Yvonne Lewis Day to discuss the 1837 loss of steamboat Monmouth

By Roscoe Barnes III
Listenupyall.com
Natchez, MS
Nov. 15, 2024; 1:06 p.m.

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

Harris named winner of 2025 Historic Preservation Award

By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat
Published 3:50 pm Friday, November 15, 2024

Lance Harris speaks during a program at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians (File photo)
Click on image to enlarge.

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Lance S. Harris, sites operation administrator for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, is the winner of the 2025 Historic Preservation Award presented by the Natchez Historical Society, announced Karen Hill, president of the society.
 
The award honors individuals or organizations who have made a significant contribution to historic preservation or the study of history within the Natchez area. It is presented in January at the society’s annual dinner.
 
“Lance Harris’ contributions to the historic preservation and the history of Natchez are unmistakable,” said Hill. “His work is invaluable, as it helps to broaden our understanding and appreciation of local history.”
 
Harris said he was surprised and grateful to learn that he was named the recipient of the award.
 
“Natchez is not just a place of regional or national importance, but of true international significance,” he said. “It has also had a special place in my heart for a very long time. I am forever grateful for the embrace of the community for my family ten years ago and the opportunity to learn and share about Natchez with others during that time. This award is a treasure and I sincerely appreciate the honor.”
 
Harris served for eight years as the executive director of the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians. However, his contribution to Natchez history extends far beyond his work at the Grand Village.
 
Preserving and sharing history
 
MDAH Director Katie Blount said the award is a “fitting way to recognize Harris for his commitment to ensuring historic stories are preserved as an endowment for future generations.” She commended him for the recognition.
 
“We congratulate Lance on being selected as the recipient of the 2025 Historic Preservation Award by the Natchez Historical Society,” Blount said. “Lance’s dedication to preserving and sharing the history of Mississippi’s multicultural heritage has been an essential asset at MDAH. We’ve drawn on his deep knowledge and insight over the years – most recently for the ongoing restoration of Historic Jefferson College and the planned interpretive center at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.”
 
Blount said that Harris is known for making tangible connections to people and places.
 
“It’s not surprising to learn he participated in events celebrating Native American heritage when he was a youth,” she said. “It takes that kind of keen interest to fully embrace the purpose and mission of preservation. He’s inspired his colleagues, community leaders and others who know him through his volunteerism and his thoughtful and collaborative approach to preservation.”
 
Since 2016, Harris has served as a commissioner on the board of the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission (NCPC) that oversees Visit Natchez. For five years, he led the board as president.
 
Recognized by friends and colleagues
 
Harris’ contribution to local history is acknowledged by colleagues, friends, and elected officials throughout Natchez.
 
“I can think of no one more deserving of this prestigious award,” said Mayor Dan Gibson. “Lance has for many years gone above and beyond to be a true asset to Natchez. Not only has he been such a great caretaker of the Natchez Grand Village and now contributing such leadership to the redevelopment of Historic Jefferson College, he has also served voluntarily in so many ways, from Visit Natchez to our Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee. We salute Lance and congratulate him on this great award.”
 
Dr. Chuck Borum, chairman and director of the Natchez Powwow, said Harris deserves a lot of praise and attention. “I have known Lance since he was a teenager and was participating in events at the Grand Village site here in Natchez,” Borum said. “He has been a fantastic director with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and he has really become super involved in many, many activities that promote the City of Natchez, especially its rich history.”
 
Harris is a native of Laurel. He and his wife, Nicole, moved to Natchez with their children in 2015 from Lafayette, Louisiana. Since their arrival, they have been active in many programs throughout the community.
 
Harris’ love of history and diverse cultures prompted him to support Native American tradition for many years. Since the age of 15, he has traveled to dances and events throughout the country, including the Natchez Powwow.  He said it was this connection that led to his coming to the Grand Village in 2015.  Since then, he has enjoyed bringing indigenous people of Natchez (pronounced Nahchee) descent back to the site to share their culture and assist in the new planning at the site.
 
Scholarship and volunteer service
 
Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Anthropology from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he also completed 63 hours of graduate studies towards an Applied Cultural Heritage Studies, Dual Master of Arts in History and Anthropology. Harris earned an Associate of Arts at Jones County Junior College.
 
While living in Natchez, Harris published articles and participated in numerous panel discussions. He also gave scores of presentations on Native American history, among other topics.
 
Harris has served on many committees helping volunteer groups throughout the local community. He currently chairs the Design Subcommittee for the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee. In this capacity, he helped to secure a sculptor/designer and a concept of the monument for the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops.
 
Harris recently assisted the Natchez Historical Society with its application for the Prince Ibrahima marker. Since 2021, he has served on the Natchez Civil Rights Trail Committee which has succeeded in bringing two Mississippi Freedom Trail markers to Natchez.

Read more at: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2024/11/15/harris-named-winner-of-2025-historic-preservation-award/
 
 

VIDEO: Mississippi Freedom Trail marker unveiled for Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice

(Click on image to enlarge.)

On Saturday, November 9, 2024, we held a ceremony for the unveiling of a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker for the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice in Natchez, Mississippi. It was a great program and wonderful tribute to the men who made a difference in the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez in the 1960s.

