A MDAH Publication  |  Volume 43 No. 5  |  May 2001

What Do You Know About Mississippi’s Spanish Era? Take the Quiz

Fortieth Anniversary of
Old Capitol Museum Celebrated

Patti Black, former director of the Old Capitol Museum and the first to sign the guest register when the Museum opened March 21, 1961, returned with her granddaughter Ann to sign the register again, enjoy birthday cake and punch, and reminisce with president of the MDAH Board of Trustees William F. Winter, MDAH director Elbert R. Hilliard, current Museum director Donna Dye, and friends of the Museum.

Soul Stirrings Presented

Joyce Mollie-Jean Coleman (seated), former corporate vice president at TWA and author of Soul Stirrings: How Looking Back Gives Each of Us the Freedom to Move Forward, presents a copy of her book, which chronicles her childhood in Wilkinson County. Standing (l-r): Elsie Qualls (Coleman’s sister), Tylertown; William F. Winter, president, MDAH Board of Trustees; Esther Harrison, Columbus; Rep. Alyce Clark, Jackson; Libby Aydelott, president, Mississippi Historical Society; Elbert R. Hilliard, MDAH director; and Donna Dye, Old Capitol Museum director.

Mississippi History Day Winners

Junior Historical Society chapters from junior high and high schools around the state competed for prizes April 7 at Mississippi History Day, held at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, according to Mary Beth Farrell, Junior Historical Society state sponsor. Quizmaster Bradley Bond, USM history department, conducted the annual Mississippi History Quiz Bowl, and Grenada High School and Murrah High School, Jackson, carried off the prizes for the senior division. Grenada Middle School and N. R. Burger Middle School, Hattiesburg, dominated prizes for the Junior Division. The Overall Winner for the Senior Division was Elizabeth Sellers, Grenada High School; the Junior Division Overall Winner was Kate Goertzen, N. R. Burger Middle School. Kate Goertzen also received the Oral History Award. Quiz Bowl winners were Rowan Campus, Hattiesburg High School, Senior Division; and Solomon Junior High School, Greenville, Junior Division. First and second place winners in all categories except the Quiz Bowl are eligible to compete at the National History Day Competition, June 14-18, in College Park, Maryland. To help a student or group attend National History Day, please contact Mary Beth Farrell at 601/266-4333.

Winterville Mounds Dedicated as a National Historic Landmark

About one hundred people assembled April 7 for the dedication of the Winterville Mounds as a National Historic Landmark. Mark Barnes, senior archeologist, National Park Service, presented the NHL plaque. Eleanor Schnabel, Winterville Mounds director, and Elbert R. Hilliard, MDAH director, also addressed the group regarding the history and significance of the site, which was built by a Native American civilization c. A.D. 1000 to 1450.

Museum Grants Awarded

Published by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History • Elbert R. Hilliard, director • Chrissy Wilson, editor
Please send correspondence to: MHN, P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205 or email to pubinfo@mdah.state.ms.us