Series 2704: State Capitol architectural historian's files. 1998-2004.
Dept. of Archives and History (RG 31/SG 4)

Series 2704: State Capitol architectural historian's files. 1998-2004.
Dept. of Archives and History (RG 31/SG 4)

      Files, including slides, photographs and contact sheets, from the State Capitol’s architectural historian. The position of architectural historian was created in 1999 in order to maintain a permanent representative of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) inside the State Capitol, built between 1901 and 1903. The architectural historian is primarily responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Capitol’s historic nature and, as the on-site MDAH representative, must be consulted before any regular maintenance or renovations are performed on the building. The historian also gives tours and talks on the history of the State Capitol, plans the annual Christmas decorations and the State Capitol leg of the annual Jackson candlelight tour, and often plays a role in organizing other special events held at the Capitol. Example of events covered in these files are the Declaration of Independence broadside’s stop in Jackson in 2003; the visit of the King and Queen of Spain to the Capitol in conjunction with the Majesty of Spain exhibit at the Mississippi Arts Pavilion; and the 2002 presentation of Medgar Wylie Evers’ papers to MDAH by his widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams. The files also contain extensive details on restoration and repair work carried out at the State Capitol, including repairs to the scagliola plaster and rotunda and the 2003 restoration of the Women of the Confederacy monument, as well as the retrofitting of office spaces for modern cubicle furniture. Limited records pertaining to the 1987 restoration of the Capitol are also present. Records types include correspondence, brochures from this and other state capitols, presentation and brochure drafts, invoices, monthly reports, and building plans. Files are arranged alphabetically by subject.

      In addition to paper files, this series contains a significant amount of visual material documenting events and repairs at the Capitol, as well as architectural features of the building. Slides make up the majority of this material, although photographs and contact sheets are also present, and all were taken by Alison Hopton Davis, the first architectural historian, as part of her duties. Events documented in the slides include the announcement of Amy Tuck’s 2003 change of party; a prayer service and flag rally for 9/11 held on Capitol grounds in September 2001; the inauguration of Governor Haley Barbour; the opening days of the 2000 and 2004 legislative sessions; the lying in-state of Governor Kirk Fordice in 2004; and the magnolia tree planting in honor of former Speaker Tim Ford. Photographs document the inauguration of Governor Ronnie Musgrove in 2000 and a press conference on the announcement of the selection of Canton, Mississippi for a new Nissan plant in 2000. Visual materials are separated by format into slides, photographs, and contact sheets, and are arranged alphabetically by subject within each format group.