"Everything New is Old Again"                                                                                     

Come enjoy recent donations to the Archives and Museum.  
August 9, 2007 through October 31, 2007.   

August 9, 2007 6:00 p.m. - 
Opening Reception and Lecture provided by Dr. Jack Elliott
"History, Heritage & Culture:  What do they mean to us?" 

Delta Dinner Bus Tours

Travel with us on Delta State's Bus for the Delta Dinner Bus Tour.

Madidi - Clarksdale, MS Tuesday Sept. 18, 2007 -  RSVP 846-4780 by Sept. 15th - $45.00 per person.     Bus leaves Archives at 6:00 p.m.

Lillo's - Leland, MS Tuesday September 25, 2007 - RSVP 846-4780 by Sept. 21st - $25.00 per person  -   Bus leaves Archives at 6:00 p.m.

Tour Historic Homes and Places of Como, MS with lunch at the City Grille - Saturday October 20, 2007   RSV by Oct. 16th.  - $25.00 per person.  Bus will leave Archives parking lot at 2:00 p.m.

"Turkish Delights:  A DSU Student Art Show"

This exhibit will feature art work created by Delta State students who participated in an academic class held in Turkey. Approximately 60 images and video media will be on display throughout the exhibit period. This exhibit will be located in the side galleries adjacent to the main gallery.

Exhibit September 23rd through October 31, 2007. - Opening Reception is Sunday September 23rd from

Opening Reception is Sunday September 23rd from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

"Cleveland's Historic Neighborhoods Exhibit"

In cooperation with the Cleveland Heritage Commission, this exhbit is a collection of memories, photographs, and other memorabilia of those who live or once lived on Pearman, Bolivar, Leflore streets.   

Exhibit October 9 through December 18, 2007.                                                                        Reception and Opening Tuesday October 9th at 6:00 p.m. in the Lucy Somerville Howorth Seminar Room at the Capps Building.  Topic is "The Political and Social Context of the Bungalow Home, 1890-1990"  and will be presented by Dr. Martha Swain.

"Vintage Greetings from the Delta:  A Display of Historic Greeting Cards & Postcards"              

This exhibit will display an older variety of special holiday cards, from Thanksgiving to Christmas to Valentine's Day and Easter.  Deltans enjoyed keeping up with each other and this exhibit will show some of the lighter sides of their correspondences.

November 15, 2007 through February 15, 2008                                                                          Opening Reception November 15, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.

"Delta State's School of Nursing:  Past, Present & Future"

10 April  - 18 June 2007

10 April 2007 Opening Reception 6:00 p.m.

"Archives Teacup Tea"

22 April 2007 at 2:30 p.m.

"MS Delta Chinese"

11 January through 30 March 2007

Opening Reception 11 January 2007 6:00 p.m.

20 February 2007
Delta Bus Trip to How Joy's for Chinese New Year

"In Their Own Words:  A History of Delta Black Farmers"

13 February through 30 March 2007

13 February 2007 Opening Reception 6:00 p.m

Lunch & Learn Lecture
"In Their Own Words:  The Story of Delta Black Farmers"
29 March 2007 12:00 p.m.
Howorth Seminar Room

"Students, Soldiers & Veterans:  Delta State During the War Years"

Exhibit Dates 21 October 2006 thru 31 December 2006

"Historic Delta Courthouses"

Exhibit Dates September 15 - November 22, 2006
An enlightening display of memorabilia from some of the Delta's most historic courthouses.

Greenwood Courthouse Dinner Bus Tour
Tuesday October 10 5:30 p.m.
After a tour of the courthouse we will dine at the Blue Parrot. 
RSVP by October 3 to 846-4780.

Greenville Courthouse Dinner Bus Tour
Tuesday October 24 5:30 p.m.
After a tour of the courthouse we will dine at historic Doe's Eat Place.

"From What We Can See..."
April 27 - August 31, 2006

Images on display from the art students in the Documentary Photography class at Delta State. 

"Disaster Recovery Workshop"
July 16, 2006

Sponosred by the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, this workshop will provide information on best practices for recovering manuscript, photographic and other types of materials after a disaster.  This is a FREE workshop.  To attend, please RSVP to 662.846.4780.  The workshop will be held in the Howorth Seminar Room of the Capps building.

"Archives & Museum White Glove Tea"

In celebration of "The Year of Cleveland" the DSU Archives & Museum is hosting the Archives White Glove Tea.  Held at 2:30 p.m. on the back patio of the Capps Building, this tea should have all the elements essential to southern teas of the past.  Who would not enjoy delicate sandwiches and other refreshments served by local hostessess, welcomed by Mrs. Vicki Fioranelli and entertained and enlighted with a presentation presented by Dr. Edith McMillen?  We hope to see you Sunday, 9 April at half past two o'clock in the afternoon on the back patio of the Charles W. Capps Archives & Museum building on Delta State campus.  RSVP by 4 April to 662.846.4780.

