NE MS Hist. and Gen. Society

August Meeting

2010-08-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Susie Dent sent me the following update regarding our August meeting.

"If you love Elvis, then plan to be at the next meeting of the Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010 at the Lee County Library, 219 N. Madison, Tupelo, MS. Popular local historian, storyteller and foremost researcher in the genealogy of Elvis has written a book about "The Roots of Elvis Presley" and will present a program on his book at the meeting. Mr. Riley has compiled a genealogy of Elvis including more than 11,000 people. The program is open to the public. For more information, contact Susie Dent, 844-2307."

Meeting May 27, 2010 at 6:00

2010-05-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

Susie Dent sent me the following information about our meeting for Thursday, May 27th. Please join us if you can! Thank you, Susie!

A program about the massive mountainside sculpture at Stone Mountain,
Georgia will be presented at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 27, 2010 at the Helen Foster
Auditorium, Lee County Library, 219 N. Madison, Tupelo, MS. This is a free
program that is open to the public.

The program is entitled "The
Ultimate Confederate Memorial Goes South OR What Would the Three Horsemen of
Stone Mountain Say If They Could Speak?" The monument is sculpted on
the side of the largest granite mountain in the northern hemisphere. The
understaking of the sculpture of three Confederate soldiers will be discussed
and include topics about the organization of its construction, political
entanglements, the people who led the project, and the fund-raising schemes
which evolved into the U.S. Government's minting of a commemorative
half-dollar.

The program presenters will be Tupelo residents James
C. Harris and his wife Sarah Bell Harris. Mr. Harris is a historian,
researcher and collector of artifacts and information of the War Between the
States. He is a nationally-recognized authority and author on made and
marked swords of the Confederacy and counter-struck Stone Mountain half
dollars. Previously living in Corinth, MS, he has served as
vice-mayor of Corinth, MS. Harris has held several leadership positions
with the Jacinto and Yocona Area Councils where he earned the Silver Beaver, the
highest adult service award presented by a Scout council. He was a
founding member of the Corinth's Historical Commission and a long-time member of
the Mississippi Historical Society. He was the first director and curator of the
Corinth Museum. He is a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and
the Sons of the American Revolution. Mrs. Harris is a Tupelo native, a member of
the Mary Stuart Chapter of the DAR, a Master Gardener and former president of
the Corinth School Board. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are active members of the First
Baptist Church, Tupelo, MS.

Women's History Month Program

2010-03-14T22:04:00.001-07:00

A special Women's History Month program will be presented by Dr. Elizabeth Payne for the Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 25, 2010 at the Lee County Library, 219 N. Madison, Tupelo, MS. Dr. Payne, a professor of history at the University of Mississippi, is co-editor of two volumes of women's history: "Mississippi Women, Their Histories, Their Lives". She is author and/or editor of numerous historical articles. She will be reviewing Volume Two of the "Mississippi Women" recently published and released in February. The public is invited to attend. For more information, contact Susie Dent, 662-844-2307 or email nems.hgs@gmail.com

Oral History Workshop Planned

2010-02-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

FREE ORAL HISTORY WORKSHOP
Saturday, February 27, 2010
9a.m. to 1p.m.
Lee County Library
Helen Foster Auditorium
219 N. Madison St., Tupelo, MS 38804

The Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society and the Lee County Library will be partnering to present a program on how to collect and preserve family oral histories.

This workshop will offer several aspects of the oral history process, including project planning, interview strategies, recording technology, and archiving. Library resources will be discussed. A break-out session for role playing and interviewing will be available.

Space will be limited and pre-registration by February 24th is encouraged. Participants are invited to bring their own recording devices and a friend or family member for personal interviews.

Educational materials will be available for a donation of $5 to defray the cost of the handouts. Participants may bring a sack lunch. Beverages will be available.

To register, call Melissa Holekamp, Lee County Library, 662-841-9013 or Susie Dent, 662-844-2307. Email: nems.hgs@gmail.com

Black History Month Program

2010-02-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

The Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society and the Lee County Library, Tupelo, MS are pleased to announce that National Park Ranger Tom Parson will present a program on "African Americans in Corinth During the Civil War". Tom Parson is a Park Ranger for the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center and Shiloh National Military Park. The program is scheduled at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 at the Helen Foster Auditorium, Lee County Library, 219 North Madison St., Tupelo, MS. This program, in observation of Black History Month, will include the role of slaves and freedmen in constructing the earthworks around Corinth, the establishment of the Corinth Contraband Camp, the visit by General Lorenzo Thomas in May 1863 and his speech concering the recruitment of black soldiers, the recruitment and organization of the 1st and 2nd Alabama Infantry of African Descent (later known as the 55th and 110th United States Colored Troops), the closing of the camp in 1864. Ranger Parson will also discuss the current preservation efforts at the site of the camp. The public is cordially invited to attend. For additional information, call Susie Dent, 662-844-2307.

Earthquake in Haiti - Donations

2010-01-20T16:06:00.000-08:00

If anyone is looking for a LEGITIMATE organization to which to donate for Haiti Earthquake Relief - Please see this page set up by the CREATE foundation of Tupelo.

http://www.ci.tupelo.ms.us/administrative/Tupelo-Haiti%20Relief%20Project.pdf

Thank you!