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:

 https://www.facebook.com/share/15DC69MZP3/

Ceremony honoring Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice

Dr. Roscoe Barnes III is speaking at the November 9, 2024, ceremony for the unveiling of the Mississippi Freedom Trail marker for the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice. The program was held at Zion Chapel AME Church in Natchez, Mississippi. Photo by Ben Hillyer Photography (Click on image to enlarge.)

See video recording of the unveiling ceremony at this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/15DC69MZP3/

Natchez Colored Troops committee announces t-shirt fundraising campaign

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Nov 7, 2024 | 11:27 AM

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.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. — The Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee is selling t-shirts to raise funds for the monument that will honor more than 8,000 Black men who served at Fort McPherson in Natchez during the Civil War.

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.

Veterans Week programs announced for Miss-Lou

By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat
Published 4:58 pm Wednesday, November 6, 2024

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Special to The Natchez Democrat 

NATCHEZ — Several Veterans Day programs will be held in Natchez, Vidalia, and Ferriday between November 6 and 12. Veterans of the U.S. military will be honored in schools, a park, a church, and in civic club gatherings, among other places.

 
In Natchez, G. Mark LaFrancis will be honored posthumously as the Patriot of the Year. LaFrancis passed in June 2024 following a long battle with cancer. He was the founding president of Home with Heroes Foundation Inc. The foundation is a private non-profit organization that works to help and honor veterans, as well as their loved ones.

U.S. Air Force veteran John “Captain Jack” Kerwin will be honored as the Veteran of the Millennia. U.S. Army veteran Ben Tucker, chairman of the board for Homes with Heroes, will serve as grand marshal for the city’s Veterans Day Parade.

 
“Veterans Day is a time of saying thank you,” said Mayor Dan Gibson. “Our community is full of patriots who have served, even those currently serving, who remind us that freedom is not free but rather comes at a price. I encourage all of our citizens to pause on November 11 to say thank you. And I hope all will take part in our special activities scheduled for this special day.”

 
Vidalia, November 6

On Wednesday, November 6, the Point Man International Ministries of the Miss-Lou,  a non-profit interdenominational Christian service organization that supports veterans and their families, will present a program honoring veterans at the Vidalia Lions Club luncheon at 402 Carter Street, Vidalia, according to Doug McCallister, the organizations president. He said his organization will give a status report of the “Cost of Freedom Tribute” memorial, among other things.

 
McCallister is a Vietnam Army veteran. He said this program and others organized by him, including those in which he participates, are done in partnership with the VFW Post 9573, the Vidalia American Legion Post 590, and the Natchez American Legion Post 4.  

For more information, call McCallister at 601-431-2096.
 
Natchez, November 10

 
The 14th Annual Veterans Recognition program where veterans from the Miss-Lou area are honored and presented gift bags will be held at 8 a.m., Sunday, November 10,  at Zion Hill #1 Baptist Church at 349 Lower Woodville, Road. The event is free and open to the public.  Door prizes also will be given, announced Alice Jones, the 2024 chairperson for the program.  For more information, call 601-442-2782.

 
Natchez, November 11

 
Home with Heroes will support several Veterans Day programs on Monday, November 11, that will begin with Mayor Gibson leading a bench dedication ceremony at 10:30 a.m. for U.S. Navy veteran Steve Nielsen at Memorial Park. This news was shared by retired Army Lt. Col. Larry Smith, president of Home with Heroes.

 
Smith said the ceremony will be followed by a parade at 11 a.m. that begins at the park and proceeds on Main Street to the Bandstand on the Bluff on Broadway Street. Ben Tucker will be the grand marshal. The parade will also feature the Natchez High School Marching Band and the Air Force Junior ROTC Corps of Cadets.

 
The mayor will lead an awards ceremony at 11:20 a.m. at the Bandstand, where U.S. Army Air Corps and Air Force veteran John “Captain Jack” Kerwin will be recognized as the Veteran of the Millennia and the late G. Mark LaFrancis, US Air Force veteran, will be honored as the Patriot of the Year. The ceremony will conclude with a prayer of benediction and the bugle’s sounding of taps, to remember those who have died and to honor those veterans who are still with us.  These events are free and open to the public.

 
ACCS, November 11

 
On Monday, November 11, the Adams County Christian School will host its annual Veterans Day program at 1:30 p.m. It will feature Vietnam Army veteran Doug McCallister, president of the Point Man International Ministries of the Miss-Lou. McCallister said it will be a special time when the students recognize veterans and present displays representing people who serve — and have served — in the United States military. The students will also hear a presentation on patriotism by McCallister.

 For more information, call McCallister at 601-431-2096.

 
Ferriday, November 12

 
A program honoring veterans will be held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, November 12, at the Delta Charter School. The annual event is organized by Doug McCallister of Point Man International Ministries of the Miss-Lou and his supporting organizations.  For more information, call McCallister at 601-431-2096
 
Read more at: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2024/11/06/veterans-week-programs-announced-for-miss-lou/

The Civil Rights Movement in Natchez, Mississippi

New article published by Mississippi History Now

(Click on image to enlarge.)

This is the article I wrote for Mississippi History Now, a publication of the Mississippi Historical Society and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. It was published this week. The article includes a Lesson Plan for students written by MDAH educators.

See the article at this link:

https://mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/civil-rights-movement-natchez-mississippi

History will be made in Natchez on Saturday, Nov. 9

Join us for this important event!

It is FREE and open to the public!