April 8, 2006

Genealogy Workshop

FREE workshop sponsored by Clarksdale Carnegie Public Library and DSU Archives & Museum brings us Professor Mike Brubaker of the Atlanta History Center's Kenan Research Center.  Professor Brubaker will offer guidance and assistanceas he demonstrates the best techniques for genealogists.  This workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and the session will begin at 10:00 in the classroom on the 3rd floor.  LUnch on your own followed by internet instruction in the Robets-LaForge Library's Blibographic Room on the first floor.  The schedule for the day is such that if you prefer a morning or afternoon session, you may choose to attend only one or the other.  Space is limited so call 662.846.4780 to reserve your spot.   

April 4, 2006

Delta Dinner Bus Tour: Shack-Up Inn, Clarksdale

This tour travels to Clarksdale to visit Shack-Up Inn, also known as Hobson Plantation, which is a collection of shotgun houses, cotton gin and other griculturally related buildings that creat a unique overnight accomodation destination for tourists not familiar with southern architecture.  We will enjoy a walking tour and a BBQ dinner catered locally.  Bus leaves Capps parking lot at 6:00 p.m.  RSVP by 31 March to 662.846.4780

March 26 - July 30, 2006

"Vanishing Delta - A Photo Exhibit"

Photographer Debra Ferguson has seen the Delta through her photo lens for several years.  Now she has prepared an exciting exhibit of images she has collected of Delta landscapes that have changed slightly or dramatically over the years.  As Deltans, sometimes we do not recognize the subtle changes that come over time.  Visit the exhibit that documents the gradual changes and groth of Bolivar County and the surrounding Delta.  Opening reception will be Sunday, 26 March at 3:00 p.m.

March 23, 2006

Delta Dinner Bus Tour: The Bourbon Mall, Leland

If you have never tasted Mark Azlin's famous steaks, shrimp, or Catfish Lafette, you are in for a mouthwatering treat!  A great dinner and entertainment at a cost of $20.00 per person plus an additonal $9.00 to the Archives for bus transportation and wonderful appetizers.  Bus leaves Capps parking lot at 6:00 p.m.  RSVP to 662.846.4780 by 17 March.

March 9, 2006

Delta Dinner Bus Tour: The Blue Levee Cafe, Rosedale

Travel with us to Rosedale to enjoy southern delicacies by formally trained chef John Lewis.  Cost is $15.00 per person.  Bus will elave Capps parking lot at 6:00 p.m. RSVP to 662.846.4780 by 1 March.

March 2 - April 7, 2006

"Boogaloo: An Exhibit"

Greenville photographer Ralph Jones' photography exhibit of Delta bluesman, Boogaloo, captured through performances throughout the Delta.  Please join us for an opening reception on Thursday, 2 March at 6:30 p.m.

January 26 - March 3, 2006

"Cleveland Collects"

To coincide with "The Year of Cleveland," local citizens share their personal collections with the Archives & Museum. On display are collections of teapots, Boy Scout badges, cuff links, miniature porcelain figurines and more!  The grand opening will be Thursday, 26 January, at 6:30 p.m.  Visitors are invited to vote for their top three favorite displays.  "Viewer's Choice" awards will be given to those displays recieving the majority votes and presented at an evening reception on 9 February at 6:30 p.m. 

Viewer's Choice Awards were given to Mr. Hugh Gamble for his cuff links collection, Dr. Myrtis Tabb for her glass art collection and Mr. Robert Montesi for his Boo Ferriss collection. 

November 11, 2005 - 6 January, 2006

"Toys! A Playful Delta History"

Toys! follows the history of children's toys from around the Delta.  Displays of toys, photographs and stories are highlighted by loans from the Him Henson museum and Sharkey-Issaquena Public Library's "The Great Delta Bear Affair" memorabilia.  The gran opening will be on November 11, 2005 at 7:30 a.m. in conjunction with the Veteran's Day morning presentation in the Capps Archives & Museum building.

August 27 - September 9, 2005

"Emmett Till: An Exhibit"

Using newspapers, photographs and letters, the Emmett Till story is retold from the perspectives of the people who lived through it.  The exhibit opened with a grand opening on August 27, 2005 with a panel discussion led by Dr. David Beito.

