Contact: Kenneth Billings
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State is being honored with the Mississippi Historical Society's 2009 Award of Merit.
A division of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the society specifically is recognizing the university's library administration for its work in acquiring the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Collection that relocated to campus in December through an agreement with the private U. S. Grant Association.
Previously housed at Southern Illinois University, the collection was acquired through the efforts of MSU history professor emeritus John F. Marszalek. It includes 90 filing cabinets of original and photocopied manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, books, memorabilia, and other documents related to the long career of the Civil War military leader who later became the nation's 18th chief executive. (For more, see www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=4439.)
"This is the largest collection of Ulysses S. Grant papers in the world and their acquisition is truly remarkable," said MHS secretary-treasurer Elbert Hilliard.
"To be one of only a few institutions in the nation to house a presidential papers collection definitely is a point of pride for Mississippi State," responded President Mark Keenum. "Such a distinguished award from the state historical society highlights the commitment and dedication of our library administration and all those associated with this effort to bring the collection to campus."
Frances N. Coleman, dean of libraries, said "The Mississippi Historical Society is a prestigious organization and we are very honored to be chosen for its Award of Merit."
She said the collection joins those of former U.S Senator John C. Stennis and numerous other more contemporary political figures in the central-campus repository's Congressional and Political Research Center.
Hilliard said the MHS Award of Merit has been presented annually since 1976 to individuals, institutions or organizations for outstanding work in collecting and archiving history. The society was founded in 1858 and publishes the Journal of Mississippi History.
As companions to the Grant papers, the MSU library also is receiving research notes Marszalek used for his biography and earlier published works about William T. Sherman, another famous Union Army general who was among Grant's closest friends and professional colleagues. The historian also is providing similar material used for his biography of Gen. Henry Halleck, another high-profile--but less well-known--Union Army leader.
A nationally recognized Civil War scholar, Marszalek and his wife Jeanne are patrons of the MSU Libraries.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information about the honor, contact Dean Coleman at 662-325-0812 or fcoleman@library.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.