Surname Exchange

2010-01-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

Following is a list of Researchers, Contact information and Surnames submitted to our Surname Exchange. I will attempt to modify the formatting, but wanted to allow everyone a look at the information in advance. If there are changes or additions, please let me know!

Melissa

Researcher's Name

Contact Information

Names/Surnames researching

Bill Lyle

662-767-9512

lyleb@att.net

Barber

Hopkins

Polk

Shelby

Hendrick

Don Curtiss

662-767-2517

PO Box 162

Marrietta, MS 38856

Wood

James

Curtiss

Moses

Charles Scruggs

662-842-9273

Beasley

Scruggs

Webb

Vaughan (Vaughn)

J. David Baker

333 N. Green Street

Tupelo, MS 38804

Baker, Scott Indiana Terr. 1880

Fields, 1806 Kentucky

Young, Chester and Fairfield, S.C.

Bordens, N.C. And Virginia Cooke

Daniel (Virginia 1706)

Lowe (Maryland and S.C. 1790)

Randoll and Joyce Reagan

Bedford, TX

817-919-0520

Campbell

Reagan

Woods

Bill T. Lowrance

210-844-4999

billtom@ktc.com

Chickasaw and Fletcher family

Lowrance

Hodges

Haynes

Amelita Lowrance

litalow@ktc.com

Parsons

Hyatt

Hightower

Pamplin

Ligon

Hall

S.E. Murdoch

803-285-8551

jmrdh@hotmail.com

Bryson

Murdock/Murcoch

Joy Lucius

Joy Lucius (continued)

662-231-8092

luciusx5@yahoo.com

662-231-8092

luciusx5@yahoo.com

Daniel Foster Wilson

Katie Arlene Cox Wilson

Tommy Louis T.L. Farr

Tommie Lou Farr

W.W. Lucius

Susie Dent

susiedent@aol.com

113 Bolivar Trail

Saltillo, MS 38866

Pontotoc, Union and Lee Counties:

Dillard

Reid

Bryant/Briant

Tolleson

Caldwell

Martin

Tishomingo, Itawamba and Lee Counties:

Martin

Turner

Brooks

Sandra Knight

402 N. Ione Street

Tupelo, MS 38801

sandralknight@hotmail.com

Franks

Bates

Payne

Berryhill

Phillips

Brazeal

Chaffin

Buchanan

Marcy

Jennell Murphy

103 Christy Way

Saltillo, MS 38866

662-869-7132

Payne

Marcy

Murphy

Vivian Draper

PO Box 2827

Tupelo, MS 38803

662-255-0310

vdraperdds@hotmail.com

Draper

Clay

Brenda Elliot

PO Box 29

Saltillo, MS 38866

bjelliott@frontiernet.net

Cox

Coker

Bowling

Harris

John Palmer

103 16^th Street NE

Bradenton, FL 34208

charon13.5@gmail.com

Union/Lee Counties:

Palmer

Harvey Anglin

Harvey Anglin (continued)

2727 Oakview Dr.

Tupelo, MS 38804

2727 Oakview Dr.

Tupelo, MS 38804

Anglin

Cleveland

Wilson

Flippen

Minyard

Griffin

Rafaela Young

3052 Haven Acres Dr. 27

Tupelo, MS 38801

luvmygrnd@yahoo.com

662-231-7498

Young/ S.C.

Payne Tounkins

Ferguson

Crayton

Tines

Oral History Workshop

2009-11-09T21:00:00.000-08:00

We are trying to get together an Oral History Workshop scheduled for Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Lee County Library in the Helen Foster Auditorium. If anyone wants to volunteer to help or present a portion of the program, please let me hear from you. Susie Dent, nems.hgs@gmail.com

Holiday Meeting on Dec. 10, 2009

2009-11-09T20:57:00.000-08:00

We won't have a November meeting because of Thanksgiving but will meet on Thursday, December 10 at 6 p.m. in the Lee County Library. "Aunt Patsy" will provide some homespun humour while we celebrate the holiday season. Please bring a festive appetizer or finger food to share with the group. Drinks will be provided. Email Susie Dent at nems.hgs@gmail.com for more information.

October Meeting of the Society

2009-10-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that our October meeting is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 at the Lee County Library, Tupelo, MS. Please bring some family history to share. IF you have a family "ghost" story to share, we would love to hear all about it. We won't have a November meeting because of Thanksgiving but will meet on Thursday, December 10 at 6 p.m. in the Lee County Library. "Aunt Patsy" will provide some homespun humour while we celebrate the holiday season.

NEMS Daily Journal -- Spain House

2009-10-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

TUPELO –

Historic preservationists this week won their battle to save the century-old Spain House; now they must determine what to do with it.

After a few congratulatory words among themselves, members of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday plotted their next step.

It was the commission that had nominated the three-story house for local historic designation, which the City Council on Tuesday approved.

And it did so against the wishes of Calvary Baptist Church, which owns it.

The church said it wants the house gone and will pursue plans to either demolish it or find someone to move it to another location.

The designation will make that task harder, but not impossible, said church member Greg Pirkle.

“The church cannot use the house,” he told the Daily Journal.

Either the building will continue to deteriorate, the commission will find someone to take it or the church will look for a legal way to have it demolished, he said.

Commission members, though, want to see the house renovated at its existing location on the corner of West Main and Madison streets.