August 27 - September 7, 2005

"Mississippi's Ten Most Endangered Places"

May 12 - August 12, 2005

"The Delta Photo Road Show" A Save Our History Project

The Mississippi Delta has a rich heritage composed of diverse stories.  Fortunately, there remains photographic evidence of many of these stories, but unfortunately, many of these photographs have never been made public.  In an attempt to preserve and publicize historic photos from the Delta, the "Delta Photo Roadshow" was held on April 2, 2005.  The event was organized by The DSU Delta Center for Culture and Learning, as part of the Lighthouse Arts & Heritage Program presented through the Cleveland D.M. Smith Middle School.  Modeled after the popular PBS program Antiques Roadshow, the project paired the students with professional documentary photographers and scholars who helped them discover stories related to the photographs.  The most complelling images were scanned into digital forma and matched with oral history interviews that the Lighthousee students conducted onsite withe the owners of hte original photgraphs.  In all, 12 participants submitted mor than 1000 photographs, over 200 of which were preserved digitally.  They range in subjects from turn-of-the-century logging operations to 1930s fishin drives to sharecropping cotton.  A fraction of these photographs have been included in this exhibit, telling several heritage stories about the land an people of the Mississippi Delta.  These and others will be included in a pictorial history booklet to be published in June 2005. After these images were collected, the D.M. Smith students under the guidance of Lighthouse art instruction Catherine Koehler spent several weeks colorizing photocopies of them with colored pencils and watercolors.  The colorized images were then cut out and place in collages according to seven different themes: Education, Recreation, Portraits, the Delta as Frontier, Transportaiojn, Industry and Agriculture, and Delta Life.  An exhibit of this artwork was presented at the Charles Capps, Jr. Archive and Museum in May of 2005. This project was funded by a grant of $10,000 from the History Channel to The Delta Center for Culture & Learning, in collaboration with the Capps Archives.  As an initiative of the Delta Center, the Lighthouse Program uses Mississippi Delta heritage and the arts to engage Bolivar County youth.  The Delta Center's mission is to promote the history and culture of the Delta and its significance to the rest of the world, and the after-school program is one way the Center accomplishes that mission.  The program is also designed to increase community involvement among Delta State students.  College students in service-learning courses at Delta State volunteer as tutors and art interns in the program and also participate in some of the heritage workshops.  The Lighthouse Program is funded through an ongoing grant from Learn & Serve America.  Arts instruction is provided by Communities in Schools of Greenwood-Leflore The Partners in this project would like to thank the photographers and scholars who served as jurors: Barbara Andrews, Director of Curatorial Services of the National Civil Rights Museum; David Darnell, Chief Photographer at the Memphis Commercial Appeal; Lynn Linnemeier, an Atlanta artist and graduate student at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture; Greenville photographer Ralph Jones; Brooke White a DSU art professor in digital photography; an Jaman Matthews, a graduate studen in folklore at UNC-Chapel Hill.

20 January 2005 - 4 March 2005

When They Were Strangers at Our Gates: Tracy Sugerman
Illustrations & Photographs of Freedom Summer 1964

10 Febuary 2005

Lunch & Learn Lecture: Dr. Jerry Ward
"African American Life Histories: The Oral & the Written"
Capps Archives, Lucy Summerville Howorth Seminar Room

The speaker examines views of twentieth-century life in Mississippi as it is represented in oral history from the Delta and the life stories of Richard Wright, Ann Moody, Clifton Taulbert and Endesha Ida Mae Holland.

20 November 2004 - 9 January 2005

Key Ingredients: America by Food

The food on the American table may not define exactly what we are as a nation, but the traditions surrounding out foods speak volumes about who we are. "Key Ingredients: America by Food," a new Smithsonian traveling exhibition, delves into the historical, regional and social traditions that merge in everyday meals and celbrations of the American table. Through a selection of artifacts, photographs and illustrations, "Key Ingredients" examines how culture, ethnicity, class, landscape and tradition influence the foods and flavors we enjoy across the nation. The exhibition also looks at the evolution of the American kitchen and how food industries have responded to the technological innovations that have enabled Americans to choose an ever-wider variety of frozen, prepared and fresh foods. Come explore America through our shared food history. The exhibit will be open from 20 November through 9 January.

23 September - 13 November

Delta Food Traditions

Come explore the Delta through our rich culinary histories.  We are also preparing for the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, "Key Ingredients: America by Food" which will open Saturday, 20 November 2004.

6 October 2004

Lunch and Learn: "Prehistoric Indians in the Delta"
Capps Archives and Museum Building, Howorth Seminar Room

Jessica Crawford, Delta Field Representative of the Archaeological Conservancy, will present a slide show on the Native American history of the Delta. The public is invited to attend this free lecture and to bring along artifacts they would like to share with Mrs. Crawford and the audience.

