The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1901-01-11
Ehe9emnrrai- Star
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.


thorized the appointment Of Histori-
cal Commission Of five members,
"whose duty IL shall be, under such
rules, regulations and plan Of proceed.
ure as IL may adopt, and without cx.
pense to the State for their labor, to
make a full, detailed, and exhaustive
examination Of all sources and ma |
terials, manuscript, documentary, and
record, OF the history OF Mississippi,
from the earliest times, whether In
the State or elsewhere" This includes
1.-THE records OF Mississippi troops In
all wars in which they have partici.
pated, and also Of the location and
present condition Of battlenelds, his.
toric houses aud 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 embodied
in a "dctailed report to the next scs.
sion OF the Legislature with an &C.
count Of the then condition Of histori.
cal work in the State"
This act. so important to the best
interests Of Mississippi, was the re.
suit OF widespread sentiment on the
part OF the people Of the State in
favor Of preserving and pcrpetuating
the sources OF their history, many Of
which are being lost without any hope
Of recovery. The report is intended
to convey fully and in detail, WHAT
historical materials are still in exist.
ence and WHERE they may be found,
with such other information about
their condition, accessibility, subject
matter, etc., as will form a basis for
further legislative action on the sub.
ject.
Under the authority OF this act /
have appointed the following gentle.
men as commissioners to discharge
this arduous 'labor of love" for the
State: DR.. franklin L. Riley, Uni.
versity Of Mississippi, Chairman; Col.
]. L. Power, Jackson, Mississippi;
Bishop Chas. b. Galloway, Jackson,
Mississippi: Hon. Gerard G. Brandon,
Natchex, Mississippi and Prof. j. N.
White, Agricultural College, Missis'
sippi.
These genlamcn have entered upor
the discharge OF their duties with
full sense OF the Importance as well Al
the patriotic character OF the task as
signed to them. In order to give ctfi
cheney to their efforts, now appea
with confidence to the public pres
and to Mississippians and investlga
tors everywhere for aid and cO.Opcra
ti0n In this great work. The dill
gence and zeal Of the commissioner
will be OF little avail In the discharg
OF their laborious duties, unless the
meet with prompt assistance fror
those who have information bearin
upon the history OF the State.
There are individuals In every par
Of Mississippi and in other States VIII
have knowledge OF facts that wOul
be acceptable in this connection
There are thousands OF half.fade
manuscripts and mutilated publics
tions-old letters, papers, diaries
muster rolls, journals, notes, map
books, etc.-that would throw ne
light upon many OF the dark places
our history and give cOlOring to in
portant facts which have faded out
the public mind. In the cellars, va
rets, or old trunks in homes Of partiC
pants or their defendants 10 the val
Gus wars in which the people OF Mi
sissippi have taken part, there ST
remains, half forgotten, perhar
many valuable papers and relics
these struggles. The descendants
the early settlers Of the State wi
doubtless, find in some obscure corn
OF the old homestead many valuat
historical materials that will amp
reward their research. To all such
appeal with an earnestness begOtt
OF the pressing needs OF this gre
work undertaken by the Mississip
Historical Commission. BY all mea
institute a close search without del
and report results to any member
tile Commission. giving the locatiO
extent, and present ownership Of
such materials OF which you may ha
any knowledge. or which may cor
within the range OF your inquiry.
the owners will consent to give the
tn the State Historical Society to
placed in its archives for preservatit
and for the use OF future investIp
tors. please notify the Chairm
OF the Commission nf the same.
also bcsprak for the Commission +
aid and cn-npp ration of the press
Mississippi. which il ever ready to
spnnd to all efforts 10 advance l.
honor and ginry NJ the State.
Mississippi. H. common with /
other Soul hem States. il entering I
on a great historical renaissance a
the people of the South are bcginni
to realize as never before that "tht
Is nothing wrong with our histOI
but IN the writing OF it," The p,
pose Of the State Legislature and
the HistoIi Iical Society In the creati
and nnnni n tn,ent NJ this (,um mi IS |