Series 1254: Executive Director's Correspondence - E. R. Hilliard. 1955-2004.
Dept. of Archives and History. Administration (RG 31/SG 2).

Series 1254: Executive Director's Correspondence - E. R. Hilliard. 1955-2004.
Dept. of Archives and History. Administration (RG 31/SG 2).

      Correspondence of Director Elbert R. Hilliard, who served from 1973-2004, regarding all aspects of the work and duties of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The correspondence is arranged by subject alphabetically.

      Filing methods in the office have changed somewhat through the years. In the earliest years (prior to and through 1974) the files were retained from year to year and added to when necessary. From 1974 through 1990 the files were usually more clearly kept for a one-year time period, although there are still some instances where more than one year's correspondence was kept in a multi-year file. After 1990 the files have been kept for a single year at a time.

      There have also been variations in subject arrangement. For example, state agencies have sometimes all been filed under "Mississippi" as in "Mississippi Adjutant General," and at other times the word "Mississippi" is omitted and the materials are filed under "Adjutant General." Materials for the Dept. of Archives and History itself, such as monthly reports and inter-office memos, are often filed under "M" and "I" respectively, rather than under "Dept of Archives and History" as might be expected. Other filing procedures include the use or non-use of acronyms in the file title; filing general correspondence at the beginning or at the end of the alphabetical letter files; and folder titles not always reflecting the full title as used to alphabetize (e.g., a folder entitled "Dept. of Economic Development" may be filed in the "M" correspondence under "Mississippi Dept. of Economic Development").