MSU hosts C-SPAN exhibit "American Presidents: Life Portraits"

Contact: Meg Henderson

At a ribbon cutting ceremony for "American Presidents: Life Portraits" were, front (l-r) John Marszalek, executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library; MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman; and Vice President of Student Affairs Bill Kibler; back (l-r) Kyle Jordan, field representative for Rep. Gregg Harper; Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman; Eddie French, interim director of the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development; K.C. Morrison, head of MSU's political science and public administration department; Rex Buffington, executive director for the Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership; and Hank Mosley, special assistant for constituent services for Rep. Gregg Harper.
At a ribbon cutting ceremony for "American Presidents: Life Portraits" were, front (l-r) John Marszalek, executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library; MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman; and Vice President of Student Affairs Bill Kibler; back (l-r) Kyle Jordan, field representative for Rep. Gregg Harper; Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman; Eddie French, interim director of the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development; K.C. Morrison, head of MSU's political science and public administration department; Rex Buffington, executive director for the Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership; and Hank Mosley, special assistant for constituent services for Rep. Gregg Harper.
Photo by: Beth Wynn

STARKVILLE, Miss.--A traveling C-SPAN exhibition titled "American Presidents: Life Portraits" is being co-sponsored at Mississippi State by the University Libraries and Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library.

Taking place through April 30 in the third-floor John Grisham Room of Mitchell Memorial Library, the 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekday exhibition is free and open to all.

Covering the lives and contributions of men holding the nation's highest elected office--along with those of their First Ladies--the collection includes paintings, photographs, prints and audio recordings.

Oil portraits by artist Chris Fagan, historic front pages from American newspapers announcing presidential election results, and audio recordings of 18 recent chief executives are among items on display.

"This exhibit represents a tremendous opportunity for our students, faculty and staff to enjoy a truly significant presentation on the American presidency," said Jerry Gilbert, MSU's provost and executive vice president.

Gilbert said the C-SPAN exhibit "complements our own wonderful U.S. Grant Presidential Library."

Since 1999, the C-SPAN network and White House Historical Association have worked together to take the exhibit to various locations around the country. The exhibit also has followed the campaign trail for the last three presidential elections, visiting debate, primary election and convention cities.

"We are excited at the prospect of hosting this prestigious exhibit and giving the Mississippi State University family, both present day and alumni, the opportunity to view it," said MSU historian John F. Marszalek, the Grant Library's executive director.

Frances Coleman, dean of libraries, joined Gilbert and Marszalek in extending personal invitations for "faculty, staff, students, alumni, and residents of the Starkville community, Golden Triangle area and other parts of the state to come explore this extraordinary exhibit."

Created by the cable TV industry and now reaching more than 100 million households, C-SPAN includes three public affairs television networks, C- SPAN Radio, and the C-SPAN Video Library. For complete details, visit www.c-span.org.

The White House Historical Association is a non-profit organization created in 1961 to enhance understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the presidential offices and residence. The organization regularly sponsors lectures, exhibits and other outreach programs. For more, see www.whha.org.

Information on the MSU Libraries and Grant Presidential Library may be accessed via http://library.msstate.edu/.

To learn more about MSU, visit www.msstate.edu.