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Librarian researches Mardi Gras1981 theme
' Sun/Herald - Feb. 22, 1981 By MARIE LANGLOIS
HERALD STAFF WRITER
When the Gulf Coast Carnival Association chose its 1981 Mardi Gras theme?"The Gulf Coast Under Eight Flags??It decided carnival revelers would be given an accurate parade of history, and so It sought the expertise of Murella Hebert Powell. Powell Is historical geneaological librarian with the Biloxi Public Library and it is she who thoroughly researched that period of Gulf Coast history.
King d?lberville and Queen Ixolib, their royal courts, floats and riders will wear costumes of the periods when eight flags flew over the Gulf Coast?from Biloxi?s settlement In 1699 to 1981.
The celebration of the carnival season on the Coast climaxes on March 3?Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday?in Biloxi. Festivities begin In the morning with the arrival of King D?lbervllle, then the toast to his queen on the steps of the City Hall, followed by the morning and evening parades and the glittering royal ball In the convention center of the Gulf Coast Coliseum. THftusands will lay aside their cares and woes and become free spirits for just a little while on the."Day that Care Forgot.? It Is tradition.
And Powell says, "My duty as historian has been to research the story behind the traditional eight flags. After diligent research, I parted from tradition and used the Star Spangled Banner with 15 stars and 15 stripes as our fifth flag, thus giving us nine flags.
"The Mississippi Gulf Coast actually was under more than eight flags, so in keeping with ?eight flags' I have presented both state flags? the Magnolia and the current Mlsslssipl state flag ?In the same time slot as two patterns of the state flag.
?I consulted with Jim Stevens, well-known Coast historian [and president of the Mississippi Historical Society], and he agreed with withmy
the past eight years.
Rn. u;h(*n thfi'klntr and hid oueen. their consorts
Five of the Gulf Coast's nine flags
Spanish Bars of Aragon?1779-1810