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Check out this wonderful piece by my friend, Daye Dearing. The lecture she writes about will be given on Tuesday, November 26, at the Historic Natchez Foundation. It is free and open to the public.
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| Yvonne Lewis Day |
NATCHEZ – Yvonne Lewis Day, a noted writer and researcher, will talk about the collision and loss of the steamboat Monmouth at the Tuesday, November 26 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society.
Day’s topic is, “Who Will Sing My Name? The Loss of the Steamboat Monmouth.” She will discuss the loss of the steamboat, which occurred on October 31, 1837, just north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of about 400 Muscogee/Creek Indians who were being forcibly transported to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.
“The wreck of the steamboat Monmouth in 1837 is a tale of mystery, intrigue, and shame,” said Day. “The loss of 400 lives on that fateful night was the greatest death toll in a single incident on the Mississippi until the final days of the Civil War. Though my research has added new information, the story of the Monmouth remains without a final chapter, as of yet.”
The Trail of Tears, in this case, was by water and not land, Day noted.
Day’s presentation will be given at the Historic Natchez Foundation, at 108 S. Commerce St. It will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 6 p.m. The program, which is free to the public, is part of a lecture series that is funded by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council through funding by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Day said her illustrated presentation incorporates her original research conducted over the last decade. She will also share copies of archival materials relating to the 1837 tragedy. Her work has received recognition by representatives of the Muscogee Creek Nation, she said.
A recognized authority in several fields, Day is a local historian and genealogist. She is also a prolific writer and editor of works in the scientific and academic fields. According to her biography, she has been a keynote speaker or workshop leader at more than 900 local, state, national, and international conferences.
Day is a native of New Orleans. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Louisiana State University, where she pursued graduate studies in linguistics. She is also author of numerous publications, including a noted series on the cemeteries in Tangipahoa Parish and multiple volumes on family, state, and local history.
[Over the years, Day has held memberships with numerous organizations, the list of which includes the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Indians Committee. In addition to having served as past president of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana genealogical and historical societies, she served as state registrar and as chapter president and chapter registrar of the National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812.
Day has won state and national awards for her work. Her contribution to the field of history includes the 2022 donation of her collected publications and papers to Southeastern Louisiana University.
For more information Day’s presentation, call 281-731-4433 or 601-492-3004 or send email to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org
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| Lance Harris speaks during a program at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians (File photo) Click on image to enlarge. |
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Dr. Akinyele Umoja, author of “We Will Shot Back,” was our guest speaker. We were joined by the Natchez NAACP and the Mississippi NAACP. We’re grateful to Mississippi Humanities Council and Visit Mississippi for making this program possible.
Watch the Facebook Live video recording of the ceremony at this link:
See video recording of the unveiling ceremony at this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/15DC69MZP3/
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| Showing off t-shirts for the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument. Pictured from left are Lynsey Gilbert, interim director of Visit Natchez; Mallory Meng, community and programs manager for Visit Natchez; and Robert Pernell, chairman of the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee. (Click on image to enlarge.) |
The shirts are available for purchase at the Historic
Natchez Foundation at 108 S. Commerce St. The cost is $20 for sizes small,
medium, and large; and $23 for sizes 2X and 3X.
The shirts are off-white and feature an image of the
proposed monument — with three members of the Colored Troops — on the back
side. The committee’s logo is displayed on the front.
“This is one of several things we’re doing to raise money
for this important monument,” said Robert Pernell, who chairs the committee for
the monument. “This is a community endeavor that will be part of the local
landscape for generations to come. We believe it will serve to educate and
inspire our local citizens and the people who come to Natchez from all over the
world.”
Pernell said he is excited about the shirts and he
believes those who purchase them will love the design.
The estimated cost of the monument is $1.09 million,
according to Pernell. Sculptor Thomas Jay Warren of Warren Sculpture Studios in
Oregon is the official designer of the project.
In addition to selling shirts, the monument committee
continues to seek donations through businesses, church groups, civil clubs, and
individuals. The committee is also researching funding opportunities through
grants, Pernell said.
The monument will be located on the north end of the
Bluff at the corner of Madison and North Broadway streets. It will feature the
names of the Colored Troops that served with six regiments. These regiments
include: 6th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, 58th U.S. Colored Infantry, 70th
U.S. Colored Infantry, 71st U.S. Colored Infantry, 63rd U.S. Colored Infantry,
and the 64th U.S. Colored Infantry. The list of names will include those who
served in the Navy who were born in Natchez.
The selected names were provided by Dr. Frank Smith and
the African American Civil War Museum, where he serves as founding director.
For more information on this fundraising campaign, call 601-442-2500.
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Special to The Natchez Democrat
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I’m happy to report that two women from Natchez, MS, were members of the Six Triple Eight. Their names are Gwendolyn F. Johnson (1924 – 20...
