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National History Day Draws State Students
More than 1,500 of the state’s middle- and high-school students honed their research and writing skills for the 2010-11 National History Day in Mississippi. Nearly two hundred students went on to participate in the state contest at the University of Southern Mississippi, and thirty-two competed on
in history, students present their work in original papers, Web sites, exhibits, performances, and documentaries. This year’s theme is “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History.”
“Our program has been recognized for its effectiveness in teaching more than merely facts and figures,” said Jeff
Madison Middle School studies teacher Tom Watts and USM professor of history Deanne Nuwer discussed National History Day at the 2011 Social Studies Teachers Workshop at the Old Capitol Museum.
the national level. Pass Christian’s Elizabeth Young won second place in the nation for her documentary on the Louisiana Purchase.
The mission of National History Day is to increase interest in history and help students develop strong research skills. Each year more than half a million students, encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide, participate in the NHD contest. Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews, and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance
Bowersox, Mississippi’s National History Day coordinator and University of Southern Mississippi assistant professor. “Printed materials, mentoring, and expert historians are available to help teachers integrate the project into the work they are already doing in the classroom.”
This year 250 students are expected to participate in the state contest on Saturday, February 25, at the University of Southern Mississippi. Volunteers are welcome. For more information contact Jeff Bowersox at jeff. bowersox@usm.edu.
A comprehensive guide to implementing NHD in the classroom is available online at www.usm.edu/history/NHD/ Welcome.html.
PRENTISS SOCIETY, continued from p. 1
“It was definitely a great collaboration between the society and the City of Booneville,” said Diane Garvin, PCG&HS president. “Mayor Joe Eaton was very supportive and provided us with many resources.”
The society wanted to celebrate the rich history of the city, so it decided to stage a living history tour that would highlight the lives of past citizens of Booneville who are buried in the cemetery.
Fifteen people were portrayed, including a professional photographer, the city’s youngest mayor, a physician, a business owner, and a family of three killed by the great tornado of 1936.
Society members and other volunteers used local his- Barbara Shackelford portrayed Jettie tory books published by the Nunley, the town’s first professional PCG&HS as well as other photographer. She was known as the sources to research the lives Prentiss County Pictorial Historian, of the subjects. Students in
Amanda Burcham-Garvin’s creative writing course at Northeast Mississippi Community College wrote the script.
Once the script was complete volunteer reenactors learned their subjects’ life stories and rehearsed their lines. On the day of the tour the actors were stationed at the appropriate gravesites—each supplied with fresh flowers donated by a local florist—and volunteer tour guides, including some members of the city’s Board of Aldermen, led the crowds of visitors through the cemetery. Golf carts were available for those unable to walk the entire way.
Since it was located on publicly owned property, the tour was free. However, donations were accepted, and enough money was raised to pay for several repairs.
Another Historic Booneville Cemetery Tour is planned for May 2012. For more information contact Diane Garvin at 662-416-3741.
Historic Natchez Foundation Welcoming New Deputy Director
On January 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Elms Court the Historic Natchez Foundation will host a cocktail reception to welcome its new deputy director, Trevor Brown, and his wife Makalah (pictured at right).
Brown has worked in the MDAH Gulf Coast office since November 2006 overseeing grant projects in Hancock and western Harrison County. He began as a preservation specialist and became the Gulf
Coast deputy director in 2008. Brown will assume his duties on March 1.