“I feel bad for the church, but we just really had to take a stand,” said Ward 4 Councilwoman Nettie Davis, who voted for the designation and also attended the commission’s meeting at City Hall.

“The Historic Preservation Commission needs to do something now,” she said.

“If we’re going to establish these designations then we need to do something to help support the owners.”

Suggestions included helping the church get the house on the National Register of Historic Places to be eligible for tax credits, which the church could then sell to make money and restore the house.

Or the commission could help the church get federal grant money through the Save America’s Treasure program, said Brad Prewitt, a resident who also is renovating a historic downtown house.

According to the National Park Service Web site, nearly 20 Mississippi structures have won nearly $5 million from the grant in the past nine years.

Prewitt urged the commission to seek the grant and make constant progress toward renovating the house.

Estimates to restore the house – which over the years has served as a family dwelling, funeral home and office space – range from $300,000 to $500,000.

“People are going to make a judgment based on how this process works and whether the house is restored,” Prewitt told the group at its meeting Thursday.

“You don’t want to hang the house around the neck of the church.”

Commission Chairman Michael Jones said it will take time to form an appropriate plan.

He also stressed that the group must continue to work with the church to find a win-win solution, if at all possible.

Contact Emily Le Coz at (662) 678-1588 or emily.lecoz@djournal.com.

MS Department of Archives and History

2009-10-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

MDAH Taking Popular Program to Corinth!

http://mdah.state.ms.us/admin/news/corinth_roadshow.html

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is taking one of its most popular programs to Corinth in October. Personal Treasures, like the PBS program Antiques Roadshow, gives the public a chance to bring items for identification and evaluation by specialists.

Experts will offer tips on the conservation and care of the items, and although they cannot offer monetary values of objects, a list of appraisers will be available. Personal Treasures is being held in conjunction with the MDAH Board of Trustees meeting on Friday, October 16, in Corinth. Personal Treasures will be held Thursday, October 15, from noon to 5 p.m. and Friday, October 16, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Corinth Public Library. There is no charge to participate.

Categories are household items, books, maps, photographs, textiles, architectural elements, and military items (excluding weapons). An expert on genealogical research will also be available for consultation. MDAH staff will be on hand to exhibit resources from the state archives relating to Corinth, Alcorn County, and northeast Mississippi.

The MDAH board meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center and is open to the public. A public reception will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, at the Coliseum Civic Center. Kane Ditto, president of the board of trustees, will present resolutions of commendation to local organizations and citizens for contributions to the preservation and interpretation of Mississippi history. Board members and MDAH staff will also tour sites associated with the Siege and Battle of Corinth and other preservation highlights in the area, such as the Civil War Contraband Camp Memorial and the Verandah Curlee House.

Members of the board of trustees of the Department of Archives and History are president Kane Ditto, Jackson; vice president Rosemary Taylor Williams, Corinth; Reuben V. Anderson, Jackson; Lynn Crosby Gammill, Hattiesburg; E. Jackson Garner, Jackson; Duncan M. Morgan, Natchez; Hilda Cope Povall, Cleveland; Martis D. Ramage, Jr., Belden; and Roland Weeks, Biloxi.

Personal Treasures is funded in part by the Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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2009-09-18T09:26:00.001-07:00

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September Meeting Information

2009-09-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at the Oren Dunn Museum at Ballard Park on West Main Street, Tupelo, MS. Kenneth McGehee, curator and director of the museum, will present a program and host a tour of the facility. The program will be presented in the meeting room at the Tupelo Parks and Recreation building adjacent to the museum. A tour of the Oren Dunn Museum and outside exhibits will follow. The public is invited to attend. Admission will be free but donations are appreciated. The Society usually meets at the Lee County Library for its monthly meeting, so please be mindful that this is a change of meeting sites. For more information, contact Susie Dent, nems.hgs@gmail.com

Meeting at Tupelo Veterans Museum

2009-08-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

The monthly meeting of the Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, August 27, at the Tupelo Veterans' Museum at Ballard Park on West Main Street, Tupelo, MS. Mr. Tony Lute, curator and founder of the museum, will provide a program and tour of the museum. The Tupelo Veterans Museum pays tribute to the men and women who dedicate their lives to the concept of ensuring freedom for all Americans. Donations for the museum will be accepted. For more information, contact Susie Dent, 662-844-2307 or nems.hgs@gmail.com.

The following description of the Tupelo Veterans' Museum is posted at www.tupelo.net.

Tupelo Veterans Museum
Located in the Oren Dunn City Museum is a wonderful collection of memorabilia honoring the men and women who dedicated their lives to the concept of ensuring freedom for all Americans. Founded by Tony Lute, who began collecting WWII artifacts since he was 16, he has continued to pursue his mission by opening the museum and is grateful to the many donors who have entrusted him with their treasures.
Among the collection you will find a display signed by one of the last surviving marine that raised the flag on Iwo Jima, a Nazi banner, a clock from a crashed Japanese zero made by Seiko and still runs, a German luger, .32 caliber officer’s dress pistol and a 9 mm German Radem. In addition a nice assortment of weapons representing Allied and Axis countries, a Kreigs Navy Flag, Nazi K98 Mausers used at the battle of Stalingrad, two rifles which were captured by the Russians at the end of WWII, and many exhibits that children will enjoy.
The artifact collection includes items from every country that participated in the war. There are thousands of artifacts on display with some of the most interesting objects including the flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol at the hour the D-Day invasion began and a functioning clock from a Japanese kamikaze plane.
Open Tuesday-Friday, 9am-4pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. Closed Sunday and Monday but will open for special groups by appointment.
Admission is by donations. For more information call 662-844-1515 or by email veteransmuseum@bellsouth.net.
www.tupelo.net

