchants, Enid, Tallahatchie County, Sept. 23 – Constructed c. 1910, the former store served as the commercial and social center of the Town of Enid during the early 20th century, and the building embodies the distinctive characteristics of commercial architecture of the early 20th century. Much like the J. W. Crawford store, this store represents a dwindling historic resource type in rural Mississippi.
   
• Hystercine Rankin House, Lorman vicinity, Jefferson County, Sept. 25 – The vernacular bungalow house was owned by renowned quilter Hystercine Rankin and her husband, Ezekiel. 
   
• Easom High School, Corinth, Alcorn County, Oct. 30 – The original building on the school campus was constructed in 1954 and received additional buildings until c. 1966. Built around the same time as the Walker High School, Easom was an Equalization school, being the only public high school for African American students in several northeastern Mississippi counties. The school received black students from Iuka, Tishomingo County. All the buildings on campus were designed by Barton A. England, Jr., an Alabama-born architect who worked under E. L. Malvaney, and established an architecture firm in Corinth, Mississippi.
   
• Provine Chapel, Clinton, Hinds County, Nov. 21 – Constructed in 1860, the temple form Greek Revival-style Provine Chapel is on Mississippi College campus. Having been constructed during the early days of Mississippi College, Provine Chapel has been at the center of campus life. The chapel served the students as an educational facility and served the city of Clinton as a Baptist church until 1923, when First Baptist Church of Clinton was built across the street from the campus.

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Photos

Provine Chapel, Clinton, Hinds County

Hystercine Rankin House, Lorman vicinity, Jefferson County

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees has selected Barry White, longtime preservation leader and current director of the agency’s Historic Preservation Division, as the next director of MDAH. White will succeed outgoing director Katie Blount on July 1, 2026.

White has spent more than a decade working across programs that identify, document, and preserve Mississippi’s historic places. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in applied anthropology with a focus on historic preservation from Mississippi State University. During his tenure, he has overseen major preservation initiatives, administered statewide grant programs, supported communities through the Certified Local Government program, and built partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies.

“It is an honor to be selected to lead an agency with such a vital mission,” White said. “The work of MDAH is rooted in service – preserving the stories, places, and records that define Mississippi. I look forward to supporting the talented staff across the department and building on the strong foundation that has been laid.”

White will begin transitioning into his new role in early 2026 to ensure a smooth handoff of responsibilities.

“Katie Blount’s leadership has strengthened this agency in profound and lasting ways, and Barry is the right person to lead MDAH into our next chapter,” said Spence Flatgard, president of the MDAH Board of Trustees. “His experience, integrity, and relationships across the state give him a deep understanding of both our mission and our partners who help carry us forward.”

White began his career at MDAH as a local government assistance coordinator before serving as liaison for MDAH and the Mississippi Department of Transportation and deputy director of the Historic Preservation Division. He became division director in 2020. In this role, he has administered programs including the National Register of Historic Places, the Mississippi Landmark program, the Historical Marker Program, and preservation grant initiatives that have helped communities rehabilitate historic courthouses, schools, and significant cultural landmarks.

White also is among the leadership team developing a regional hub for education, research and workforce development at Historic Jefferson College near Natchez. Mississippi State University is MDAH’s partner on the project.

Blount, who announced her retirement earlier this year, praised White’s commitment to preservation and collaboration. 

“Barry has earned the trust of colleagues and communities throughout Mississippi,” Blount said. “He’s forged strong relationships with key stakeholders through his thoughtful approach to preservation and his dedication to public service.”

Reflecting on the work ahead, White said: “Our stories belong to every Mississippian, and I am committed to strengthening our connections to communities across the state. As we look to the future, collaboration will continue to drive our efforts to preserve and share Mississippi’s history in meaningful ways.”

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 has announced two promotions within its Archives and Records Services Division.

Julie Dees will succeed current ARS Director David Pilcher, who will retire December 31, after 40 years with MDAH. Ally Mellon, the division’s director of library services, will become the division’s first deputy director.

Dees, who had served as head of electronic archives, has been with MDAH since 1996, when she was hired in an IT support role. Dees has a bachelor’s degree in English and history from Millsaps College and a master’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina.

Mellon joined MDAH in 2019. Previously, she worked for the Mississippi Library Commission. Mellon has a bachelor’s in English and journalism from the University of Mississippi and a master’s degree in library and information sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi.

“These promotions will help form a strong leadership team in ARS, which is vital to preserving Mississippi history,” said Katie Blount, director of MDAH. “They’ll succeed David Pilcher, who has dedicated four decades to preserving Mississippi’s archives and the stories they carry.”

