Join Delta State University at the Charles W. Capps, Jr. Archives and Museum on Sept. 14 at noon for “Bits and Bytes in Bolivar: Discovering Your Local History Resources,” a presentation designed to help researchers of local history and genealogy locate physical and digital documents related to Bolivar County.
The event, free and open to the public, is in conjunction with the Bolivar County Historical Society’s monthly meeting.
The 45-minute presentation will feature Krista Sorenson and Catherine Bell, archivists with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the Bolivar County Historical Society. Areas of focus will include county records, maps and images.
“As archivists, we work really hard to collect and organize historical information,” said Jones. “The flip side of that work is that we want people to be able to use it and find it helpful. The Internet has opened the door wide to allow us to push mounds of primary source information out to a waiting public, however, for a user, that can feel like trying to drink from a fire hydrant. Krista Sorenson and Catherine Bell are coming our way to help us all become more familiar with what history is out there on our county, how to find it, access it and use it in our daily research quests.”
Jones said that when it was decided to bring the Bolivar County Historical Society back online several years ago, one of the group’s main concerns was how information was being shared about the Delta, and how accurate that information was. She urged that users have to be very aware of their information sources and their credibility.
The event will direct users to credible sources with a wealth of information on Bolivar County’s history.
“I hope that those who attend next Monday’s BCHS sponsored program discover answers to questions they’ve always wanted to know,” added Jones. “Perhaps they’ll be inspired to share local history they already know through blogging or making a donation to a repository of their choice. Most of all, we want to demonstrate how historical information is becoming more and more accessible.”
Visit the university’s Archives and Museum to learn about historical records, digital images and genealogical resources available in Bolivar County, online and from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Explore the archives’ website at https://www.deltastate.edu/academics/libraries/university-archives-museum. For more information, contact Jones at 662-846-4781 or ejones@deltastate.edu.