Invitation to contribute to Quarterly

2009-07-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

While Melissa is away, the mice will play. I am inviting you all to contribute articles, queries, photos, Bible pages, court records, genealogy, family trees and history for publication in our "Quarterly". You may submit your items to: nems.hgs@gmail.com or contact me at the same email address for more information. You may also mail items to: NEMH&G Society, P.O. Box 434, Tupelo, MS 38802-0434. Without contributions from people like you, our Quarterly could not be possible. Thanks ya'll, Susie Dent, president and editor.

Away

2009-06-23T12:21:00.001-07:00

I will be away from the Library for much of the month of July -- I will be taking time off for Carpal Tunnel Surgery and time to recover from the surgery. If anyone needs to meet with me for help with the library's genealogy resources, please give me a call at 662-841-9013 to set up a time, so I can be sure to catch up with you while I am there!

The Lee County Library staff is always willing to help, but some are not as familiar with the library's genealogy resources as I am. Also, the Reference department will be running short of staff due to my absence and will not have as much opportunity to provide one-on-one assistance. Please let me know if I can make plans to assist anyone during the times I will be available.

Otherwise, I look forward to being at work again full-time beginning in August!

Have a wonderful summer!

Melissa Holekamp

Genealogy/Reference Librarian

Lee County Library

662-841-9013

219 N. Madison St.

Tupelo, MS 38804

2009-06-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

ProQuest is providing the Lee-Itawamba Library with a free two week trial for three of its online products.

This is only a trial - and we will only have access from 05 Jun 2009 to 19 Jun 2009.

Here are the three online products.

eLibrary
ProQuest Historical Newspapers - Boston Globe
ProQuest Newsstand

To log in, go to:
http://trials.proquest.com/ptc?userid=3000169

The password is: welcome

Enjoy!

June Meeting!

2009-06-05T11:26:00.001-07:00

"Usually, the members of the Northeast Mississippi Historical & Genealogical Society get together for a "Meet and Eat" fun meeting in June of each year. However, this year, this dinner meeting will not be held in June due to the number of people who will be out of town or who will be otherwise obligated. Instead, the Society members are invited to bring their own personal genealogy research to the Lee County Library, 219 N. Madison, Tupelo, MS to join others for a group workday. Please meet at 6 p.m. June 25, on the second floor Genealogy Department where Society member volunteers Jennell Murphey and Sandra Knight and others will be available to guide and advise on searching for ancestors using the Library's resources. For more information, email Susie Dent, nems.hgs@gmail.com" - Susie Dent

Chief Tishomingo Honored

2009-06-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

Susie Dent has forwarded me the following:

Thanks, Susie!

"A very special event will take place this weekend. On Saturday, June 6, 2009, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the historic Chickasaw Chief Tishomingo will be honored at the site of his old homestead west of Guntown, MS. Representatives from the Chickasaw Nation, headquartered in Ada, OK, will be in attendance when a historic marker will be unveiled on the farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Edwards. Traditional Chickasaw songs, dance and games will be performed.
Chief Tishomingo was the last chief to serve in North Mississippi before the tribe was forced to cede their lands and be removed to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) to be placed on reservations. The removal of the Chickasaws took place in 1834-35 when the 5 "Civilized Tribes" were forced on a journey called "The Trail of Tears" to Indian Territory.
Many towns, counties, historic sites and properties in northern Mississippi and Oklahoma have Chickasaw names. There is Tishomingo, town and county, in Mississippi, for example.
The public is invited to attend the event. Directions to the site: travel NORTH from Tupelo, MS on Highway 45 north, go about 10 miles to Guntown, MS and exit on Highway 348 WEST toward New Albany, MS. Go between 2 and 4 miles, more or less, turn RIGHT onto County Road 503 near the Blair Community, go about 1 mile. The marker will be seen on the left of the road on the property of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Edwards' farm.
For more information, contact Susie Dent, nems.hgs@gmail.com"

Gordons of Lochinvar

2009-05-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

Annette McGregor of Pontotoc County Library has sent us the following announcement. If anyone needs additional information, please contact her at 662-489-3960!

Thanks for letting us know, Annette!

Lunching With Books
Pontotoc County Library
June 9, 2009
Noon

GORDONS OF LOCHINVAR

Dr. Forrest T. Tutor, M.D.

The Gordons of Lochinvar descend from a notable Scot family and later were successful landowners in Chickasaw Indian Territory, which became North Mississippi. The book describes the life of James Gordon and his parents Robert and Mary Elizabeth from mid-nineteenth century to turn of the twentieth century America. It describes Colonel James Gordon's experiences during the Civil War, and transcribes his noteworthy address to the United States Senate long after Reconstruction shattered his fortune. Included are many of James Gordon's own poetry and hunting short stories, and Robert Gordon’s diary entries from several years prior to the War Between the States.

