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It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

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DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY P. 0. BOX 571 JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39205
November 6, 1978
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
William f. Winter, president
JOHN K. BETTERSWORTH
Arch Dalrymple ill Frank e Everett, jr.
Mrs Mitchell Robinson Estus Smith Everette Truly Thomas H. Watkins Sherwood w Wise
Elbert R. hilliaro director
Mrs. Margaret M. Glbbens Historic Sites Chairman
Hancock County Historical Society, Inc.
P. 0. Box 13^0
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 39520
Dear Mrs. Gibbens:
The Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History, at its meeting on October 27, 1978, approved a state-funded historical marker for Publius Rutilius R. Pray. The Board felt that, in light of the expenses your Society might incur in its efforts to document the existence of the Pray graves, the State should bear the expense of the historical marker. Mr. Pray was, in addition, a figure of statewide prominence.
Mr. Norman Chronister, Research Assistant, Division of Historic Preservation, will be responsible for drafting the text and placing the order for the marker.
We appreciate the work that you and the other members of your society are doing to help preserve and interpret the history of Hancock County.
Sincerely
A. /A
Elbert R. Hilliard
Secretary
Board of Trustees
ERH:ckd
CC:	Miss	Dawn	Maddox
Mr. Norman Chronister