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Willie Carter has barber chair previously owned by James ‘Big Jack’ Jackson, president of the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice

Willie Carter displays the barber chair previously owned by James 'Big Jack' Jackson, who served as president of the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice. Carter is owner of the building that was home to Donnan's Barbershop, the meeting place for the Deacons. He moved the chair to his current barbershop. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- When I met with Willie Carter in his barbershop back in January 2024, he surprised me with a piece of important history. He showed me a barber chair and said, “This is the chair that was owned by James ‘Big Jack’ Jackson. Yes, this is his chair. I saved it.”

Jackson was the president of the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice, a paramilitary organization that provided armed protection for civil rights workers and the Black community against the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups. The Natchez Deacons are featured in the documentary, “Black Natchez” (1967).
 
Carter wants to use the chair in some way to share the history of Jackson and the Deacons. In the meantime, he’s planning to join the Natchez community in commemorating the Deacons with a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker. An unveiling ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, November 9, at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church at 228 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St.
 
After the ceremony, the unveiling of the marker will occur at 319 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St., which is the site of the two-story building that was home to Donnan's Barbershop. The barbershop  was the meeting place for the Deacons. Carter is the current owner of the historic building which was owned earlier by the late Leon Donnan. In the early 1960s, Carter worked in the building as a shoe-shiner.
 
In addition to being a meeting place for the Deacons, the building was the site of the first meeting held by the Council of Federated Organizations or COFO. The group met in 319C, Carter said.
 
According to Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley, an upstairs room in the building became the office of Judge Willie Scott, “the first African American judge in modern time.” The second floor also housed a library for the black community, Boxley said.
 
The Freedom Trail markers honor the people and places in Mississippi that played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement. The markers are approved by Visit Mississippi and the Mississippi Humanities Council.
 
For more information on the November 9 unveiling ceremony, visit this link:
https://roscoereporting.blogspot.com/2024/09/honoring-natchez-deacons-for-defense.html
 

We're all set for the unveiling ceremony to honor the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice

Make your plans to attend this important event! 

(Click on image to enlarge.)

This ceremony aligns with the 79th Annual Mississippi NAACP State Convention and Policy Institute taking place in Natchez November 7-9. The Rev. Dr. Robert James, president of the Mississippi NAACP, will be one of our speakers. About 150 attendees of the NAACP convention will attend the unveiling ceremony.

Lambert to discuss enslavement project at Prospect Hill

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Oct 18, 2024 | 7:58 AM
 

Dr. Shawn Lambert is an associate professor and undergraduate coordinator at Mississippi State University.

NATCHEZ, Miss. — Dr. Shawn Lambert, associate professor and undergraduate coordinator at Mississippi State University, is inviting the public to his presentation on the Prospect Hill Plantation.

Lambert’s talk will focus on the archaeology of his enslavement project at Prospect Hill. His topic is, “Before They were Settlers: Material Culture and Spaces of Enslavement at the Prospect Hill Plantation.”

Lambert will deliver his hour-long presentation at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Dumas Hall, Room 107, Alcorn State University, Lorman Campus. He will also share his presentation at 1 p.m. Friday, October 25, 2024, at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, 301 Main St., Natchez.

The programs are sponsored by the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture and learning at Alcorn. They are free and open to the public.

“Dr. Lambert’s work is significant in many ways,” said Teresa Busby, executive director of the Southwest MS Center for Culture and Learning. “I especially appreciate that he developed the work at Prospect Hill as a multidisciplinary project that involved diverse scholars from several areas of academia to help us better understand the history of enslavement in the South. We will all benefit from Dr. Lambert sharing their findings with us.”

According to Lambert, the research at Prospect Hill has global significance. “It is research that represents the collaboration with diverse communities and descendent communities as well as researchers from other disciplines such as archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, historians, and biological anthropologists,” he said.

Lambert noted the “research is a multivocal and multi-perspective attempt to not only understand the history and archaeology of enslavement at Prospect Hill in Mississippi, but also trace this reverse African Diaspora to Liberia where hundreds of enslaved individuals from Prospect Hill were resettled.”

Prospect Hill is located in Jefferson County. Lambert described it as “an early-to-mid 19th century plantation site that, until recently, has had very little anthropological research.”

The site played a significant role with early plantation life in the South and with the American — and Mississippi Colonization Societies — that relocated hundreds of enslaved people to Greenville, Liberia, Lambert said.

“In this spirit, Prospect Hill is globally connected to the history and development of West Africa and to local communities in Mississippi,” he added.

Lambert works in the department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures at his university.

According to his bio, his research interests include protohistoric and historic decolonial and community-engaged archaeology in the U.S. South with specific focuses in pre-European Contact Native American communities, and the archaeology of enslavement in the American South.

Lambert is recognized as an expert in remote sensing technologies, ceramic analysis, ancient iconography, organic residue analyses, and elemental analyses of artifacts.

Lambert said he is “committed to working with diverse descendant communities and the public to further decolonize archaeological practice, strengthening relationships with underrepresented communities, and making field work more inclusive and supportive for student experiential learning.”

