Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is a state agency founded in 1902.[4] It is the official archive of the Mississippi Government.

Mississippi Department of
Archives and History
FormationFebruary 26, 1902 (1902-02-26)
TypeState Agency
PurposeArchive
Location
Coordinates32°18′02″N 90°10′43″W
Region served
Mississippi
Director
Katherine Blount[2]
Budget
$10 million (2015)[3]
Staff
122 (2015)[3]
Websitemdah.ms.gov

Location

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is located at 200 North St., Jackson, Mississippi next to the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. The William F. Winter Archives and History Building was dedicated on November 7, 2003.

History

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History developed from the Mississippi Historical Society in the interest of promoting and protecting "Southern Identity" through acquisition and preservation of historical records, especially those records pertaining to the American Civil War.[5] Legislation authorizing creation of Department of Archives and History was signed by Mississippi Governor Andrew Longino on February 26, 1902.[5] The Department of Archives and History is the second oldest state department of archives and history in the United States.[6]

In 1902, Dunbar Rowland, an attorney and historian, was selected as the first Director of the department and served in that position until his death in 1937.[5][7]

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History was tasked with providing clerical support of the redesign of the Mississippi state flag under the House Bill 1796,[8] which established the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag. On January 11, 2021 Governor Tate Reeves signed House Bill No. 1[9] which enacted the new Mississippi State Flag design "In God We Trust" into law.

Mission

The mission of Mississippi Department of Archives and History:

By preserving Mississippi’s diverse historic resources, and sharing them with people around the world, MDAH inspires discovery of stories that connect our lives and shape our future.[10]

Organizational structure and facilities

A director and a nine-member board of trustees[11] presides over the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and its five divisions, which include:[12]

  • Administration
  • Archives and Records Services
  • Historic Preservation
  • Museums
  • Programs and Communication

Administrative offices, as well as archivist work areas and archive storage areas, are located in the William F. Winter Archives and History Building. Completed in 2003, the 6-story structure contains 146,000 sq ft (13,600 m2).

The Historic Preservation Division is housed in the Charlotte Capers Archives and History Building, located at 100 South State Street, Jackson.[13] This division administers Historical Markers in Mississippi, Mississippi Landmarks, and National Register of Historic Places in Mississippi.[12]

The Museum Division provides administrative oversight for the following facilities and locations:[12]

The Programs and Communication Division, established in 2017, oversees programming, public information, publications, marketing, and education.[16]

See also

References
  1. William F. Winter Archives & History Building Archived 2015-01-23 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2015-01-20.
  2. Southern Studies Grad Katie Blount New Director of MDAH Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  3. Historic Natchez Foundation Annual Meeting, Natchez Democrat (January 21, 2015) Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  4. "About MDAH | Mississippi Department of Archives & History". www.mdah.ms.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  5. Speer, Lisa and Mitchell, Heather, The Mississippi Plan: Dunbar Rowland and the Creation of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists, Vol. 22, Issue 1 (2004) Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  6. Agency Profile—Mississippi Department of Archives and History Archived 2015-01-29 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2015-01-29.
  7. American National Biography Online—Dunbar Rowland. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  8. Gunn, Philip (2020-11-19). "House Bill 1796".
  9. Gunn, Philip (2021-11-09). "House Bill 1".
  10. "About MDAH | Mississippi Department of Archives & History". www.mdah.ms.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  11. MDAH Board of Trustees Archived 2015-01-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2015-01-20.
  12. Mississippi Department of Archives and History (About MDAH) Archived 2015-04-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  13. MDAH—Charlotte Capers Building Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  14. Museum of Mississippi History Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  15. Mississippi Civil Rights Museum Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  16. "About MDAH | Mississippi Department of Archives & History". www.mdah.ms.gov. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
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