Z 1940.000 United Daughters of the Confederacy (Calhoun and Yalobusha Counties) Records

The Mississippi Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy held its first convention on April 27, 1897, at Meridian, but individual chapters had already begun organizing as early as 1893. The Yalobusha County Chapter No. 1033, Coffeeville, was formed sometime between May 1906 and May 1907, and it was active until 1958. Another Coffeeville chapter, No. 457, was chartered on April 20, 1901, but it was inactive by 1916.

The Southern Cross of Honor was a bronze medal given by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to a Confederate veteran of the army or navy, his widow, or his eldest lineal descendant. The idea originated in 1898 with Mary Ann Lamar Cobb Erwin, and the design was submitted by Mrs. S. E. Gabbett in 1899. The medal was cast in the shape of a Maltese cross at a cost of thirteen cents. The design and cost were to be kept simple so that the medal itself would not be intrinsically valued but that its sentimental value would increase with time.

The first Southern Cross of Honor medal was awarded on April 26, 1900, one of the memorial days designated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The medal was awarded until 1951. Apparently, no more medals were available after that time. The United Daughters of the Confederacy began collecting medals for donation to museums in 1954.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy has continued giving other memorial awards to veterans of foreign wars. The idea of the Cross of Military Service, given to descendants of Confederate veterans serving in other wars, originated in 1918 with Mary B. Poppenheim and was first awarded in 1923 for service in World War I.

This collection contains forty-five certificates of eligibility and nine records of recipients of the Southern Cross of Honor. The certificates of eligibility were filed from May 12, 1908, through May 10, 1912, by veterans who were residents of Calhoun and Yalobusha counties. The records of recipients identify the chapter bestowing the awards as the "Yalobusha U.D.C. 1033" from Coffeeville, Mississippi. The dates of bestowal are from June 3, 1908, through October 20, 1912. Of particular interest as a source for genealogical and historical information are the listings of veterans' units and time of service. There is no index.

1. Certificates of Eligibility. 1908-1912. 1 folder.
2. Records of Recipients. 1908-1912. 1 folder.