For more information, send email to tbusby@alcorn.edu

 

BEFORE, AFTER: Nellie’s has new look

By Roscoe Barnes III

The Natchez Democrat
Published 1:34 pm Tuesday, October 15, 2024

The Nellie Jackson house, once commonly known as Nellie's Place, located at 416 N. Rankin St., is currently owned by J.T. Robinson, who is restoring the building. He plans to open it as a museum. Left, the Nellie Jackson house as Robinson purchased it in 2019. (Submitted) Click on image to enlarge.

NATCHEZ, Miss. — After years of sitting in disrepair on the corner of North Rankin and Monroe streets, the Nellie Jackson house has a new makeover. The wood-frame building has a new roof, new porch, and its original screen door that features a metal cutout of a woman wearing a hoop skirt with a man in top hat bowing in front of her.

The house is painted white with a red door and red trimmings. Its renovation work is continuing inside with new floors and walls.

The house, which was commonly known as Nellie’s Place (or simply Nellie’s), was owned by Nellie Jackson (1902-1990). It is located at 416 N. Rankin and is currently owned by J. T. Robinson, who is restoring the building. Robinson said he purchased the house in 2019.

Caesar Cobb of Cobb Construction, Gloster, is doing the renovation. Completion date is set for November 30, according to Robinson. He plans to open the home as a museum.

Jackson was well known as a friendly madam who openly ran a brothel from her home for about 60 years.

Jackson’s house was built in the Queen Ann style between 1892 and 1897, according to the Historic Natchez Foundation. The house has three bedrooms and two baths. It has undergone a number of changes.

The house was one of the filming locations in the movie, “Get on Up” (2014).

Though mostly known for operating her brothel, Jackson also was known for her charity.

According to news reports, she fed the hungry and regularly provided money for people in need. She also provided transportation for nuns. During the mid-1960s, she served as an FBI informant and provided information on members of the Ku Klux Klan gleaned from her employees who serviced Klan members, according to local historians. She was also known to bail civil rights workers out of jail.

Jackson’s story is told in the documentary film, “Mississippi Madam: The Life of Nellie Jackson” (2017).

Jackson was born into poverty on August 3, 1902, in Possum Corner, an unincorporated community in Wilkinson County. She was the youngest of twins. While growing up, she attended Oak Grove Church in Wilkinson County, according to her obituary. She moved to the house on Rankin in 1921, and a few years later, she joined the Holy Family Catholic Church, the obituary noted.

Jackson died on July 12, 1990, from injuries received in a fire at her home on July 5, 1990. Police said the fire was caused by Daniel Eric Breazeale, 20, a former resident of Oxford. Newspapers reported he was a junior at the University of Mississippi majoring in business. He stayed in Natchez for the summer where he was working. He was living on North Rankin at the time of the fire.

Breazeale reportedly became angry when he was denied entrance into Jackson’s house in the early morning hours. Police said he was told to leave because he was drunk.

Breazeale left and returned with gasoline in an ice chest.

Police said he “poured gasoline on the front porch, entered the brothel and poured gasoline on Jackson. In the process, he also splashed gasoline on himself,” according to The Clarion Ledger (November 13, 2019). Former Mayor Tony Byrne told The Clarion Ledger, “”When he lit the fire at Nellie’s, it blew him almost across the street.”

A witness told The Natchez Democrat (July 6, 1990) that Breazeale resembled a “ball of fire shooting across the street.” The witness said, “He came flying across the road. It looked like a cartoon.”

The Natchez fire chief at the time said the fire destroyed the front porch and one bedroom. Jackson’s bedroom was near the porch. She was asleep at the time of the fire, The Natchez Democrat (July 6, 1990) reported. Two of her four dogs died in the fire.

Jackson suffered first-, second- and third-degree burns over 100 percent of her body, according to press reports. Breazeale suffered third-degree burns to 80 percent of his body.

Breazeale and Jackson died from their injuries. Jackson was 87. Her funeral was held on July 16, 1990, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Services were officiated by Father David O’Connor. Jackson was buried at Sunset View Memorial Park.

Read more at: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2024/10/15/before-after-nellies-has-new-look/

Natchez Historical Society funds marker honoring Prince Ibrahima

By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat
Published 3:46 p.m. Wednesday, October 16, 2024 
 

Board members of the Natchez Historical Society display a poster of Prince Ibrahima. They approved a donation of $3,420 for a marker in the prince's honor. In the front row from left are Al King, Karen Hill, and Adam Gwin. In the back from left are Roscoe Barnes III, Daye Dearing, and Bobby Dennis. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. — The Natchez Historical Society has made it possible for Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori (1762-1829) to be honored with his own historical marker.

On Monday, Oct. 14, the society’s board members approved a donation of $3,420 that will cover the cost of the marker, which will be acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The total cost includes $2,670 for the marker and post, plus an additional $750 for a sign underneath that reads, “Sponsored by the Natchez Historical Society.”

Karen Hill, the society’s president, said she is very pleased with the board’s decision.

“I am proud of the Natchez Historical Society,” she said, adding the donation is important for many reasons. “I’m happy that our gift will help to ensure that the legacy of Prince Ibrahima will be honored and shared for years to come.”

Ibrahima’s story is told in Dr. Terry Alford’s book, “Prince Among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold into Slavery in the American South” (Oxford University Press, 1977). Alford welcomed the news about the funding.

“Kudos to the Natchez Historical Society and to Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, Visit Natchez’s cultural heritage and tourism manager, for this exciting news,” he said. “The diverse history of our area’s exceptional people is well-served by this worthy step.”

