The
Southern Slate
Winter 1999-2000
Contact Us! to be added to our mailing list.
“Christmas On Crawford Street” scheduled for December 4
The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation will join with its Crawford Street neighbors on December 4, 1999, to bring a new holiday tradition to the city of Vicksburg. “Christmas on Crawford Street” will feature historic homes, arts and crafts, music, food, and hands-on activities for children and adults.
An Open House from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. will showcase several of the historic properties on Crawford Street, all beautifully decorated for the holidays.
The Sisters of Mercy Convent, built in 1868, and the Cobb House, built in the early 1830s and now sporting a newly-restored facade, will be open for self-guided tours. The Balfour House will display original works of art by local artists and will also present a quilting demonstration. A bake sale will be held at the Pemberton Headquarters, and the Baldwin House Victorian Tea and Coffee Parlor will offer visitors free coffee, tea, and cookies.
The Crawford Street Studios will also be open, featuring the art of Ann Biedenharn Jones, Jimmie McGuffie, and Pat Walkerfield. Additional works from the studios will be displayed in the Cobb House.
The Convent Parlors of the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex will be the site of two fun activities for families. Children will have the opportunity to decorate gingerbread men made by pastry expert Heather Burns and to make Victorian-style ornaments using basic household supplies.
From 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Jingle Bell Junction Arts and Crafts Fair sponsored by the River City Business and Professional Women will be held in the Auditorium of the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex. Beginning at 1:00 p.m., the Warren Central High School Choir will perform seasonal selections to entertain shoppers.
“We think this will be a great holiday event,” Ted Smith, executive director of the SCHF, said recently. “We hope people will come down, meet the folks of Crawford Street, see the wonderfully restored homes here, and just enjoy the rich history of this very special part of Vicksburg’s downtown area.”
Crawford Street will be closed to traffic between Adams and Cherry Streets, allowing visitors to walk freely between the venues. Parking will be available in the Crawford Street United Methodist Church’s parking lot directly across Cherry Street from the SCHF’s Auditorium.
“Christmas on Crawford Street” will be free and open to the public. For more information, call the Foundation offices at (601) 631-2997 or visit www.southernculture.org on the worldwide web.
Southern Authors Headline Humanities Lecture Series
Both humorous and serious aspects of life and culture in the South will be examined in two upcoming offerings of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation’s Humanities Lecture Series. The lecture series, which is held the third Thursday of every month, has been made possible by support from the Mississippi Humanities Council and Trustmark National Bank.
Public radio commentator, author, and real estate executive R. Scott Brunner of Brandon, Mississippi, will discuss his book, Due South: Dispatches from Down Home, in the Auditorium of the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex on December 16, 1999, at 7:00 p.m.
Brunner’s book offers a collection of observations and reminiscences about life, family, relationships, and Southern culture and language. Chapter titles include “The ‘Bless Your Heart’ Rules,” “Turnip Greens at 33,000 Feet,” “How to Rear a Southerner,” and “Home Cooking and World Peace.” His commentaries on such subjects have also aired on Public Radio of Mississippi and National Public Radio’s afternoon program, All Things Considered.
Dr. Ted Ownby, Professor of Southern Studies and History at the University of Mississippi, will speak January 20, 2000, about his book, American Dreams in Mississippi: Consumers, Poverty, and Culture, 1830-1998. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Complex’s Convent Parlors, located at the corner of Crawford and Adams Streets.
Dr. Ownby’s work focuses on the important and changing role of consumerism and business culture in Mississippi history. Other books of his include Subduing Satan: Religion, Recreation, and Manhood in the Rural South, 1865-1920.
Copies of Mr. Brunner’s and Dr. Ownby’s books will be available for sale at their respective programs. A reception and book signing will follow both presentations, which are free and open to the public.
Recent offerings of the Lecture Series have been very well-received. In October photojournalist David Rae Morris shared slides and memories of Vicksburg native, Dr. Jane Ellen McAllister, one of the first African-American women to receive a Ph.D. Morris captured the unique spirit and impressive accomplishments of Dr. McAllister, who was also remembered by many people in attendance. Morris also discussed a photo essay project he conducted with his father, the late author Willie Morris.
A large crowd turned out in November to hear Samuel Brookes, Heritage Program Manager with the National Forest Service in Mississippi, discuss Native American Cultures of Mississippi. The program, in recognition of Native American Month, covered beliefs, kinship, foodways, crafts, and other aspects of Indian life in the region dating from 10,000 years ago to the present.
For more information about the Humanities Lecture Series, please call program coordinator Julienne Crawford at (601) 631-2997 or visit www.southernculture.org on the worldwide web.
