I had the pleasure of speaking Sunday (2/16/2025) at the Annual Black History Program at Greater St. James Baptist Church in Natchez. My topic was "Black History: Why It Matters." We had a great time. In the photo, Pastor Johnson is on my right, and Deacon Lyles is on my left. (Click on image to enlarge.)
A marker commemorating Prince Ibrahima has been approved for Silver Street by the Natchez Preservation Commission. The marker will be located near a lamp post on the west side of the street. Its precise location is indicated by the red circle on the left side of the post. Source: Image capture August 2024 (c)2025 Google (Click on image to enlarge.)
NATCHEZ, Miss. — The Natchez Preservation Commission
recently approved a site for a marker on Silver Street that will honor Prince
Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori. That approval came Wednesday, February 12 during a
regular meeting of the commission.
Visit Natchez and the City of Natchez sought approval for
the location, which is near the landing dock on the west side of Silver Street
in the grassy area near the sidewalk overlooking the river. The property is
owned by Silverland Inc., which has given its support for the project.
In his report on the requested location, Interim City
Planner Riccardo Giani shared his assessment, stating, “Prince Ibrahima is one
such figure in Natchez’s history whose captivating and important story offers a
valuable opportunity to educate future generations about his time. The
applicant has provided supporting documentation for this marker, including its
proposed location.”
Carter Burns, executive director of the Historic Natchez
Foundation, welcomed the news. “I am glad to see Prince Ibrahima recognized
with an official state historic marker in Natchez,” he said. “He was an
extraordinary man with an extraordinary life. The landing is an
appropriate location for it since he arrived and departed from Natchez at that
site.”
Ibrahima (1762-1829) was an African prince who spent 40
years enslaved on Thomas Foster’s plantation near Natchez. When he came to
Natchez in 1788, he arrived at the landing dock, which is also the place where
he and his wife, Isabella, departed Natchez with their freedom in 1828.
Ibrahima’s marker will be acquired through the
Mississippi Department of Archives and History. In keeping with the
Preservation Commission’s guidelines, the marker will be parallel with the
street and located close to the lamp post that has an existing marker nearby.
Ibrahima’s marker will be the same distance from the lamp post as the existing
marker on the opposite side.
Lynsey Gilbert, interim director at Visit Natchez, said
the location is ideal for the marker. “It will be seen by thousands of
visitors, especially those traveling on the Mississippi River cruise ships,”
she said. “Silver Street is frequented by many tourists and local residents
throughout the year.”
Mayor Dan Gibson said he was excited about the project
and the recognition it will give to Ibrahima’s legacy.
“On behalf of the City of Natchez, I want to express our
gratitude to Dr. Roscoe Barnes and all who have worked to make this happen,”
Gibson said. “Prince Ibrahima’s story has long been a source of inspiration to
so many, not only here in Natchez but all across the world.
“His is a story of both triumph in the midst of
adversity and of love overcoming hate. We have a number of the Prince’s
descendants in Natchez, and I share their excitement to see this part of our
amazing Natchez story being told. We consider him to be ‘Our Prince’.”
Once the application for the MDAH marker is submitted and
approved, it will take at least six months for the marker to be manufactured
and delivered to Natchez for installation.
The Silver Street marker will be the second one
commemorating the prince in the Natchez-Adams County area. In October 2024, the
Natchez Historical Society approved a donation for a marker off of Highway 61
North near the Historic Jefferson College.
See more at this link: https://listenupyall.com/2025/02/14/marker-for-prince-ibrahima-gets-green-light-for-silver-street/
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Monroe Sago, co-owner of the Rhythm Night Club Memorial
Museum, views a video recording of Sidney Fowler, a survival of the night club
fire that occurred April 23, 1940. Visitors can now view recordings of Fowler
and other survivors in the museum’s theater room. (Click on image to enlarge.) |
NATCHEZ, Miss. — The Rhythm Night Club (On Site) Memorial Museum has opened a theater room where visitors can watch recordings of the people who survived the fatal fire of April 23, 1940 – the deadliest club fire in the nation’s history.