The marker will be a first for the Natchez-Adams County area that pays tribute to the African prince who spent 40 years enslaved on Thomas Foster’s plantation near Washington. His story has been widely known and publicized for decades.

“I feel this marker will give recognition to the man and his skills utilized in the productivity of the Natchez District, which helped to build its wealth,” said Bobby Dennis, director of NAPAC Museum and new board member of the society. “The knowledge of an enslaved man or woman is rarely discussed, only the productivity of the enslaved slave who an owner led.”

In addition to Dennis and Hill, the society’s board members who approved the donation include Daye Dearing, Al King, Virginia Benoist, Adam Gwin, and Roscoe Barnes III.

Dr. Artemus W. Gaye, a seventh generation descendant of the prince, said he and his family were excited to learn about the donation.

“The responsibility or obligation of the living and the community is never to forget the past and the ancestors whose footprints we are walking in the here and now,” he said. “After 240 years since Prince Abdul Rahman and his trusted friend, Samba, walked the paths of their enslavement in Natchez and Washington, the onus is now on us to always remember their legacies and the society they built within their own constrained limitations. This historic marker in essence is a testimonial of this great effort to reconcile and remember!”

Gaye is the author of “Dr. Isabella Rahman and the African Prince of Fouta Djallon” (Forte Publishing International, 2023).

Once the application for the marker is approved and processed, it will be delivered around August 2025. An unveiling ceremony will be planned around that time or later.

The marker will be posted near Historic Jefferson College and Highway 61, a site that played a significant role in Ibrahima’s life. It was in this area in Washington that Ibrahima recognized Dr. John Coats Cox in 1807 at the market place. Cox, an Irishman, had sailed to West Africa in 1781. After going ashore, he became lost and later collapsed. He was rescued by the Fulani people and taken to Timbo, where Ibrahima’s father cared for him until his health was restored.

After Ibrahima and Cox recognized each other at the market in Mississippi, the doctor tried for many years to buy his freedom. However, Foster refused to sell him. Cox died in December 1816. The story of their chance meeting near Natchez became widely known.

Read more at: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2024/10/16/natchez-historical-society-funds-marker-honoring-prince-ibrahima/

Natchez National Historical Park Invites Public Input on a Long-Term Vision for the Forks of the Road Site

Report by the Natchez National Historical Park

(Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. – On November 19, Natchez National Historical Park will begin a civic engagement process on the future of the Forks of the Road site at D’Evereux Drive and Liberty Road. The site is the location of the second largest domestic slave market in the Deep South during the antebellum period, where tens of thousands of enslaved men, women, and children were trafficked.
 
At the height of the pre-Civil War explosion in cotton production, these individuals were torn from their homes and families in states as far away as Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky and transported by ships or marched a thousand miles overland to the Forks of the Road. From there, they were sold by traders to labor in rural and urban areas in Natchez and the surrounding counties. In 1863, the Forks of the Road became one of the area’s first recruitment locations for formerly enslaved people to join the U.S. Colored Troops.
 
This initial civic engagement effort will help the National Park Service prepare preliminary concept plans and includes opportunities to participate in public listening sessions and provide comment. Preliminary concept plans developed as a result of the feedback from these sessions will be shared with the public in 2025. The Forks of the Road site is a new addition to the national historical park, and this planning process will address development for visitor access, preservation of resources, accessible visitor infrastructure, and visitor capacity. The goal of this plan is to create a place where the fundamental resources and values of the park are protected and where visitors can have meaningful experiences. 
 
“We are pleased to offer this opportunity for the public to provide early input on future development and management at the Forks of the Road,” said Superintendent Kathleen Bond. “Since 2017, the National Park Service (NPS) has been working to acquire enough of the site to provide visitor access and has coordinated with park partners to identify opportunities for quality visitor experiences and thoughtful interpretation of the history and ongoing legacy of the site. We now wish to gather feedback from the public and stakeholders that will help us put formal planning for the site’s future on the right track.” 
 
Public listening sessions will be held in Natchez to discuss the purpose of the concept plan project and garner feedback from the public on future ideas for the site on November 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Natchez Foundation and November 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. During the meetings, the planning team will explain the plan process, collect public ideas for the future of the site, showcase methods for further public comment, and answer participants’ questions. A similar virtual meeting will be held on November 26 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. CT.  

More information about the meeting locations, meeting formats, and a link to join the virtual meeting can be found on the project website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/FOTR_Concept_Plan.  

 
Beginning on October 21, written comments may be submitted by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov/FOTR_Concept_Plan and selecting “Open for Comment” on the left menu bar and selecting “Preliminary Civic Engagement Information.” 

 
Written comments may also be submitted by mail to:
 
National Park Service 
Denver Service Center 
Attn: Forks of the Road Master Plan / Charles Lawson 
1 Denver Federal Center, Building 50 
Denver, CO 80225 
 

To ensure the planning team has the opportunity to consider your ideas during the initial phase of the planning effort, comments must be submitted online or postmarked by November 30. Additional opportunities for commenting and public engagement will be offered throughout the life of the planning effort.

