The Billups-Garth Archives in the Local History Department will be open this Saturday, May 18th from 10:00am-4:00pm.
It will be a great day to get in some genealogical research!
Dr. John Marszalek’s Presentation
On Tuesday, Dr. John Marszalek from Mississippi State University (MSU) shared with an audience of over 30 people how the United States army, or the Old Army as it was called, was small and largely stationed in the West at the beginning of the Civil War.
The Civil War, for a brief time, changed all that. With technological inventions such as the minie ball, the old methods of warfare were drastically changed. The minie ball was easier to load and shot much further.
After the war, however, due to the country’s desire to have a small to nonexistant standing military, the army returned to pre Civil War size and methods.
The next event in the “Civil War 150″ series will be the documentary The Underground Railroad on Thursday, May 23rd at 2:00pm in the Meeting Room of the Columbus Public Library.
All events are free and open to the public.
Below are a few more images from Dr. Marszalek’s presentation:
Dr. Marzsalek is the executive director and managing editor of the Ulysses S. Grant Association with MSU. To find out more about the Grant Association visit www.usgrantlibrary.org.
Tomorrow’s Civil War Event
Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14th at 2:00pm Dr. John Marszalek from Mississippi State University will speak on The Old Army and the Coming of the Civil War at the Columbus Public Library.
Dr. Marszalek will discuss what the United States Army was like in the years before the Civil War, especially the 1850s, and will compare its development with that of American society in general during those years.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information visit http://civilwar150columbusms.wordpress.com.
Throwback Thursday: Caledonia High’s FFA, FHA Annual Banquet in 1962
On May 9, 1962 the Commercial Dispatch published an article regarding the annual banquet given by the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the Future Homemakers of America (FHA) at the Caledonia High School gym.
Held for the students moms and dads, the program centered around a space theme that included talent numbers, a political speech by President John F. Kennedy, and a scientific experiment.
The event also included a modified Cape Canaveral launching center whereby two “martians” portrayed by Sandra Egger and Barbara Ott along with the head United States scientist, played by Amanda Betts, invaded the launching area asking for a look into the American way of life.
The highlight of the evening was the selection of the FFA and FHA sweethearts. Top honors went to then ninth graders Avery Duncan and Martha Robinson (above).
Second program in “Civil War 150″ series a real scorcher
Today Historian Grady Howell discussed how Jackson, MS was burned four different times over the course of the Civil War. Three of those instances were overseen by General Tecumseh Sherman.
The presentation was based on the research he conducted for his book Chimneyville: “Likenesses” of Early Days in Jackson, Mississippi (2009).
Howell showed a slideshow of images that included photographs as well as drawings of both people and buildings associated with Jackson during the War. He shared accounts from both Union and Confederate soldiers discussing the evacuation of the city and ultimate burning and destruction of both personal and public property.
The next event in the series will be Tuesday, May 14th at 2:00pm in the Meeting Room of the Columbus Public Library. Dr. John Marszalek from Mississippi State University will discuss The Old Army and the Coming of the Civil War. It will be free and open to the public.
For more information visit http://civilwar150columbusms.wordpress.com.
Historian Grady Howell next presenter in “Civil War 150″ series
Next event in the “Civil War 150″ series:
Tomorrow Tuesday, May 7th historian Grady Howell will present ‘Chimneyville,’ The Destruction of Jackson, MS during the Civil War, Fact or Myth! in the Meeting Room of the Columbus Public Library at 2pm.
This presentation lays out the facts pertinent to what happened during the four occupations of Jackson, MS by Federal forces during the Civil War.
It is free and open to the public.
For more information visit
http://civilwar150columbusms.wordpress.com/events.
Eugenia “Genie” Morgan (1872-1894) letters donated to Archives
Over 70 letters written by Eugenia “Genie” Morgan to Jemison Prowell from 1889 to 1890 were recently donated to the Billups-Garth Archives.
Genie’s parents were John D. Morgan and Mary Couch Morgan of Columbus.
In the 1880- 1890′s, John D. Morgan owned and operated a wholesale grocery and merchantile business named Morgan, Robertson & Co.
He frequently traveled for business and allowed his daugher to accompany him. In July 1890, he spent a month at ”The Oaks” resort in Asheville, NC. He traveled by train accompanied by his daugher, Genie, and his sister, Genie Moore. The letter shown below is from this trip.
J.D. Morgan and family were also among the founding families of the First Baptist Church.
Genie, along with her two best friends and cousins Rachel and Maggie, attended Judson College in Marion, Alabama. In the fall of 1889, Genie became very sick and could not return to college that year. Many of the letters in the collection were written during this time.
The letters were all written to her sweetheart and second cousin Jemison Prowell. His family owned a hardware business in Birmingham, Alabama.
Genie died in 1894 at the age of 21.
Her letters eventually passed to Jemison’s younger brother, John.
To find out more about the genealogy of Genie Morgan visit: http://trees.ancestrylibrary.com/tree/36603833/person/18959828840.
Genie Morgan on left. From the book “Lowndes County, Mississippi: A Photographic Reminiscence, 1830-1980″.
Billups-Garth Archives Open this Saturday
The Billups-Garth Archives will be open this Saturday, May 4th from 10:00am-4:00pm.
Be sure to stop in and look around!
MUW student exhibit at public library
Mississippi University for Women history student, Whitney Russell, will be exhibiting her research on “Columbus and the Holocaust, 1933-1945″ where she explores connections between Columbus, Mississippi and World War II and the Holocaust in Germany.
The exhibit will be on display on the first floor of at the Columbus Public Library from April 30th-May 10th. It is free and open to the public.
The exhibit will have sensitive material due to the subject matter and may not be suitable for children under 11 years of age.
Billups-Garth Archives Hours
The Billups-Garth Archives will be closed the following dates and times:
Friday, April 26th
All day
Monday, April 29th
Closed (holiday)
Tuesday, April 30th
Closed 9:00am-12:30pm
We apologize for any inconvenience.
