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Heritage Edition
She Sea (Soast iEcho
POST OFFICE BOX 230 BAY ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI 39520 TELEPHONE AREA CODE 601 467-5474
August 10, 1979
Joe Pilet, Editor (601)467-5551
genator Cecil Lamar Sumners
02	North Pearl Street
Iuka, Miss. 38852 Dear Senator:
It was, indeed, a pleasure to have you visit with me yesterday, and I am very interested in your planned book anent the History of Mississippi Courthouses. Should I locate a picture of the building that was used in Bay St. Louis just after the County Seat was moved from Gainsville and prior to the erection of the present building, I will send it to you, as well as other information as it becomes available.
Thank you for your good suggestion that I get in touch with Senator Martin T. Smith with reference to the 13 volumes of Bay St. Louis city minute books which are now in the Dept, of Archives and History in Jackson. These books are there because in 1977 the then Mayor Warren Carver and ffhen City Clerk, Lucien Kidd signed a Contract of Gift giving the Department of Archives and History History legal title, copyright and literary property right in the collection.
It is my contention these officials did not have the authority to give away property and I seek an opinion from the Attorney General. Such a contract would seem in violation of the Freedom of the Press, also since they did not own these records I wonder how they can legally give away that which does not belong to them.
Senator Smith has assured me of his cooperation, and Mayor Larry Bennett has told me that through our Senator he will request an opinion from Attorney General A. P. Summer.
Again thank you for your interest and your helpfulness.
Sincerely,
CC Senator Martin T. Smith
Mayor of Bay St. Louis, Larry Bennett