About the Forks of the Road Master Plan 
 
The 2017 boundary expansion of NATC authorized the incorporation of the Forks of the Road site into the park, and the first parcels of the Forks of the Road site came under NPS ownership in the spring of 2021. The site is comprised of urban parcels that have been developed and redeveloped over decades, though certain portions remain largely undeveloped. Particularly, some city-owned parcels contain a remnant historic road that dates to the slave market period (1833 to 1863) and a brick bridge that narrowly post-dates this period (circa 1888). Over this road trace, many enslaved persons walked their final steps on their thousand-mile journey in coffles down the length of the Natchez Trace. Few other resources are intact from the period of significance, a situation common of sites related to the slavery story in America. This erasure of history from the landscape underscores the need for thoughtful planning to provide for a powerful visitor experience at the site.
  
Consultation and coordination among the public, partner organizations, and other stakeholders is vitally important to this planning process, and successful implementation of the park's future plans will depend on continued coordinated efforts with partners. 
 
 

Dr. Akinyele Umoja to speak at ceremony honoring Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Dr. Akinyele Umoja, a professor at Georgia State University, will be the guest speaker at the November 9 ceremony honoring the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice. The Deacons have been awarded a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker, which will be unveiled following the ceremony. 

The ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church at 228 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. The unveiling of the marker will occur at 319 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St., which is the site of the two-story building that was home to Donnan's Barbershop. The barbershop  was the meeting place for the Deacons. 

The event is free and open to the public. 

Umoja is a leading authority on the Deacons for Defense and Justice. He is the author of “We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement” (NYU Press, 2013).

‘Sugar King of Louisiana’ is topic of Oct. 22 meeting of Natchez Historical Society

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Oct 10, 2024 | 4:47 PM

Peter M. Wolf is the author of "The Sugar King: Leon Godchaux: A New Orleans Legend, His Creole Slave, and His Jewish Roots." (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Peter M. Wolf, a respected author and biographer, said he looks forward to speaking about Leon Godchaux, the “Sugar King of Louisiana,” at the Tuesday, October 22 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. Wolf’s presentation 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.

“I’m delighted to have been invited to talk about my book in Natchez,” Wolf said. “I understand the Natchez Historical Society is filled with experts and I’m pleased to have an opportunity to have a talk with them.”

Wolf is the author of “The Sugar King: Leon Godchaux: A New Orleans Legend, His Creole Slave, and His Jewish Roots” (Xlibris, 2022). He is the great-great-grandson of Godchaux. His presentation is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 S. Commerce St. The program will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m., followed by Wolf’s presentation at 6 p.m.

Wolf’s book tells the compelling story of Godchaux, who arrived in New Orleans in 1837 as a “penniless, illiterate, Jewish 13-year-old from France.” Although he had hopes and dreams, he never learned to read or write in English or French. However, by the end of his life, Godchaux became the owner of 14 plantations and the largest sugar producer in the region, as well as the top taxpayer in the state, which earned him the name, “Sugar King of Louisiana,” according to Wolf’s website.

Wolf said that Godchaux refused to enter the sugar business until the end of slavery.

Two Black men played vital roles in Godchaux’s success. Joachim Tassen, who was enslaved, and Norbert Rillieux, who was a free man of color and inventor, made significant contributions to Godchaux’s work.

Wolf is a fifth generation native of New Orleans. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University, a Master of Arts from Tulane University, and a doctoral degree from New York University. His research has taken him to Paris as a Fulbright scholar and to Rome as a visiting artist and scholar at the American Academy in Rome. He currently serves on the advisory board of the Tulane University School of Architecture, and as a trustee of the Louisiana Landmarks Society.

Wolf’s book on Godchaux has received rave reviews from noted scholars and historians. Henry Lewis Gates Jr. wrote, “Peter Wolf’s The Sugar King is an absorbing ancestral journey.” Lawrence N. Powell noted “There are eye-openers in nearly every chapter.”

Wolf is a prolific writer. His other books include “My New Orleans, Gone Away, A Memoir of Loss and Renewal” (Delphinium Books Inc., 2013); “Land Use and Abuse in America: A Call to Action” (Xlibris, 2010); “Hot Towns: The Future of the Fastest Growing Communities in America” (Rutgers University Press, 1999); and “Land in America: Its Value, Use and Control” (Pantheon Books, 1981).

For more information on the October 22 presentation, call 281-731-4433 or 601-492-3004 or send email to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org

 

Honoring the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice

Top of the Morning column published in The Natchez Democrat (Wednesday, October 9, 2024, page 4A)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top of the Morning

 Honoring the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice

 By Roscoe Barnes III

Thanks to Visit Mississippi and the Mississippi Humanities Council, a group of Black men who bravely confronted the Ku Klux Klan in the 1960s, will be honored with a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker.

The group of which I’m speaking is the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice, the paramilitary organization that provided armed protection for civil rights workers and the Black community against the Klan and other White supremacy groups.

The Deacons will be honored on Saturday, November 9. They will be recognized in a special ceremony at 2:30 p.m. at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church at 228 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. The ceremony will be followed by the unveiling of the marker at 319 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St., the site that was home to Donnan's Barbershop, the meeting place for the Deacons.

This event is free to the public. It is organized by the Natchez Civil Rights Trail Committee.

Speakers will include Dr. Akinyele Umoja, author of “We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement” (NYU Press, 2013); Willie Carter, owner of Donnan's Barbershop; Alderwoman Felicia Bridgewater-Irving, Ward 4; Rev. Dr. Robert James, president of the Mississippi NAACP; Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, president of the Natchez NAACP; John Travis Spann, program and outreach officer for Mississippi Humanities Council; and Mayor Dan Gibson.