8 July - 30 August 2004

A Cabinet of Curiosities Exhibition

"To preserve the past to present to the future..."

The Delta's local history slips away with each passing day. A Cabinet of Curiosities exhibits an array of local history pieces that are being collected and preserved by the Delta State University Archives and Museum. From early Delta State University faculty, staff and student memorabilia to scenes of early Cleveland and journals kept of Deltans as they traveled to Europe in the early 1900's, this exhibit focuses on the importance of collecting and preserving our local history through artifacts, manuscripts and images.

5 May - 30 June 2004

Delta Scenes Revisited: A Photographic Exhibit

6 April - 30 April 2004

Established by an act of the Legislature in 1924, Delta State Teachers College officially opened its doors on 15 September 1925. For over seventy-five years, Delta State has provided superior edcuational enrichment for thousands of students. Faculty, staff and students have created the rich history of Delta State under the guidance of each president. In honor of the inauguration of Dr. John M. Hilpert, the seventh president of Delta State, Delta State's Men: A Presidential Exhibit highlights each of the seven presidents who have served and continue to serve Delta State.

Please visit our virtual web exhibit located on the Archives Home Page.

1 February - 31 March 2004

Faces of Freedom Summer

The summer of 1964 represents a watershed year for Civil Rights progress in Mississippi and one that thrust the state into the national spotlight. Volunteers from throughout the country joined Mississippi residents in efforts to supplement the inadequacies of segregated black public schools with basic education, as well as with classes in subjects not normally taught in these schools. Freedom Summer volunteers also provided instruction in government and encouraged adult members of the black community to register to vote. Not all Mississippians welcomed outside volunteers to the State. Individuals were harassed and the Freedom Schools meeting sites were often targets of vandalism and threatening activities.

Photographer Herbert Randall was one of the Freedom Summer volunteers stationed in and around Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His photographs document the people and events of that important summer.

Accompanying Programs

1 February, Sunday - Exhibit Opening; Panel Discussion including Senator David Lee Jordan,
Mrs. Thelma Barnes, and Mr. Charles McLaurin, moderated by Dr. Luther Brown,
Director of theDelta Center for Culture and Learning

5 February, Thursday (7:00p.m) - Film Screening: Ghosts of Mississippi;
Lecture lead by Dr. Luther Brown of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning

7 February, Saturday (12:00p.m.- 4:00p.m.) - Civil Rights Sights in the Delta: Bus Tour
Lead by Dr. Luther Brown and Dr. Henry Outlaw of the
Delta Center for Culture and Learning
Points of Interest include such towns as Greenwood,
Money, Ruleville and Cleveland.
This event is free and open to the public.
Sponsored in part by Student Services and Office of the Provost.

13 February, Friday (12:00p.m. - 1:15p.m) - Brown Bag Lecture
Mark Schneider
Former Civil Rights Worker
Introduced by Dr. Garry Jennings, Director of The Madison Center

17 February, Tuesday (12:00p.m.) - Brown Bag Lecture
Governor William Winter
Race Relations and Reconciliation in Mississippi
Introduced by Dr. Garry Jennings, Director of The Madison Center

19 February, Thursday (7:00p.m - 9:00p.m) - Film Screening: Emmett Till Documentary
Lecture lead by Dr. Luther Brown,
Director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning

26 February, Thursday (7:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.) - Film Screening: Eyes on the Prize
Lecture lead by Dr. Luther Brown,
Director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning

4 March, Thursday (7:00p.m. - 8:30p.m) - Lecture
Dr. Matthew Holden
Doherty Professor of Politics at
The University of Virginia
Race Relations in the Delta

25 March, Wednesday (7:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.) - Presentation and Panel Discussion
Local Civil Rights Activists

All events will be held in the Lucy Somerville Howorth Seminar Room located in the Charles W. Capps Jr. Archive and Museum Building
on the Delta State University campus.

The Lecture programs are financially assisted by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the Mississippi Humanities Council.
The views expressed herin do not necessarily represent those of the Mississippi Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

September 7th - December 19th, 2003

Life in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, 1865 - 1900

Life in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, 1865 - 1900 features items from the DSU Archives' collections. The collections drawn from include the Boyd-Walters-Bobo and Gibert-Knowlton Lytle Family Papers, The Milburn Crowe-Mound Bayou Collection, The Eugene Leftwich Collection and Doro Plantation artifacts.

The opening reception is scheduled for Sunday, September 7th at 2:00 pm in the Lucy Somerville Howorth Room at the Capps Archives and Museum.The guest speaker will be Dr. Tom Boschert, Professor of History at Delta State.