May Meeting

2009-05-20T11:35:00.001-07:00

The Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society will meet Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 6 p.m. in the Helen Foster Auditorium, Lee County Library, 219 North Madison, Tupelo, MS. Edwina Carpenter, director of Brices Crossroads National Battlefield and Visitors Center, Baldwyn, MS, will present a program on the Civil War Battleground and the upcoming Civil War re-enactment planned in June. The public is invited. For additional information, call Susie Dent, 662-844-2307 or email nems.hgs@gmail.com.

April Society Meeting

2009-04-21T07:39:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Sorry to be a bit late in publishing details about the upcoming NMSHGS meeting!

Susie Dent sent me the following information:

" World War II veteran Eugene Spearman from Tupelo, MS will present the next program for the Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society. Mr. Spearman served in the Air Force during World War II and has been a participant in the Society's oral history program. He will tell stories of his experiences in combat and also will entertain by singing. The public is invited to attend.
"The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 6 p.m. in the Helen Foster Auditorium, Lee County Library, 219 North Madison, Tupelo, MS. For additional information, call Susie Dent, 662-844-2307 or email nems.hgs@gmail.com.

Hope to see you all there!

Bill Miles at Columbus-Lowndes Public Library

2009-04-21T07:36:00.001-07:00

I just received the following email from Mona Vance, archivist at the Columbus-Lowndes Library. Sounds like a wonderful program for anyone who is able to attend!

If you are interested, please contact Brenda Durrett at (662) 329-5300!

************************************************************************************

Former State Representative, newspaper editor-publisher and political consultant Bill Miles will be discussing his recently published memoir, Scribe Among Pharisees on Monday the 27th from 2 until 3 p.m. at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library.

The book is a collection of first-hand stories and memories of by-gone days. Miles chronicles more than a half century of Mississippi politics and southern life. Scribe Among Pharisees documents the good and the bad about Mississippi as seen through this newspaperman-educator-public relations/advertising executive turned politician.

Former Mississippi Governor William F. Winter who wrote the Foreword said: “Writing out of his own personal knowledge, Bill Miles is able to frame events in a way that makes us feel a part of the story - as we identify with various unforgettable characters this book brings to life. Reading this book is like unlocking a vault where heretofore unknown tales are stored.”

Bobby Harrison, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, said: “As a journalist-private businessman and politician, Bill Miles has seen history made in Mississippi and in some instances helped make it. He compellingly puts his journalistic instincts to work in Scribe Among Pharisees whether talking about farm life and a three-legged cat in Itawamba County, covering crime in Northeast Mississippi and the integration of the University of Mississippi, consulting for some of the state’s most powerful politicians or serving in the Mississippi Legislature. Bill has an easy, enjoyable writing style that makes his recollections even the more memorable.”

Bill Miles grew up on a farm in Itawamba County as the youngest of five children. He attended Itawamba Junior College (now Itawamba Community College) and received his B.A. with a major in journalism from the University of Mississippi. He has worked for various newspapers including The Birmingham, AL News, the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Memphis Press Scimitar and the Daily News (Jackson, MS). Later, he formed the magazine Mid-South Publications, Inc. and was instrumental in creating Bristow-Miles Associates, Inc., the region’s first advertising and public relations firm. In 1996, Miles was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives for District 21 where he served for the next twelve years.

For further information about Miles’ presentation at the library, contact Brenda Durrett at (662) 329-5300.

Hope to see you all there!

Mona K. Vance
Archivist
Local History Room
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library
314 North Seventh Street
Columbus, MS 39701
662-329-5304
archives@lowndes.lib.ms.us
www.lowndes.lib.ms.us

March Meeting - Women's History Month!

2009-03-24T08:39:00.001-07:00

Susie Dent sent me the following information about our meeting for March. We'd love to have a good group for this meeting! Please plan to attend - visitors are welcome!

" This month's program is in observance of Women's History Month. We will meet at 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 in the Helen Foster Auditorium at the Lee County Library, Tupelo, MS.

Mrs. Alice Ruth Chastain will present a program on her life experiences and her memories of internment in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Manilla, Phillipines, during World War II. She has authored a book "Pioneer Girl" which will be available after the program and outside the library building. We aren't allowed to sell anything inside the library building.

Mrs. Chastain is a professor of nursing having earned her PhD in nursing from Union University School of Nursing in Jackson, TN. She was born of missionary parents in Manila, Philippines shortly before WWII and was interned with her family in Santa Tomas Internment Camp until liberated in 1945. She has four children and nine grandchildren. She lives in Saltillo, MS. (Note: she was my nursing instructor in 1980 at ICC). She recently made a trip to China to the sites where her parents were missionaries and to where her father is buried.

Just a little serendipity to mention here: one of our Historical Society's members Faye Moreland called me this morning. Her brother was one of the soldiers who opened the gates of Santo Tomas for General McArthur to enter and liberate the camp. It was likely that Mrs. Chastain saw him then since she remembers when McArthur entered the camp. She was around 4 years old at the time.

Ya'll come if you can make it. Susie Dent, Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society ... nems.hgs@gmail.com"

FEBRUARY MEETING

2009-02-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

Please join us for our February Meeting! Here are details I received from Susie Dent, society President.