The Mississippi Freedom Trail markers are approved by Visit Mississippi and Mississippi Humanities Council. The markers serve to commemorate the people and places in the state that played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement.

 As for the significance of the Deacons, you should know that the Natchez Deacons played a critical role in the success of the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez and throughout Mississippi. Their compelling history is presented in Dr. Lance Hill’s book, “The Deacons for Defense: Armed Resistance and the Civil Rights Movement” (UNC Press, 2004) and Dr. Akinyele Umoja’s book, “We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement (NYU Press, 2013).

Stanley Nelson, author of “Devils Walking: Klan Murders Along the Mississippi River in the 1960s" (LSU Press, 2016), said it best when he commented on the courage of the Deacons: “After police repeatedly refused to shield activists from physical attacks by Klansmen and segregationists, the Natchez Deacons arose to provide that vital protection. They never provoked a fight, but if activists were attacked, armed Deacons fiercely defended them.”

The Natchez Deacons organized in September 1965, following the attempted assassination of Natchez NAACP President George Metcalfe, whose car was bombed by the Klan on August 27, 1965. Metcalfe survived the bombing, but he suffered serious injuries.

James “Big Jack” Jackson, a barber, served as the founding president of the Natchez Deacons. They met at Donnan’s Barbershop, where he worked. In addition to Jackson, the original members included James Stokes, Otis Fleming, Richard “Dip” Lewis, Hugh Ransom, and Leroy Clay. Clifford M. Boxley, aka Ser Seshsh Ab Heter, assisted them with fundraising in California and in acquiring firearms. He later joined the organization.

The Deacons assisted with rallies and marches, and they helped to enforce the boycott of White-owned businesses. The boycott and other forms of protest led to Natchez city officials conceding to a list of demands presented by the Natchez NAACP.

As we reflect on the contributions of the Natchez Deacons, we would do well to remember the assessment of Dr. Umoja. He noted: “As they began to assist the establishment of other paramilitary affiliates across the state, the Natchez group helped form the Mississippi Deacons for Defense and Justice....Without a doubt, the Deacons made the Natchez and Mississippi movements more effective.”

For more information on the November 9 unveiling ceremony, call 601-492-3004.

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ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez.

Willie Carter invites the public to join him in honoring the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice!

A Mississippi Freedom Trail marker that pays tribute to the Natchez Deacons will be unveiled Saturday, November 9.

In the attached photo, Willie Carter stands in front of the two-story building that once served as the command post for the Natchez Deacons. Carter is the owner of the building, which is located at 319 N. Dr. M.L. King St. It will be the site of Natchez’s second Mississippi Freedom Trail marker. The marker will be unveiled Saturday, November 9. The unveiling ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church at 228 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. After the ceremony, everyone is invited to walk across the street to see the new marker.
 
Natchez’s first Freedom Trail marker recognized the NAACP Headquarters at 9 St. Catherine St., which is now the Dr. John Banks House. It was unveiled in April 2023.
 
The Mississippi Freedom Trail markers are approved by Visit Mississippi and the Mississippi Humanities Council. The markers serve to commemorate the people and places in the state that played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Honoring the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice

Unveiling of Mississippi Freedom Trail marker set for Nov. 9

James "Big Jack" Jackson 

Founding president of the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice. Photo courtesy of Janet Herbert and Dr. Lance Hill 

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- A Mississippi Freedom Trail marker honoring the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice will be unveiled Saturday, November 9, with a ceremony at 2:30 p.m. at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church at 228 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. 

The ceremony will be followed by the unveiling of the marker at 319 North Dr. M.L. King Jr. St., which is the site of the two-story building that was home to Donnan's Barbershop, the meeting place for the Deacons. This event is free to the public. It is organized by the Natchez Civil Rights Trail Committee.

Speakers will include Dr. Akinyele Umoja, author of “We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement” (NYU Press, 2013); Willie Carter, owner of Donnan's Barbershop; Alderwoman Felicia Bridgewater-Irving, Ward 4; Rev. Dr. Robert James, president of the Mississippi NAACP; Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, president of the Natchez NAACP; John Travis Spann, program and outreach officer for Mississippi Humanities Council; and Mayor Dan Gibson.

Other program participants include Dr. Neifa Hardy, community liaison to the Mayor; Rev. Birdon Mitchell, pastor of Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church; Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, culture heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez; Rev. Clifton Marvel, pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church; and Tony Fields and the Zion Chapel AME Ensemble.

The Deacons for Defense and Justice was a paramilitary organization that provided armed protection for the civil rights workers and the Black community in the 1960s.

The new Freedom Trail marker will be the second one erected in Natchez. The first one, which recognized the NAACP Headquarters at 9 St. Catherine St., was unveiled in April 2023.

The Mississippi Freedom Trail markers are approved by Visit Mississippi and Mississippi Humanities Council. The markers serve to commemorate the people and places in the state that played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement.

For more information on the November 9 unveiling ceremony, call 601-492-3004.

