Biloxi Public Library

Biloxi

Part of the Harrison County Library System, the Biloxi Public Library is home to several sources for early Mississippi. Its Local History & Genealogy Department manages these materials, some of which were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Much of its earliest Resources are on microfilm and consists of 19th century Biloxi newspapers, Mississippi vital statistics, and official records of Harrison County. Items held by the Biloxi Public Library may be searched with the Harrison County Library System’s Online Catalog.

Historic Natchez Foundation

Natchez

Since 1974, the Historic Natchez Foundation has been collecting and preserving the documentary and material history of Natchez. The Foundation operates several Properties in Natchez that have historical value. Besides restoring and managing historic structures, the Foundation also maintains several Research Collections. Among these are the original records of Adams County, research files, photographs of the area, and books on Natchez’s history.

J. D. Williams Library

Oxford

The J. D. Williams Library serves as the main library for the University of Mississippi. Its Department of Archives & Special Collections is home to various early American sources. Among its holdings are over 69,000 rare books and over 800 manuscript collections. Strengths include the Antebellum Era, Civil Right & Race Relations, the Civil War, early American Foodways, Mississippi as Province & Territory, Native Americans, and Women’s Studies. There are also many Visual Collections and Photograph Collections. Material from these collections are often displayed in the J. D. Williams Library Exhibit. Several Research Tools are available to search the Special Collections’ holdings, such as Finding Aids, Subject Guides, and the Williams Library’s Online Catalog. Much of the Special Collections material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

Lauren Rogers Museum of Art

Laurel

The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art represents one of Mississippi’s most impressive collections of fine art. Its holdings are particularly strong for early America and include much 19th century American Art, Native American Art, and British Georgian Silver. The Museum also houses the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art Library. With over 10,000 volumes, it serves as one of Mississippi’s largest art history and art reference libraries. There are also several unique materials at the Library, such as manuscripts, correspondence, pamphlets, rare prints, and other archival holdings. Items held by the Lauren Rogers Museum may be searched with its Online Collections Database.

McCain Library and Archives

Hattiesburg

Part of the University of Southern Mississippi, the McCain Library and Archives holds a solid selection of early American sources. It has a large selection of unique and hard to find books, including the Sam Woods Rare Books Collection, the Walen Civil War Collection, and the Mississippiana Collection. Also at the McCain Library are various Historical Manuscripts that document Mississippi’s early history and culture, especially Mississippi’s territorial and Antebellum periods. Finding Aids and Research Guides are available. Items held by the McCain Library can be used with the Southern Miss Libraries’ online catalog, Seymour Info. Some of the McCain Library’s material has been digitized and can be viewed through the Digital Collections at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Mississippi Department of Archives & History

Jackson

The Mississippi Department of Archives & History (MDAH) serves as the official repository for the State of Mississippi. Its Collections are quite vast and document well the colonial, territorial, and early statehood of Mississippi and the surrounding region. Among these holdings are governors’ papers, Freedman’s Bureau records, county court records, newspapers, asylum records, Confederate pension applications, land records, private manuscripts, and much more. The MDAH’s collections concerning the Natchez District remain particularly important for the study of early Mississippi. A Master List of Microfilm, Finding Aids, and a Pre-1920 County Records Inventory are available. Items held by the MDAH may be searched with its Online Catalog. Several other databases are also available to assist researchers, such as the Freedmen’s Bureau Marriage Records and the County Court Case File Database. Much of the MDAH’s material has been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Archives.

Mitchell Memorial Library

Starkville

Mitchell Memorial Library serves as the main library for Mississippi State University. Its Special Collections holds an impressive amount of unique materials that document the history of not just Mississippi, but the entire southern United States. These Collections include a large selection of Rare Books, with strengths in early Mississippi book binding and legal history, agriculture, slavery, the Civil War. The Special Collections also holds over 700 manuscript collections, some of which date to the 18th century and chronicle well the history of Mississippi and the lower Mississippi Valley. Some representative collections include the Atkinson/Elliott Indian Agency Collection, the Lenoir Plantation Records, and the Bank of Mississippi Records. There are dozens of Finding Aids available. Besides the Special Collections, the Mitchell Library also maintains the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolnian. This collection has a focus on the life of Abraham Lincoln, his presidency, and the Civil War. Finding Aids are also available for this collection. The Mitchell Library is also home to the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library. It consists of over 15,000 linear feet of artifacts, books, correspondence, photographs, and other ephemera related to the United States’ 18th president. Items held by the Mitchell Library may be searched with its Online Catalog. Much of the Mitchell Library’s unique materials have been digitized and can be viewed through its Digital Collections.

Old Court House Museum

Vicksburg

Built in 1858, the Old Court House Museum is home to a large collection of early American sources. It holds thousands of material objects from Mississippi’s past, such as fine art, furniture, fashion, and other artifacts. The Museum also holds archival materials, which are housed in the Museum’s McCardle Research Library. These materials include hundreds of volumes related to Vicksburg’s history, cemetery records, census records, business directories, maps, marriage records, tax documents, and much more. A standout amongst these holdings is the Museum’s Civil War Manuscripts, a collection of hundreds of diaries, letters, military records, and various other ephemera related to the conflict. Items held by the McCardle Library may be searched with its Online Catalog.

Other State Archives & Sources

Many Mississippi counties still retain their earliest records, although some may have been destroyed by war and natural disaster. Check with local count clerks of court to see what is available. A useful resource for court records research is the Mississippi Genealogical Society’s Survey of Records in Mississippi Court Houses (Jackson, 1957). The Mississippi Historical Society maintains a list of Local Historical Societies. Many archives and research libraries in Mississippi are a part of the Mississippi Digital Library.

Several regional repositories hold sources related to early Mississippi, including the Alabama Department of Archives & History, Hill Memorial Library, The Historic New Orleans Collection, the Ned R. McWherter Library, and the Tennessee State Library & Archives. Early Mississippi sources can also be found at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

As a space of British, French, and Spanish colonization, Mississippi is well represented in the archives of all three countries. Check with the British Library and the National Archives at Kew in the United Kingdom, Archives Nationales d’Outre-Mer and the Bibliotheque Nationale de France in France, and in Spain at the Archivo General de Indias.