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INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOCAL HISTORY SECTION OF THE COLUMBUS/LOWNDES LIBRARY Such an extensive local history area and collection are unusual for a public library. The Columbus Library's director,Ben Peterson, has a strong commitment to the preservation of local history. When the library was built in the 1970s, space was provided for Lowndes County history and genealogy materials. The collection and the space have greatly increased since then. In 1981 the library received a generous gift from MUW English Professor Dr. George F. Buckley who established the Margaret Latimer Buckley Genealogy Room in memory of his late wife. This room houses over 5000 books, many periodicals, and almost 500 reels of microfilmed census records and local newspapers. Some of the newspapers are from the 1830s. Recent years of the Commercial Dispatch are also available. We have indexes for these papers from 1990-1996 and are beginning work on the 1997 index. Currently ten to fifteen researchers visit the Buckley Room daily. Local, in-state, and out-of-state patrons research their family trees. We receive several letters and phone calls a week from people all over the country asking for information. In June 1992 the library was the recipient of a major gift from the Snowdoun Foundation, allowing for considerable expansion of the local history area which was now to house the Lowndes County Archives assigned to the library's custody. The records consist of a large number of ledgers, estate papers, and loose files, many dating to the 1830s. Among the estate papers are land transactions, wills, inventories, invoices, and guardianship arrangements. The Billups Garth Archives facility houses these records on space-saving compact shelving in an environmentally sound area which is fireproof temperature and humidity controlled. Also in the Archives are more that 500 photographs, 300 manuscript collections, 100 scrapbooks of individuals and organizations, and files on Columbus history, including houses, organizations, and government. The Snowdoun Foundation donation also provided exhibit space throughout the library. A number of items from the Snowdoun antebellum home are displayed in Local History. Additional materials available include more than 200 maps, high school yearbooks, and city directories from the early 1900s. All of this information and more help to preserve the history of Columbus and to tell its story to many visitors from elementary school children to senior citizens. Students from Carl Butler's history classes at the Mississippi School for Math and Science use library resources to prepare for Tales from the Crypt held in Friendship Cemetery during Pilgrimage each year. Ben Peterson, Library Director Direct Link to Library Site
LOCAL HISTORY HOURS
Buckley Genealogy Room
Billups Garth Archives
THE FAMILY OF JOHN MURPHY SR. - One of three known Rev. War soldiers buried in Lowndes County. Murphy family one of early families in the Caledonia region. MURPHY CONNECTIONS - A quarterly historical family newsletter for Murphy-related cousins. Much genealogy and history of descendants of James and Alexander Murph(e)y of PN, N.C., S.C., MS, AL. John Murphy Sr. found in this family. OLD ELBETHEL - History of Elbethel Primitive Baptist Church north of Caledonia. Perhaps the oldest church in the region. Many names of early members listed. SALEM CHURCH: A LOST STORY OF A COMMITTED PEOPLE - The story of Salem Independent Presbyterian Church. An abolitionist and Unionist church in the midst of slavery and the Civil War. Includes much info on the Feemster, Robinson and related families. A list of those buried in Feemster Cemetery included. UNITY CHURCH AND CEMETERY - Early Presbyterian church just outside Caledonia - site of church, academy, militia drills and Civil War reunions. A biographical history of each person (with a stone) buried in old Unity Cemetery. Many early pioneers of the region. A HISTORY OF THE DOWDLE AND PICKENS FAMILIES - A republication of a work done by E. M. Sharp on these two families. Connects with Dowdles of the Lowndes and Monroe County areas. All of these are available in the Lowndes County Library. To obtain copies, contact Buttahatchie Publications, 915 Woodland Drive, Henderson, Tn 38340 (901-989-7302).jmurphy@knology.net
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Saturday, 15-Mar-2008 13:05:18 MST
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