"The Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009 in the Helen Foster Auditorium, Lee County Library, 219 N. Madison, Tupelo, MS.
In observance of Black History Month, Mrs. Margaret Baker will present a program on 'Look How Far We've Come', a brief narrative on the Mrs. Baker's Allen Family of Verona. The program will contain songs and stories about the family from her birth in 1938 to the present day in 2009.
Mrs. Baker states 'I am a proud resident of the city of Verona. I retired from Sears, Roebuck and Company in 1999 after 32 years of service. I was elected the first African-American female alderman in 2001. I am a community volunteer, a certified T'ia Chi Chih teacher, certified Municipal Official and owner of Hems 'N More Alteration Shop. My passion is working to make a difference in the lives of others.'
The public is invited to attend the meeting. For more information, contact Susie Dent, 844-2307."

Hope to see you there!

JANUARY MEETING - GENEALOGY OF ELVIS!

2009-01-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

Susie Dent, President of the NMSHGS, sent me the following email regarding our January Meeting,

"As many of you 'history' buffs know, Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, MS. The Tupelo community and Elvis fans from around the world celebrate his birthday every January 8. We at the Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society are joining in on the celebration by having a program on the 'Genealogy of Elvis'.

"Longtime Tupelo historian Julian Riley has been researching the family tree of Elvis for more than 11 years. He shares his discoveries on his personal website: http://rootsofelvispresley.com/. (There is a fee to view the complete genealogy). Julian will be presenting a program on the 'Genealogy of Elvis' at 6 p.m., Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the Lee County Library for the Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society. Julian has been a presenter of several programs for the Society and his topics and presentations are always very interesting and well received.

"The public is invited to attend. For more information, contact Susie Dent at nems.hgs@gmail.com."

Hope to see you there!

Additions to LCL Genealogy Collection 6/08 - 10/08

2008-11-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

New Books added to the Genealogy Collection
Lee County Library
June 2008 – October 2008

Amherst County, Virginia in the Revolution: including extracts from the "Lost Order Book", 1773-1782 / by Lenora Higginbotham Sweeny.

Amite County, Mississippi, 1699-1865: b volume #1 / by Albert E. Casey ; assisted by Frances Powell Otken.

The Arkansas gazette obituaries index, 1819-1879 / by Stephen J. Chism. 1990

Arkansas pensioners, 1818-1900 : records of some Arkansas residents who applied to the federal government for benefits arising from service in federal military organizations (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian and Mexican wars) / compiled by Dorothy E. Payne. 1985

Armstrong genealogy : some of the descendants of John Armstrong and his wife, Sarah Hawthorn (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi) with associated families : Morgan, Porter, Ruff and Samford / compiled by Janice Roden. 2006

Booneville Funeral Home Records, 1990-2002 / Prentiss County Genealogical & Historical Society 2002

A brief history of Aberdeen and Monroe County, Mississippi, 1821-1900/ Bertie Shaw Robbins 1957

The Bristol registers of servants sent to foreign plantations, 1654-1686 / Peter Wilson Coldham 1988

British roots of Maryland families II / Robert W. Barnes 2002

Cemeteries of Grenada County, Mississippi and surrounding areas / compiled by Frances G. Martin 1999

Centerhill Cemetery, Plantersville, Mississippi (African American)/ compiled by Marjorie Norris

Chancery court records of Jackson County, Mississippi: will books, 1875-1925: minute books, administrative settlements and guardianships, 1875-1900/ extracted and compiled by the Ocean Springs Genealogical Society 2001

The Children's Aid Society of New York: an index to the federal, state, and local census records of its lodging houses, 1855-1925 / Carolee R. Inskeep 1996

Colonial Georgia genealogical data 1748-1783/ William H. Dumont; special publications of the National Genealogical Society, Number 36 1971

Concord, Massachusetts births, marriages and deaths, 1635-1850. Printed by the town 1895

Confederate casualties of the War for Southern Independence / by Betty C. Wiltshire 2008

Culpeper County Virginia: will books B and C, court suits, loose papers, inscriptions / compiled and published by Dorothy Ford Wulfeck 2003 (c1965)

Cutshall Funeral Home index 1925-2002 / Dianne Biddle 2002

Davis' Mississippi brigade : Army of Northern Virginia, a muster listing / H. Grady Howell, Jr. 2005

Death and marriage notices from the Montgomery Advertiser (1881) / compiled by Larry E. Caver, Jr. 2006

The deeds of Amherst County, Virginia / by Bailey Fulton Davis

Descendants of Isaac Grant of South Carolina / compiled by Martha Watkins Bourland and Don Lackey 2003

Descendents of James Sandlilands, 1st Laird of Calder / David Norris 2003

Descendents of Richard Denton / David Norris 2006

Eastern Cherokee by blood, 1906-1910: from the U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1910, Cherokee-related records of Special Commissioner Guion Miller / transcribed by Jeff Bowen 2005

English land grants in Mississippi : 1768-1780 / Winston De Ville 1986

Eskridge's early history of Tallahatchie County, Mississippi / edited by Chris B. Morgan

Expanded index for Judge Carroll's Historical sketches of Oktibbeha County, Mississippi / compiled by Judy Jacobson 1994

Family maps of Benton County, Mississippi: with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads, and more / by Gregory A. Boyd 2008

Family maps of Fayette County, Alabama: with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads, and more / by Gregory A. Boyd 2006

Family maps of Monroe County, Mississippi: with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads, and more / by Gregory A. Boyd 2007

Family maps of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads, and more / by Gregory A. Boyd 2006

