Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-08-11
State Historical Society.
To ule Public:


adopt, and without expense to the State
for their labor, to make full, detailed,
and exhaustive examination of all
sources and materials, manuscript,
documentary, and record, of the history
of Mississippi from the earliest times,
whether in the State or elsewhere.
This includes "the records of Mississ-
sippi troops in all wars in which they
have participated, and also of the To-
cation and present condition of battle
| fields, historic houses and buildings
and other places and things of historic
interest and Importance in the State, "
The act also provides that the results
of these Investigations shall be en-
bodied in detailed reports to the next
session of the legislature with an ac-
count of the then condition of historical
work in the State"
This act, SO important to the best in
terests of Mississippi, was the result of
a widespread sentiment on the part Of
the people Of the State in favor Of
preserving and perpetuating the sources
of their history, many of which are be-
ing lost without any hope Of recovery
The report is intended to convey fully
and in detail, WHAT historical materi-
ais are still in existence and wHEaE
they may be found, with such inform
alton about their condition, accessi-
bility, subject matter, as will form a
basis for further legislative action on
the subject.
Under the authority of this act l
have appointed the following gentle
men as commissioners to discharge this
arduous labor of love" for the State:
DR.. Franklin L. Riley, University Of
Mississippi, Chairman; Col. J. L. Power,
Jackson, Mississippi; Bishop Chas. b.
Galloway, Jackson, Mississippi; Hon.
Gerard c. Crandon, Natchez, Mississippi,
and Hon. P X. Mayors, Pascagoula,
Mississippi,
These gentlemen have entered upon
the discharge of their duties with full
sense of the Importance as well as the
patriotic character of the task assigned
to them. In order to give efficiency to
their efforts, now appeal with conf
dence to the public press and to Mis-
sissipplans and investigators every
where for aid and cooperation in this
great work The diligence and zeal Of
the commissioners will be of little avail
in the discharge of their laborious
duties unless they meet with prompt
assistance from those who have infor-
nation bearing upon the history of the
State.
There are individuals in every part
of Mississippi and in other States who
have knowledge of facts that would be
acceptable in this connection. There
are thousands of half-faded manuscripts
and mutilated publications. old let
ters, papers, diaries, muster rolls, jour
nails, notes, maps, books, etc, that
throw new light upon many of the dark
places in our history and give cOloring
to important facts which have faded
out of the public mind In the cellars,
parrets. or old trunks in the homes OF
participants or their descendants in the
various wars in which the people OF
Mississippi have taken part, there still
remains, half forgotten perhaps, many
valuable papers and relics of these
struggles. The descendants of the
early settlers of the State will, doubt
less, find in some obscure corner of the
old homestead many valuable historical
materials that will amply reward their
research To all such | appeal with an
earnestness begotten of the pressing
needs of this great work undertaken by
the Mississippi historical commission
Bv all means institute a close search
without delay and report results to any
member of the commission, giving the
location, extent, and present ownership
of all such materials of which you may
have any knowledge, or which may
come within the range of your inquiry
If the owners will consent to give them
to the State Historical Society to be
placed in its archives for preservation
and for the use Of future Investigators,
please notify the chairman of the com
mission of the same. | also bespeak
for the commission the aid and coop
Grafton of the press of Mississippi
which is ever ready to respond to all
efforts to advance the honor and glory
of the State.
Mississippi, in common with the other
Southern States, is entering upon a
great historical renaissance and the
people of the South are beginning to
realize as never before that there IS
nothing wrong with our history, but in
the writing of it, The purpose Of the
State legislature and of the Historical
Society in the creation and appoint
ment of this commission is to provide
the most effective means for the cor
rection of this defect.
Correspondence should be directed to
the chairman or to any member Of the
commission.
With sincere desire and confident
hope that this great work will rebound
to the honor of Mississippi, am, very
respectfully, STEPHEN d. LEE,
Pres Mississippi State Hist. Society,"
AN ACT to authorize the appointment OF
history commission, to regulate the
powers and duties thereof and to make
an appropriation to aid the Mississippi
Historical Society in printing its publi-
cations
Section /. Be it enacted by the leg
islature of the State of Mississippi, That the
president of the Mississippi Historical So
ciety is hereby directed and empowered to
appoint five persons from the present active
membership of said society, who shall con-
stitute Mississippi History Commission,
whose duty it shall be, under such rules and
plan of procedure as it may adopt, and with
| out expense to the State for their labor, TO
make full detailed and exhaustive eS-
animation of all sources and materials,
manuscript, documentary and record, OF
the history of Mississippi from the earliest
times, whether in the State or elsewhere
including the records of Mississippi troops
in all wars in which they have participated,
and also of the location and present condl-
tion of battlefeds. historic houses and build
ings land other places and things of historic
interest and Importance in the State and