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s annual holiday events – Christmas by Candlelight Tour and Possum Ridge Exhibit – return in early December. 

The Possum Ridge model train exhibit will open at the Two Mississippi Museums on Dec. 2. There is no charge to view the exhibit, which will close on Dec. 31. The  Christmas by Candlelight Tour will be held Friday, Dec. 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The tour festivities include crafts, live music, and treats at the Two Mississippi Museums, Old Capitol Museum, Mississippi State Capitol, and Mississippi Governor’s Mansion.  This year’s Christmas by Candlelight tour is presented in partnership with Capital City Lights, sponsored by Visit Jackson and Downtown Jackson Partners. Capital City Lights activities will be in Smith Park and at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center.

Holiday shoppers can stop by the museums’ Mississippi Museum Store, where a 10 percent discount will be available on merchandise, and explore Possum Ridge. The model trains and fictional town of Possum Ridge have been a holiday tradition delighting children and adults for more than 40 years. 

Possum Ridge depicts a typical Mississippi railroad town of the 1940s. In its first year, it consisted of a single block of an electrified Main Street with 10 buildings, including a bank, dry goods store, newspaper office, and restaurant.  Today, the trains circle a detailed town that includes a depot, church, bakery, barbershop, icehouse, sawmill, cotton gin, train yard, and much more. There are also houses located off Main Street, farmsteads, a small airport, and even a river baptism scene.

A Miss Goldy Chicken train car, representing the company that merged with what is now Wayne-Sanderson Farms, and an additional town scene are new to the exhibit this year. The exhibit will also feature a display case with historic railroad artifacts, a scavenger hunt, and a reading nook for children, featuring some bilingual books related to trains and railroads.

Free parking will be available at the Two Mississippi Museums parking garage, the Mississippi State Capitol parking lot, and along nearby streets, with shuttle buses running between all tour locations.

Christmas by Candlelight Tour activities:

Two Mississippi Museums
Visitors can begin their evening at the Two Mississippi Museums with live choral performances, holiday shopping, and the Possum Ridge model train exhibit.

• 5 p.m. McWillie Elementary School
• 5:45 p.m. Provine High School
• 6 p.m. Germantown High School Choir
• Holiday shopping at the Mississippi Museum Store
• Refreshments and sweet treats from Sugar Daze

Old Capitol Museum
The Old Capitol Museum will present festive lighting and hands-on holiday activities for families.

• Holiday crafts led by Eudora Welty House & Garden staff in the rotunda
• Cookies from Just Vanilla and cold milk

Governor’s Mansion
The Mississippi Governor’s Mansion will welcome guests with music, cookies, and classic holiday traditions.

• 4 p.m. Piano Studio students of Mrs. Carol Toothaker, Leakesville
• 6 p.m. Mississippi Youth Symphony in the East Garden
• Photos with Santa Claus
• Trackless train rides
• Hot cocoa and homemade cookies

State Capitol
The Mississippi State Capitol will host musical performances and offer visitors the chance to explore the building’s historic chambers and gift shop.

• 5 p.m. Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra
• 6 p.m. Sessions Jazz Ensemble
• Capitol Gift Shop holiday shopping

Founded in 1902, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History collects, preserves, and provides access to the archival resources of the state. MDAH’s commitment to preservation continues today through the work of the department’s five divisions—Administration, Archives and Records Services, Historic Preservation, Programs and Communication, and Museum. The Museum Division currently oversees 11 sites and projects throughout the state.

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

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The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has announced $1.4 million in new funding to support the development of Margaret Ann Crigler Park in downtown Jackson, with $500,000 from the Phil Hardin Foundation, $500,000 from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) through its Building Fund for the Arts (BFA) program and two separate $200,000 gifts from anonymous donors. 

All gifts were given to the Foundation for Mississippi History and announced at a news conference on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

“Support from the Phil Hardin Foundation, the Mississippi Arts Commission and the private donors represent strong community buy-in on a project that will connect visitors to Mississippi’s history and culture,” Spence Flatgard, president of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, said during a news conference across from the park site. “Their generosity brings us closer to making Crigler Park a vibrant space for reflection and learning in the Jackson community.”

Located adjacent to the Two Mississippi Museums, the completed park will feature native Mississippi foliage, a large open green space, an outdoor stage, and a play area designed especially for children. The park is a project of MDAH and will be part of the city’s Museum Trail.

Park construction is expected to begin early next year. The first phase will be completed in 2027.