It’s time to honor the legacy of Prince Ibrahima

Top of the Morning column published in The Natchez Democrat (Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, page 4A)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top of the Morning
 
It’s time to honor the legacy of Prince Ibrahima
 
By Roscoe Barnes III

The story of Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori (1762-1829) is one of the most well-known stories to come out of the Natchez-Adams County area, but surprisingly, there is no historical marker or plaque that bears his name. There's nothing in Washington (Adams County) or Natchez that shares his extraordinary life history and nothing that honors his legacy.

This is unfortunate, but I'm hopeful this will soon change. A historical marker or monument for this important figure in our history is long overdue.

As most of us well know, Ibrahima was an African prince who was captured in 1788 and sold to slave traders. He eventually wound up in Mississippi. He spent 40 years enslaved on the Thomas Foster plantation near Washington in Adams County, just outside of Natchez, before he gained his freedom.

The world learned of Ibrahima through Dr. Terry Alford's book, "Prince Among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold into Slavery in the American South (Oxford University Press, 1977). In 2008, Unity Productions Foundation produced the film, "Prince Among Slaves," which was based on Alford's book. In May 2024, the film “From Prince to Slave” was shown at the Natchez Convention Center. The film was a collaboration between the elders of Timbo, the home of Ibrahima, and the U.S. Embassy in Guinea.

Over the last few decades, much has been written about the prince, and many parts of his story have been documented. Today we know about his descendants in the Natchez area and other parts of the United States, as well as those in West Africa. His story, including his faith as a Muslim, continues to generate interest among writers, historians, and scholars of multiple disciplines.

In an effort to determine the best way to honor him and display his story for years to come, I have spent several months doing research. During this time, I have had great conversations with local historians and Ibrahima descendants, all of whom agree that something needs to be done. Alford has been especially helpful in answering questions and guiding my research. David Dreyer, local historian, graciously gave me a tour of the places visited by Ibrahima, including Thomas Foster's plantation, where Ibrahima was enslaved. I’ve also received help from Historic Natchez Foundation, the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

As I think about this topic, I am drawn to several sites that played a pivotal role in Ibrahima’s life. They are all noted in Alford’s book. They include:

* Under-the-hill. This is where Ibrahima arrived in Natchez as an enslaved man, and it’s also where he and his wife, Isabella, departed Natchez in 1828 with their freedom. It was from this location that they boarded the Neptune and waved goodbye to their children, who remained enslaved.

* Andrew Marschalk’s printing shop. Marschalk was a newspaper publisher. This building, which no longer exists, was located at North Wall and Franklin streets. It is where Ibrahima met with Marschalk and read from a book with text in Arabic. Marschalk initiated efforts that resulted in Ibrahima’s freedom.

* Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church. This church is located at M.L. K. Jr. Road and Airport Road. The original building no longer exists. Ibrahima visited the church with the Foster family.

* Area near Historic Jefferson College. It was in this area between 16 Old North St. and Highway 61 North in Washington that Ibrahima recognized Dr. John Coats Cox in 1807 at the market place. Cox tried for many years without success to buy Ibrahima’s freedom.

Obviously, there are other important sites, but the ones listed here deserve serious consideration when we think about honoring the prince.

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ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez.

Expert to tell forgotten story of Gulf South during American Revolution at Historical Society meeting Sept. 24

By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat
Published 4:18 pm Wednesday, September 11, 2024 

Mike Bunn
(Click on link to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ — Mike Bunn, director of Historic Blakeley State Park in Spanish Fort, Alabama, will give a lecture at the Tuesday, Sept. 24 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. 
His topic is, “Fourteenth Colony: The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South during America’s Revolutionary Era.” Bunn’s presentation 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.
 
The program will be held at Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 S. Commerce St., Natchez. It will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and Bunn’s presentation at 6 p.m. It is free to the public. All are welcome, members and non-members alike.
 
“The Gulf South played an important part in America’s revolutionary period, though most of us are not as acquainted with this chapter of regional history as we perhaps should be,” Bunn said. “I’m excited to share my research into this important era of our past in historic Natchez, a place which has its own special connection to this remarkable story.”
 
The forgotten 14th colony of the America’s Revolutionary era was “the British colony of West Florida, which once stretched from the mighty Mississippi to the shallow bends of the Apalachicola and portions of what are now the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana,” noted Bunn. His presentation will include a discussion of the affairs in Natchez during the Revolutionary era.
 
Bunn is the author or co-author of several books, including “Fort Stoddert: American Sentinel on the Mobile River, 1799-1814; “Fourteenth Colony: The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South During America’s Revolutionary Era,” and “The Assault on Fort Blakeley: ‘The Thunder and Lightning of Battle.’”
 
Bunn is the editor of Muscogiana, the journal of the Muscogee County (Georgia) Genealogical Society. He is a recent recipient of the J.Y. Sanders Research Scholar Award presented by The Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies of Southeastern Louisiana University.
 
As a historian, Bunn has worked with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, and the Columbus (Georgia) Museum.
 
In addition to chairing the Baldwin County Historic Development Commission, Bunn is treasurer of the Friends of Old Mobile, and a member of the board of the Alabama Historical Association.
 
Bunn is a resident of Alabama. He holds an undergraduate degree from Faulkner University and two master’s degrees from the University of Alabama.
 
For more information on the society’s Sept. 24 meeting, call 281-731-4433 or 601-492-3004 or send email to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org
 
Read more at: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2024/09/11/expert-to-tell-forgotten-story-of-gulf-south-during-american-revolution-at-historical-society-meeting-sept-24/