Featherston's/Posey's/Harris' Mississippi brigade: Army of Northern Virginia, a muster listing / H. Grady Howell, Jr 2005

Genealogical and Historical notes on Culpepper County, Virginia. Embracing a rev. and enl. ed. of Dr. Philip Slaughter's History of St. Mark's Parish / Raleigh T. Green

Genealogical Guide : master index of genealogy in the Daughters of the American Revolution magazine, volumes 1-84 1994

Genealogies of New Jersey families: from the Genealogical magazine of New Jersey / selected and introduced by Joseph R. Klett 1996

Georgia marriages: early to 1800: a research tool / compiled, extracted & transcribed by Liahona Research, Inc. ; edited by Jordan R. Dodd 1990

The Georgians / Jeanette Austin 1984

Going to America / by Terry Coleman 1972

The heritage of Blount County, Alabama 1999

Hispanic Confederates / by John O'Donnell-Rosales 2006

Historical review of Arkansas: its commerce, industry and modern affairs/ by Fay Hempstead 1978 (c1911)

The history of Craighead County, Arkansas/ by Harry Lee Williams; with index prepared by Doris T. Thurman 1977 (1933)

History of Pickens County, Ala., from its first settlement: in Eighteen Hundred and Seventeen to Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-six/ by Nelson F. Smith 1994

History of the Arkansas press for a hundred years and more/ Fred. W. Allsopp 1978 (1922)

History of Walker County, its towns and its people/ by John Martin Dombhart 2002 (1937)

Holmes County, Mississippi, pioneers / Betty C. Wiltshire 1993

Indiana land entries. Vol. 2, Vincennes District. Part 1, 1807-1877/ Margaret R. Waters 2003 (1949)

Looking Back and Forth at the Thornton, Dickson, Milligan and Grubbs family from Pittsburg camp county Texas/ written by Greta Cates Leard. 1988

Irish passenger lists, 1803-1806: lists of passengers sailing from Ireland to America: extracted from the Hardwicke papers/ compiled under the editorial supervision of Brian Mitchell 1995

Jackson County, Mississippi school census, Years 1912, 1916, 1923 / Ocean Springs Genealogical Society 1989

Lawrence County, Alabama, marriage records: 1818-1884, compiled by the Federal writers' project of the Works progress administration for the state of Alabama

Lest we forget, or, Character gems gleaned from south Arkansas/ by J.H. Riggin; W.F. Evans, collaborator

The list of deaths: [a complete alphabetical list of recorded deaths in and around Wilkes County, Georgia] / by John Burdette Smith 1994

Madison County, Mississippi will abstracts / by Betty C. Wiltshire 1997

Marriage and death notices from Alabama newspapers and family records, 1819-1890 / compiled by Helen S. Foley 2005

Marriage bonds and ministers' returns of Charlotte County, Virginia, 1764-1815 / compiled and published by Catherine Lindsay Knorr 1982 (c1951)

Masonic deaths in Arkansas, 1838-1916 / abstracted and compiled by Arlene LaGrone 1999

Military annals of Carroll County, MS: [expanded] / by W.F. Hamilton and Betty Wiltshire 2004

Millers and descendants of Izard County, Arkansas: family genealogy indexed / by Dr. Don L. Womack 1990

Missing relatives and lost friends / by Robert W. Barnes 2008

Mississippi Confederate pension applications / by Betty C. Wiltshire

Mississippi marriage records, thru 1900: A –E (Multi-volume)/ Betty C. Wiltshire 2006

Mississippi wills: Volume 1, Lowndes County, 1830-1859: Monroe County, 1820-1830 / compiled by Betty Wood Thomas 1982

Montgomery County, Mississippi 1887 Winona Advance Newspaper (bits and pieces) / by Evelyn Bell Crouch and Christie Crouch Genola 2007

Montgomery County, Mississippi, abstracts of wills, Books I, II, III / by Evelyn Bell Crouch and Christie Crouch Genola 2006

My Henry family (Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and incidentally, Oklahoma). 1973

Passenger arrivals at the Port of New York, 1820-1829: from customs passenger lists / transcribed by Elizabeth P. Bentley 1999

Passenger arrivals at the Port of New York, 1830-1832: from customs passenger lists / transcribed by Elizabeth P. Bentley 2000

Records of Walker County, Alabama: including inscriptions from Cullman, Fayette, Marion, Winston, Talladega and Tuscaloosa counties / collected by Florence Knight Guttery ; compiled by Inez Boswell Biggerstaf

Red River Co. Texas cemeteries / Bertha L. Gable

Report of the Alabama history commission to the governor of Alabama. December 1, 1900. Ed. by Thomas McAdory Owen ... Vol. I 1901

Ruff-Betts family history 2006: researched and compiled by Marion Ruff-Griffin 2006

Scots in the Mid-Atlantic colonies, 1635-1783/ David Dobson 2002

Scottish family history/ David Moody 1994

Shaking your family tree: a basic guide to tracing your family's genealogy/ by Ralph Crandall 1986

Some indexed genealogical information derived from Judge Carroll's Historical sketches of Oktibbeha County, Mississippi / compiled by Judy Jacobson 1993

Some Missouri tombstones / [by Bertha L. Gable]. 1987

Some Russell County, Virginia records: births & deaths, 1853-1866 / compiled by Thomas Colley 1996

Surname index for Union County, Mississippi, cemetery records / indexed by James Tyler McCarley