“The Two Mississippi Museums are educational and cultural treasures for our state, and the Phil Hardin Foundation has been a proud supporter since their inception,” said Lloyd Gray, executive director of the Phil Hardin Foundation. “We are delighted to continue that partnership with this grant for the children’s area at Crigler Park, which will both complete the Two Mississippi Museums campus and allow for expanded learning opportunities for students from across Mississippi. We also view this as an investment in the revitalization of our capital city, which is crucial for Mississippi to reach its full potential.”

MAC awarded the Foundation for Mississippi History the BFA grant for the park’s construction. This follows a $225,000 BFA grant awarded last year, bringing the total MAC investment to $725,000.

“The arts enhance the quality of life and local economies,” said David Lewis, MAC executive director. “With the generous support from the Mississippi Legislature, we can activate our citizens’ innate creativity and invest in our communities.”

MAC is a state agency serving more than 2 million people through grants and special initiatives that enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations, promote arts education, and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. The commission is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and other private sources.

The Phil Hardin Foundation’s goal “is to be a catalyst for educational opportunity and community improvement in Mississippi.”

From 2015 to 2024, the Hardin Foundation has paid out $32 million in grants to improve student achievement; make educational and enrichment opportunities more available and equitable; increase understanding of Mississippi arts, culture and history; and build community capacity.

The park project was launched with an initial $1 million gift from retired businessman Noble T. Crigler, made in memory of his late wife, Margaret Ann Crigler. The gift established the foundation for the project. The Mississippi Legislature has since provided $3 million in state support to advance its construction.

Learn more about the project at mdah.ms.gov/criglerpark.

The Foundation for Mississippi History is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that conducts fundraising efforts to support and promote the projects and programs of MDAH, which operates the Museum of Mississippi History, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Eudora Welty House & Garden, Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, Old Capitol Museum, Windsor Ruins, Historic Jefferson College, and Winterville Mounds.

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

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Nearly 350 students were welcomed Thursday, Nov. 13, to the Two Mississippi Museums, where they learned about Native American culture by watching dance performances, playing stickball and listening to storytellers from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Students from John Hopkins Elementary School, Smilow Prep, and Kirksey Middle School participated in Native American Heritage Day activities led by museum educators and Choctaw Indians. The national observance of Native American Heritage Day is Nov. 28.

Before their performances on Thursday in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium, the Mystic Wind Choctaw Social Dancers explained how Choctaw tribes are located in places beyond Mississippi, including Louisiana and Chicago.

Elements of their dances carried meaning. For instance, the drum at the baseline of each dance was representative of the heartbeat found in each of the dancers. Students and teachers watched before joining in the dance.

Trey Cotton, a social studies teacher from Kirksey Middle School, said he recently taught his students about the three major Native American tribes in Mississippi.

“Teaching them about stickball and then being able to come out here in real life to have them participate just solidifies the lessons so much more to them and the importance it has in Mississippi heritage and Native American culture,” Cotton said. “I think it just directly links them to the studies that we’ve been going over. This was a really good day.” 

Simon Isaac, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, told the students about a style of stickball that originated in Mississippi, explaining that stickball was “essentially a replacement for war.”

Isaac said some Northern tribes carry a staff with a bend at the top.

“What that represents is the turning away of war because what we believe as Native Americans is that it is against the laws of nature to take another life,” Isaac said. “(Stickball) gave us a chance to fight for our rights, but to do it in a more civil manner.” 

Drew Gardner, director of programs at the Two Mississippi Museums, emphasized the importance of the day’s event.

“We get a chance to partner with our Native communities,” Gardner said. “The Mississippi Band of Choctaws is the only federally recognized tribe in Mississippi, and we are so proud to demonstrate and show the legacy of the tribe and share that with students across the state.”

Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a $2.5 million grant to the Foundation for Mississippi History to support and promote Mississippi Department of Archives and History programs, activities, and projects focused on the role of religion in Mississippi history and culture. 

The grant was made through Lilly Endowment’s Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative, a nationwide effort to help museums and other cultural institutions improve the public understanding of religion. This is Lilly Endowment’s second grant to the foundation. The $2.5 million grant awarded in December 2022 launched MDAH’s work to expand religious initiatives.

The MDAH Religion Initiative has three goals: attract more visitors to the Two Mississippi Museums, make archival holdings related to religion more accessible to the public, and make improvements to historic sites related to religion.

As part of the initiative, archivists process and digitize significant manuscript collections related to religion, making the materials more available to scholars, historians, and the public.

“Support from Lilly Endowment has been transformative,” said Katie Blount, MDAH director. “The Lilly Endowment funding has helped us elevate our work at MDAH and expanded our audience through outreach to church groups and deep dives into archival resources related to religion.” 

