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Mississippi Historical Society
2006 Annual Meeting
March 2–4, Natchez, Mississippi
Mississippi's Landscapes: An Environmental History
The 2006 meeting of the Mississippi Historical Society will examine the environmental history of the state. The theme was chosen in the summer, before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the lower half of the state.
"It was coincidental, but it could not have been more timely," said Program Committee chair Connie Lester. "Hurricane Katrina is too recent an occurrence to deal with in depth at this meeting, but I hope this program can help place it in its historical context."
The meeting, titled "Mississippi's Landscapes: An Environmental History," will take place March 2-4 in Natchez. The three sessions will focus on Mississippi towns, the Mississippi River, and the state's natural history.
 "The speakers will deal with such diverse subjects as the African American community of Turkey Creek on the Gulf Coast, the Great Flood of 1927, and the effect of place on southern identity," said Mississippi Historical Society president Martha Swain. "We look forward to an outstanding program."
 The keynote speaker will be James Cobb, the Spalding Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Georgia, who will present "The Hereditary Environment: Space, Place, and Southern Identity." Cobb won the Mississippi Historical Society's McLemore Prize in 1993 for his book The Most Southern Place on Earth: The Mississippi Delta and the Roots of Regional Identity. His most recent book is Away Down South: A History of Southern Identity.
 Also speaking will be Pete Daniel, president of the Southern Historical Association, who will present "Writing Toxic Drift." Daniel is curator for the Division of the History of Technology of the National Museum of American History. He is author of the award-winning Breaking the Land: The Transformation of Cotton, Tobacco, and Rice Cultures Since 1860 and Lost Revolutions: The South in the 1950s.
In addition to the scholarly presentations there will be a luncheon, banquet, and awards luncheon announcing, among other prestigious MHS awards, the McLemore Prize for best book of 2005, the Bettersworth Award for best history teacher of 2005, the B.L.C. Wailes award for national distinction in the field of history, and the Dunbar Rowland Award for lifelong contributions to the field of Mississippi history. Also planned are a tour of the William Johnson House and the exhibit "Natchez in Historic Photographs" and a reception to honor outgoing society president Martha Swain.
The Federation of Mississippi Historical Societies annual workshop will move from Friday to Thursday this year. The workshop, titled "Conservation: Do It Yourself vs. Call the Pros," will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Historic Natchez Foundation. Registration for the workshop, including lunch, is $35 for federation members, $40 for non-members.
The Natchez Eola Hotel will serve as the headquarters and location for the lectures and workshops. An opening reception at Rosalie on Thursday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m. will welcome participants.
Program chair Connie Lester, University of Central Florida, has scheduled speakers Curtis Austin, University of Southern Mississippi; Libby Hartfield, director, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science; Tom Howorth, Howorth and Associates, Oxford; Madge Lindsey, director, Audobon Mississippi; Dick Molpus, president, Molpus Woodlands Group, Jackson; Sara Morris, doctoral student, Purdue University; Lynne Mueller, Special Collections, Mississippi State University; Princella Nowell, Winterville; Mattie Sink, Special Collections, Mississippi State University; and Stephen Sloan, University of Southern Mississippi.
The registration fee for members of the Mississippi Historical Society is $15 for individuals and $20 for couples; or $40 for individuals and $55 for couples and includes MHS membership. To register, send the completed form available online at mdah.state.ms.us/admin/news/mhsregfrm_06.pdf with a check made payable to the Mississippi Historical Society to P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205-0571.
Luncheon and banquet reservations must be made by Thursday, February 23. Space is limited. A block of rooms has been reserved at a special rate of $79 plus tax at the Natchez Eola Hotel, Natchez, 866-445-3652 and 601-445-6000. The special rate is good through February 15. When making reservations members should specify that they are attending the Mississippi Historical Society meeting.
For more information contact Betty Kearney, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 601-576-6849, or email mhs@mdah.state.ms.us
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