Heritage of Wayne Co., MS. vol.II 2008

The Arkansas History Commission bulletin of information: numbers 13, 14, 15, 16

Third supplement to Torrey's New England marriages prior to 1700/ Melinde Lutz Sanborn 2003

Two hundred years of Roye history/ by Charline Roye Henderson 2007

The unpublished roll of honor/ compiled by Mark Hughes 1996

Veterans of Tallahatchie County, Mississippi/ compiled by Helen E. Staten Arnold and Nick Denley 1989

Veterans of World War II: Newton County, Mississippi/ compiled by Terry T. Lange, Harold Graham 2007

War of 1812 soldiers of Maury County, Tennessee/ edited by Jill K. Garrett 2006

Waters Funeral Home index 1927-2002/ Prentiss County Historical and Genealogical Society 2002

Webster (formerly Sumner) County, Mississippi marriage and will records: with Greensboro Cemetery / by Betty C. Wiltshire

Thank you for your patience...

2008-11-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

...to anyone who has been awaiting an update to our blog!

Regarding our next meeting, Society President Susie Dent has emailed the following notice:

"The next meeting of the Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the Lee County Library, Tupelo, MS. Storyteller and comedian Patsy "Aunt Patsy" Wilson will provide the program which promises to provide a lot of entertainment and laughter. Attendees are invited to bring holiday finger foods to share. There will not be a meeting in November due to the Thanksgiving holiday. "

**********************************************************************************

In other news, the _Tupelo Area Picture Postcards_ book has been published and is available for purchase at five locations: Reed’s Bookstore, LCL Friends gift shop, Village Green Bookstore, Oren Dunn Museum, and Miss Ruth’s Diner in Verona. This book would make an EXCELLENT gift for the historian in the family!

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal ran the following article on November 17, 2008.

LOCAL FOLKS:Wish You Were Here
11/17/2008 6:44:09 AM
Daily Journal
BY M. SCOTT MORRIS
Daily Journal

TUPELO - There's no going back to the way things used to be, but a team of amateur historians have put together a postcard from the past.

Actually, they've collected more than 100 postcards that show Main Street before it was paved, Tupelo Hospital before it was torn down and other scenes straight out of time.

"All we wanted to do was go back and give a history of this area," said Bill Lyle, 80, a Tupelo native. "How many people would know some of this stuff if we didn't have these postcards?"

The project began years ago, but it heated up this year. Lyle, "Mem" Leake, Boyd Yarbrough, Julian Riley and David Baker have borrowed postcards that were created between 1907 and 1955.

"We knew a lot of the collectors," Lyle said.

"We also asked around," 80-year-old Leake added. "One would tell about another, word of mouth."

The team converted the old postcards into computer files, created captions and arranged to publish their work.

The result is "Tupelo Area Picture Postcards," and it's available for $39.95 at Reed's Gum Tree Bookstore, Village Green, Oren Dunn City Museum and the Lee County Library gift shop, all in Tupelo, and Mrs. Ruth's Diner in Verona. Proceeds will benefit the Dunn museum and the Northeast Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society.

"This book is a picture postcard view of Tupelo," Leake said. "It's a different slant for most people."

Looking back

The 120 cards may change the way residents look at the familiar town of Tupelo. Consider the Confederate monument that's located on the Lee County Courthouse grounds. Several of the postcards from the 1920s show a different location.

"It was at the intersection of Broadway and Main streets, and there was a goldfish pond around it" Lyle said.

"One of the reasons it was moved was because of increased traffic," Leake said. "That was when, Bill?"

"1936," Lyle replied.

A postcard from 1907 shows wagons filled with cotton rolling down an unpaved Main Street, and you'll notice the Pound-Kincannon-Elkin Drug Store at the corner of Spring and Main streets.

An undated card shows the old Tupelo Hospital. The caption explains that before 1920 the building had been a YMCA and featured a swimming pool in its basement.

"Growing up in Tupelo, we had heard a lot of these stories for years," Lyle said, noting the fact that he and Leake were both 80 years old. "Some of it was new to us."

Getting the facts

In creating captions for the book, the team pulled information from the cards, performed research at the library and relied on their memories.

"That's a disclaimer," Lyle said. "I hope people will come back if they know something and tell us."

If a postcard featured a car in it, Allen McDaniel, curator of the Tupelo Automobile Museum, shared his expertise.

"He helped us date some of them," Leake said. "If he knew a car was from 1939, it gave us a range."

"We used circa' quite a bit," Lyle said. " There's no way to track them all down definitely.

"The book features churches, government buildings, private residences and more, but it's far from a complete view of Tupelo's past. For one thing, the team has almost enough postcards to put together another book.

"If anybody else has postcards, we would appreciate their letting us know," Lyle said. "We hope to have another volume eventually."

Contact M. Scott Morris at (662) 678-1589 or scott.morris@djournal.com.
Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 11/17/2008, section A, page 1

2008-08-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

August Meeting!

2008-08-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

Please join us for our August NEMSHGS meeting!

The meeting will be held at the

Lee County Library - Helen Foster Auditorium

Thursday, August 28, 2008, 6:00 p.m.

Wayne Mosely from the Church of Latter Day Saints

will give a program on Family Search.com.

For more information, please contact Susie Dent (president) at nems.hgs@gmail.com.