With the previous grant, the Two Mississippi Museums have been able to incorporate new religious narratives and launch visitor outreach initiatives tailored to faith-based groups. The grant has also funded the annual Religion in Mississippi History Research Fellowship, which is awarded to a graduate student with an interest in conducting primary source research in MDAH’s wealth of archival materials concerning religious history in Mississippi.

In the next phase, those initiatives will continue, and work will expand to the Vicksburg Civil War Visitor Center, which is slated to open in 2028. The grant funding will cover costs associated with telling the story of the role of religion in the Civil War. Funding also will support admission, event rentals, and tours for religious groups.

MDAH also will use Lilly Endowment funds to make a $750,000 grant to the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi (GMBSC) to help support the restoration of the chapel building at Natchez College.

“Members of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi are thrilled that Lilly Endowment recognizes the collaborative work of the Foundation for Mississippi History, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Baptist Convention in preserving the places and presenting the stories of Mississippi’s religious communities,” said the Rev. Reginald Buckley, president of GMBSC.

“How faith impacts culture is sometimes easily noticed but mostly nuanced. This award will allow us to complete the restoration of the historic Huddleston Chapel at Natchez College but will also bring light to a religious tradition that built institutions of learning and hope in the face of tremendous odds,” Buckley said.

About MDAH

MDAH 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.

About Lilly Endowment Inc. 

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. Although the Endowment maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana, it also funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to foster public understanding about religion and lift up in fair, accurate and balanced ways the roles that people of all faiths and various religious communities play in the United State and around the globe.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) recently welcomed Andrea Scott of Ackerman as the 2025 Family Genealogy Fellow. 

The Family Genealogy Fellowship supports researchers in locating information about their Mississippi-based families using MDAH’s resources. The five-day fellowship includes funding for travel and hotel accommodation.

Scott, who works in a hospital business office, said she’s been researching her family history for years.

“I love genealogy … and this just gave me the chance to do nonstop research,” she said, referring to the fellowship.

Scott said the fellowship has been an opportunity to find the missing link in one of her great grandparents’ family lines. All sides of her family have been in Mississippi since at least the mid-1800s, though some relatives lived in the state even earlier. 

MDAH has a wealth of resources and unique collections relating to families in Mississippi.  As part of her research, Scott pulled files, family trees, books, and microfilms. She said that she wanted to take full advantage of MDAH’s resources. 

What were some of her discoveries?

“I was able to pull the minutes from my mom’s home church in Calhoun County. Just looking through there, I was actually able to find the baptismal record of my great grandfather, which was really cool to find,” Scott said.

To learn more about the genealogy fellowship and genealogy workshops at MDAH, please visit https://www.mdah.ms.gov/genealogy/genealogy-fellowship.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is the recipient of two 2025 Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) Awards.

During the SEMC awards luncheon held Oct. 22 in Montgomery, Alabama, MDAH was recognized with the following:

• Gold Award in the technology competition: Virtual Media: Project Under $1,000 for the Freedom Summer Shorts Campaign.
• Second Place in the poster category for the Two Mississippi Museums 2025 Makers Fest Poster.

“Our teams’ digital storytelling brings Mississippi stories alive and to a wider audience,” said Katie Blount, director of MDAH. “We’re grateful SEMC recognized our work.”

The MDAH Freedom Summer Shorts Campaign was an entry in the SEMC Technology Competition that recognizes effective design, accessibility, creativity, and pride in work and recognition of institutional identity. The campaign was a series of short videos visualizing 10 topics within the scope of Freedom Summer, which took place during 1964. 

As technology continues to gain importance throughout the museum field, expectations and standards were exceptionally high for this year’s applicants. The SEMC Technology Competition received a record number of applications from a wide variety of museums across the southeast.

Recipients of the awards were judged by an appointed jury of museum professionals across the region who specialize in the fields of digital media and technology.

The poster was a submission in the SEMC Publications Competition that rewards excellence in design in southeastern museum publications. The Two Mississippi Museums are among the sites administered by MDAH. Mississippi Makers Fest is an annual, daylong event celebrating the state’s music and art. 

Award winners will be listed in the fall 2025 edition of “INSIDE SEMC,” a digital publication of the Southeastern Museums Conference.  

About the Southeastern Museums Conference:

According to their website, the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC), a nonprofit membership organization, “is an association of museums, museum staff, independent professionals and corporate partners. We focus on the Southeastern United State including: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands.”

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(Photos attached: Rodney Thompson and Mikailah Jefferson; Tori Rice.)