Aviation in Mississippi: Flying to the South Pole

On July 12, 2011, in Artifacts, by Amanda
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We will be exploring Mississippi’s rich aviation history in this series. From early flight photographs to the moon landing and beyond, MDAH collections document this exciting part of our past. Special thanks to Nan Prince for writing this post.

Captain Parker's flag. Accession Number: 1962.355 (Museum Division Collection)

Captain Parker's flag. Accession Number: 1962.355 (Museum Division Collection)

This Mississippi state flag was carried by Mississippi native Captain Alton Parker while serving as a pilot on the Richard Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928-1929.  Parker served with distinction on Byrd’s earlier expedition to the North Pole and was chosen to accompany him to Antarctica.  On December 5, 1929, Parker piloted the flight that discovered the Ford Mountain Range. The expedition was the first to fly over the South Pole.

A native of Crystal Springs, Parker was honored by Mississippi on September 6, 1930, at a ceremony at the State Capitol after he returned home from the expedition.  The pilot gave this flag to his native state. The Jackson Daily News described the gift, saying, “The small flag was long in the frigid country, it whirred with its daring owner in airplanes over long stretches of the Antarctic wastes and eventually, with its owner, back in Mississippi.“1 Parker became a commercial pilot and logged more than two million miles in the air before his death in 1942.

Artifacts from the Museum Division collection that are not on exhibit are available for viewing by appointment only. Please contact Nan Prince, Asst. Director of Collections, by email to schedule an appointment.

1 “State’s Flag with Parker at South Pole,” Jackson Daily News, September 5, 1930, page 23. MDAH microfilm #21015.

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Remembering Veterans: Civil War

On May 23, 2011, in Artifacts, by Amanda
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In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, we will be highlighting collections related to the military history of Mississippi and veterans who served the state beginning with the territorial militia in 1797 through World War II (the most recent engagement for which we have collections). Special thanks to Jim Pitts, of the MDAH Government Records section, for compiling the military records and their descriptions and to Nan Prince, Museum Division, for compiling the artifacts.

Flag of the 18th Mississippi Infantry. Accession Number: 1962.477 (Museum of Mississippi History)

Flag of the 18th Mississippi Infantry. Accession Number: 1962.477 (Museum of Mississippi History)

This Confederate battle flag belonged to the 18th Mississippi Infantry Regiment and was captured by the 77th New York on May 3, 1863, during the Chancellorsville Campaign. The 18th had previously earned distinction in the Battle of Fredericksburg and went on to fight in many other engagements during the Civil War.

Artifacts in the collection of the Museum of Mississippi History are available for viewing by appointment only. Please contact Cindy Gardner, Director of Collections or Nan Prince, Asst. Director of Collections by email to schedule an appointment.

One of the most requested Civil War records in the MDAH collection are the veterans’ service records. We have those of Confederate and Union soldiers and also African Americans who served in the United States Colored Troops. These records are available to view on microfilm at MDAH.

Service record card of Confederate soldier. From: National Archives microfilm; compiled service records of Confederate units raised from Mississippi.

Service record card of Confederate soldier. From: National Archives microfilm; compiled service records of Confederate units raised from Mississippi.

The image above shows the compiled service record card of a private in the 36th Mississippi Infantry Regiment who was at the Battles of Iuka and Corinth and the Siege of Vicksburg.

Enlistment record of Union soldier. From: National Archives microfilm; compiled service records of Union units.

Enlistment record of Union soldier. From: National Archives microfilm; compiled service records of Union units.

The above image shows the enlistment record of an Arkansas farmer who joined this white Union battalion. The 1st Mississippi Mounted Rifles served in small actions in Mississippi from its organization in Memphis in March 1864 until its mustering out in June 1865.

Statement of service card for USCT soldier. From: National Archives microfilm; compiled service records of United States Colored Troops.

Statement of service card for USCT soldier. From: National Archives microfilm; compiled service records of United States Colored Troops.

The image above shows the compiled statement of service cards for a soldier with the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry, originally raised in October 1863 as the 1st Mississippi Cavalry (African Descent). The regiment participated in small actions in Mississippi until it was mustered out of service in January 1866.

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Mississippi — 193 Years Young Today!

On December 10, 2010, in Artifacts, Museums & Historic Sites, by Amanda
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Accession Number: 2001.31.1 (Museum of Mississippi History Collection)

This rare twenty star flag from the collection of the Museum of Mississippi History was made in 1818. The twenty star pattern United States flag was created after Mississippi’s entry into the Union as the twentieth state today in 1817. This pattern flag was only made for one year because a star was added to the flag when Illinois became a state in 1818.

Artifacts in the collection of the Museum of Mississippi History are available for viewing by appointment only. Please contact Cindy Gardner, Director of Collections or Nan Prince, Asst. Director of Collections by email to schedule an appointment.

Don’t forget about the second annual Statehood Day Celebration, featuring former governor William F. Winter, at the Old Capitol Museum today! Program starts at noon, with reception to follow. See a large photo version of the twenty star flag at the program! Call 601-576-6920 for more information.

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