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| Dr. Roscoe Barnes III (Click on image to enlarge.) |
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| (Click on image to enlarge.) |
His family shared his final, heartwarming message on YouTube
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| Karen Hill, president of the Natchez Historical Society, presented Lance S. Harris with the 2025 Historic Preservation Award at the society’s annual dinner on Tuesday, January 28, at the Natchez Grand Hotel. Harris is sites operation administrator for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (Click on image to enlarge.) |
Recognition of board members
During the business portion of the meeting, Hill thanked the society’s board members for their work. She acknowledged the board members who were leaving after completing their term. In addition to herself and Roscoe Barnes III, publicity chair, the departing board members included Norma Bearden, membership chair, and Adam Gwin, vice president.
Hill also thanked former board members Mary Eidt, Mike Gemmell, Page Ogden, Maria Bowser, and her husband, Charlie Hill, for their service, and all the other members who helped her along the way.
Hill introduced the new board members, who include Ginny Benoist, president; Nicole Harris, vice president; Fran Trappey, secretary; Al King, treasurer; Daye Dearing, program chair; Bobby Denis, communications and public relations chair; Elodie Pritchartt, publicity chair; Julianna Rabb, membership chair; and Laura Tate, hospitality chair.
Award presentation
Each year, the society presents a preservation award that honors individuals or organizations who have made a significant contribution to historic preservation or the study of history within the Natchez area.
This year, the award went to Harris, who was presented a plaque with the inscription: “Natchez Historical Society Proudly Presents THE PRESERVATION AWARD to Lance S. Harris For Significant Contributions to Historic Preservation, January 2025.”
Harris offered his appreciation for the award: “Natchez has held a special place in my heart for a long time. Many of you know that I had been an annual visitor to the city since my teenage years. Those trips fueled my love of history leading to my collegiate and professional career in the public history and museum sectors.
“I met my beautiful wife Nicole in graduate school and after spending a dozen years in Louisiana, we recrossed the river to Natchez right at 10 years ago. I am thankful that the community embraced us with open arms and has been such a special place to raise our children, Amelie and Roan.”
Finance report
Al King, the society’s treasurer, presented the annual financial report for the society. He said 2024 was a good year and the society looks forward to the new year with more exciting programs and new projects.
In 2024, the society made a donation to support a historical marker for Prince Ibrahima near Historic Jefferson College. King said the organization wants to support other projects in 2025.
In addition to providing support for the marker, King said the society upgraded its website and sound system.
King presented a financial report that shows a total of $7,491 in income receipts and a total of $10,982 in expenses. The society’s total ending net assets for 2024 were $318,129. The amount is up from $276,429 in 2023.
“We’re in good shape,” King said, noting the total for the net assets was due to “the good stock market.”
King acknowledged the $2,400 grant awarded to the society by the Mississippi Humanities Council. The grant helps cover its monthly lecture series from September through May.
King also acknowledged the contribution of Geoff Butcher and Jim Johnson, who own The Carriage House at Myrtle Terrace. They provide housing at their guest house for out-of-town speakers at the society’s monthly meetings.
2025 Goals
The mission of the Natchez Historical Society is to serve as a resource for the research, development, presentation, remembrance, and understanding of the formative history of the Natchez area. With that in mind, its goals for 2025 and beyond include:
* Collecting historical material about Natchez and Adams County
* Cooperating with officials in ensuring the preservation and accessibility of local records
* Disseminating historical information through publications and other means
*Preserving historic buildings, monuments, and markers
* Conducting meetings with lectures, papers, and discussions
* Participating in relevant field trips and tours
After serving for many years on the society’s board, Hill said she is grateful for all the things she has learned about Natchez.
“When i first accepted the Program Chair in 2017, I knew little about Natchez and Mississippi history,” she said. “Once I started studying and researching, I realized the national and global people and events in this area. I couldn’t get enough!”
With its new president and other board members, the society is in good hands, Hill said, and she looks forward to seeing the exciting things ahead.
I had the pleasure of speaking Sunday (2/16/2025) at the Annual Black History Program at Greater St. James Baptist Church in Natchez. My t...
