Discovering Mississippi History

Newsletter Sheds Light on History Projects in Wilkinson County

By Roscoe Barnes III

Copyright (c) 2018

#HistoricWoodville

#MississippiHistory

Newsletter published by the Woodville Civic Club Inc.

If you’d like to know some little-known facts and fascinating history about Mississippi, then it behooves you to follow the work of The Woodville Civic Club Inc. (WCC) in Woodville. You can do this by visiting Woodville and by reading the Civic Club’s newsletter. Civic Club news is also shared in The Woodville Republican.

Civic Club board members have given me permission to share their newsletter on this blog. The two-page publication is edited by WCC Executive Director Ernesto Caldeira. First published in the 1970s, it presents news, research and history projects about Wilkinson County, which is located in southwest Mississippi, just above the Louisiana state line. 

The newsletter includes updates and images related to the Wilkinson County Museum and the African-American Museum, both of which are located on the town square behind the courthouse in Woodville. Images of both museums appear at the top of the newsletter. The newsletter also features news about the on-going projects of volunteers who are working to help preserve local history.

The current issue, published in December 2017, features a report about the African-American Museum getting a “needed new start” with help from Mildred McGehee, former Superintendent of Education in Wilkinson County. She will be working as a volunteer with the Civic Club to develop more exhibits to complement the current ones that highlight the contributions of Anne Moody, William Grant Still, Scott Dunbar, and Lester Young. Headlines in the December issue include:

“Restoration plans in the works for The Old Woodville Cemetery”

“Two active Civic Club volunteers put up over 90 informative signs in our 242 site Historic District”

“Withers portraits donated to Museum”

“Donors Kick-Off Campaign”

“www.historicwoodville.com is getting needed help!”

Books and other literature on local history are available for purchase at the Wilkinson County Museum or through the website: www.historicwoodville.com. Tours of the two museums can be arranged by contacting the Civic Club via email at: info@historicwoodville.com.

Discover More about Wilkinson County!

For more information on the Woodville Civic Club Inc. and history related to Wilkinson County in southwest Mississippi, visit http://www.historicwoodville.org

You may also write to the organization at: Woodville Civic Club In., P.O. Box 1055, Woodville, MS 39669.

For a recent story on the Anne Moody display in the African American Museum, visit here.