March 2 - April 11, 2003

Daily Lives: Peasant Art of China

Opening Reception will be Sunday, March 2,, 2002 at 2:00 in the Charles W. Capps, Jr. Archives and Museum Building on the campus of Delta State University. Guest speakers will be Edward and Sylvia Krebs, who are responsible for bringing the exhibit to Delta State.

Sunday, March 23, 2003

Lucy Somerville Howorth Award Presentation

This year's Lucy Award honoree is Mrs. Keith Dockery McLean. She will be honored at a special program on
Sunday, March 23, at the Capps Archives and Museum. The program begins at 4:00 p.m. in the Howorth Seminar Room.

March 23 - May 2, 2003

Exhibit honoring Mrs. Keith Dockery McLean
Will be on display in museum side room

September 15 - December 13, 2002

The Hooks Brothers Collection: A Portrait of 20th Century African-American Life in Memphis, Tennessee

Thursday, Octorber 3, at 12:15 p.m.

Brown Bag: Ed Frank, from the University of Memphis
Speaking on the City of Memphis in the 20th Century

Thursday, October 10, at 12:15 p.m.

Brown Bag: Peter Palmer, from the University of Mississippi
Speaking on The Memphis Fire and Police Strike of 1978

Thursday, November 7, at 12:15 p.m.

Brown Bag: Dr. David Beito, from the University of Alabama
Speaking on the Taborian Hospital in Mound Bayou.
Dr. Beito will also be available to sign copies of his book From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State: Fraternal Societies and Social Services, 1890 - 1967.

September 9, 2001 - March 15, 2002

A Plant and Animal Survey of the Mississippi Delta: The National Youth Administration Project, 1936-1938.
Opening Reception will be on Sunday, September 9 in the Lucy Somerville Howorth Seminar Room at 2:00 p.m. Guest Speaker will be Dr. Sam Faulkner, Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences.

April 5th - May 18th, 2002

Produce For Victory: Posters on the American Home Front, 1941 - 1945
This exhibit, which includes 26 reproductions of World War II posters, examines how posters circulated by government and private organizations were key to mobilizing and maintaining stateside support for the war effort. The posters are drawn from the collection at the Smithsonian Institutes' National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The exhibit is made possible through the partnership of the Smithsonian Institute and the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Friday, April 5th
Opening Reception, Featuring: Live Big Band Music at 6:30pm

Monday, April 8th
Brown Bag: Hollywood Goes to War
Dr. Brian O' Neil, film historian at the University of Southern Mississippi, will lecture on Hollywood's role in the War effort.The Lecture begins at 12:10 in the Howorth Seminar Room in the Capps Building. Refreshments provided. This lecture will introduce our WWII Era Film Series which will continue for the duration of the Produce for Victory Exhibit. Films and dates are listed below. All movies begin at 6:30 and will be shown in the Howorth Seminar Room at the Capps Building on a large screen.

WWII Film Series:

Tuesday, April 9th
Sergeant York, 1941. Starring Gary Cooper.

Tuesday, April 16th
African American Heroes of WWII: Tuskegee Fighter Pilots and Black Wartime Radio. (Documentary)

Tuesday, April 23rd
Casablanca, 1942. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman

Tuesday, April 30th
Since You Went Away, 1944. Starring Claudette Colbert, Shirley Temple and Lionel Barrymore.

Tuesday, May 7th
D-Day to Berlin. (Documentary)

Tuesday, May 7th

Brown Bag: German POWs in the Mississippi Delta
Participants in the Archives' recent oral history project concerning the POW camps here in the Delta during WWII will speak about the camps. The project was funded in part by the Mississippi Humanities Council. The lecture begins at 12:10 in the Howorth Seminar Room in the Capps Building. Refreshments provided.

"If It Ain't Seasoned, It Ain't Much of Anything" (2000)

According to a description of Lebanese cooking by Queenie Nassour of Vicksburg "If it ain't seasoned, it ain't much of anything." That idea is applied to the cultural diversity of Mississippi in a traveling exhibit of the same name from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

"Dear Miss Virginia. . ." (2000)

Hundreds of men and women, students and faculty, from Delta State joined the war effort during 1941-1945, and Virginia Thomspon, or "Miss Virginia," as the students called her, corresponded with many of them, keeping them updated on each other and their alma mater through her letters and newsletters. A selection of this correspondence is on display at the Capps Archives and Museum Building in the exhibit "Dear Miss Virginia." In addition to the letters, occupation money, foreign and military newspapers, photographs, clippings, and postcards are included.