Letter from the President of the Board of Directors
As we near the end of the year (and the 20th Century!), I can truly say that 1999 has been a great year for the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation.
The year began with many questions, but the month of April brought some wonderful answers that positively shaped the Foundation’s future for years to come. At that time, the SCHF Board of Directors signed a management agreement with the City of Vicksburg, providing great autonomy for our organization and permanently securing the historic property we manage.
Also in April, the board hired Ted J. Smith as the Foundation’s new executive director. Ted brings great energy and vision to our organization, and many of his plans are already taking shape, as evidenced by the growth in staff and programming highlighted in this newsletter.
A new and larger Board of Directors [see list at the bottom of this page] was nominated and elected at the Foundation’s annual meeting in November. This excellent group will play a vital role in defining and securing the future of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation.
We are very grateful to all of you who support this important organization, and we wish you an outstanding holiday season.
Fred Farrell
Letter from the Executive Director
Looking back over 1999, we have much to celebrate, and as indicated by the reports in this newsletter, the fall season has been particularly gratifying and eventful. The Red Tops Revisited and Landscape Symposium were both great events, and the Humanities Lecture Series has increased in popularity month after month. Our staff and Board of Directors have grown substantially in recent weeks, and many members of the community have come forward to express their enthusiasm and support for the work of this organization.
In the year 2000, we look forward to developing additional ways in which to explore the many rich and dynamic subjects that fall under the heading of Southern Culture. I thank you for your continued support, and I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons.
Ted J. Smith
Four Bright Ideas for the Holidays:
Volunteer time and talents to assist with the work of the SCHF.
Become a member or contribute money to the SCHF for a year-end charitable deduction on 1999 income taxes.
Give a little “Southern Culture” to family and friends for Christmas...maybe an SCHF membership, a Red Tops CD, or R. Scott Brunner’s book, Due South.
Call the SCHF offices at (601) 631-2997 for information on all of the above!
Program Coordinator, Full-Time Secretary Join SCHF Staff
The staff of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation (SCHF) tripled in size in October with two additions. Julienne Crawford was hired to fill the new position of program coordinator, and Beth Nichols came on board as the new full-time secretary.
According to SCHF Executive Director Ted Smith, “Julienne and Beth both have the energy, ideas, and knowledge that will help our organization thrive.”
Originally from Virginia, Crawford has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from James Madison University and extensive work experience in both museums and archeology. Her duties for the SCHF include developing new programs for children and adults, coordinating volunteer opportunities, facilitating community outreach, and assisting with publicity for the organization.
“This job offers a wonderful chance for me to combine my various interests in the arts, history, and culture,” Crawford said recently. “The Foundation has the potential to offer a variety of cultural activities for all members of the community, and I encourage folks to call me with any suggestions they might have.”
Nichols attended the University of Mississippi, where she majored in Southern Studies, and is currently pursuing a degree in accounting from Mississippi College. Her strong work experience, including a previous job with All Saints’ Episcopal School, fits well with her position at SCHF, since she manages the organization’s databases and facilitates mail-outs, among many other duties.
“I’m very excited about this job,” Nichols commented. “It’s great to be part of an organization that can offer so many wonderful things to the people of Vicksburg and the surrounding area.”
Gingerbread House Workshops to be held December 11
The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation (SCHF) will offer gingerbread house workshops for children and adults on Saturday, December 11, 1999, in the Convent Parlors located at the corner of Crawford and Adams Streets. The workshops will focus on the true old-fashioned techniques for making gingerbread houses and will be led by Heather Burns, whose professional culinary experiences include training with pastry chefs in Europe.
The adult class will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and will cost $20 per person for SCHF members and $25 for non-members. The children’s class for ages 4 and up will take place from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. The cost is $15 per child for SCHF members and $18 for non-members. The registration price for both classes includes all materials for one house and decorations around the house, and the adult price also includes a history of gingerbread making.
Space is limited and registration is required by Wednesday, December 8, 1999. For more information, contact the SCHF’s program coordinator, Julienne Crawford, at (601) 631-2997.
Second Annual Red Tops Revisited Draws a Crowd of 300
More than 300 people turned out for the Second Annual Red Tops Revisited Reception and Dance held in the Auditorium of the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex on Saturday, November 6, 1999. The event, like the 1998 Reception and Dance, commemorated the work of the Red Tops, a popular dance band which played across the Mid-South during the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.
The evening began with a reception featuring a cocktail buffet, and a festive air filled the auditorium as those in attendance renewed old friendships and visited with the original members of the Red Tops present, including Jimmy Bosley, Jesse Hayes, Walter Osborne, Sr., Rufus McKay, Louis Spencer, and Williard Tyler, Sr.
Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation Executive Director Ted Smith offered a welcome, followed by introductions and acknowledgements from Program Chair Betty Barnes Jackson, who led the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” to Walter Osborne, Sr., as he was soon to turn 96 years old.
Then the Ben Shaw Band took to the stage and, with the first notes of the Red Tops’ hit, “Swanee River Rock,” an excited crowd took to the dance floor. Original Red Tops vocalist Rufus McKay, who flew in from Nevada for the event, joined the band during both sets and particularly pleased the audience with two soaring renditions of “Danny Boy.”
“The work of Bill and Betty Dorman, Betty Jackson, Alice Portwood, and other friends of the SCHF made this wonderful event possible,” Smith commented that night. “Ever since taking this job, I have been hearing about the Red Tops Revisited of 1998. Experiencing the great excitement and joy of this evening, I can now understand why.”
The Red Tops Revisited was supported by contributions from Fred and Kay Farrell, Don and Deanna Miller, John and Rebecca Stepan, Ed and Betty Jackson, Bill and Betty Dorman, and Landy and Peggy Teller. Additional support was provided by BancorpSouth, River Hills Bank, Sam Nicholas, and Fred Peyton.
Plans are underway for the Third Annual Red Tops Revisited to be held in the fall of 2000.
What’s Cooking?
Participants in the Fourth Annual Historic Vicksburg Landscape Symposium gather around Kelly Patrick-Williams for questions and food samples after her presentation, “Cooking from a Southern Garden.” She was one of eight speakers at the symposium held October 8-9, 1999, at the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex. In addition to engaging presentations on a variety of subjects, the symposium offered a nature walk, a speaker’s party, and plant, book, and tool sales for participants. Plans are underway for the Fifth Annual Historic Vicksburg Landscape Symposium to be held in the spring of 2000.
Students Find Puppet Theater Workshop a Fun Challenge
Every Thursday afternoon this fall, 9-13 year old students have arrived at the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex to participate in the After School Community Puppet and Marionette Theater program sponsored by the City of Vicksburg and the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation (SCHF).
The program is made possible by a FY99 Arts-Based Community Development Program Grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission with matching funds from the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vicksburg. Additional support is provided by the International Paper Company Foundation.
The 33 participants registered for the fall workshop have learned to make and use marionette, shadow, and rod puppets. The group will have an end of the semester performance December 9, followed by a special presentation from The Bayou Town Theater, a professional puppet group. The last class of the semester, held December 16, will be a puppet making clinic and Christmas gathering program for participants and their parents.
A winter class, beginning January 6, will be held every Thursday from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. for sixteen weeks. Registration will take place the first two weeks of December. For more information, contact the City of Vicksburg’s special projects director, Marcia Weaver, at (601) 634-4509.
Upcoming Events at the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex:
Saturday, December 4, 1999, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
“Christmas on Crawford Street” Open House
Saturday, December 11, 1999, 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Gingerbread House Workshops with Heather Burns
Thursday, December 16, 1999, 7:00 p.m.
Humanities Lecture Series with R. Scott Brunner
Thursday, January 20, 2000, 7:00 p.m.
Humanities Lecture Series with Dr. Ted Ownby
SCHF Property Available for Rent
For people needing a unique space to hold a wedding reception, retirement party, or business meeting, the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex often provides the solution. Four of the Complex’s historic facilities are available for rent when they are not being used for programming sponsored by the SCHF.
The 1880s Auditorium is an ideal location for performances, banquets, dances, weddings, and receptions. It features a stage, theatrical lighting, hardwood floors, and a beautiful wooden ceiling. The Victorian Parlors of the Sisters of Mercy Convent, built in 1868, provide an elegant setting for smaller receptions, classes, and workshops. A foyer and two connecting parlor rooms, with chandeliers and distinctive woodwork, are included in the rental. Classrooms in the 1930s Academy building may also be used for meetings, classes, and lectures. The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation provides tables and chairs set up to the renter’s specifications for any event in these three facilities.
The Gymnasium, dating from the 1950s, is often rented by local sports groups, either on a long- or short-term basis.
“The five wonderful buildings that make up the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex are our greatest asset,” Julienne Crawford, SCHF program coordinator, stated recently. “Renting the facilities allows us to generate self-supporting revenue while further showcasing this historic property.”
For more information on renting SCHF facilities, contact Crawford at (601) 631-2997.
Web Site Features New Additions
Visitors to the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation’s web site,
www.southernculture.org
will find several new features to explore these days.
A photo gallery provides current views of the SCHF property, images from SCHF events, and a selection of archival photos from the Sisters of Mercy Convent and St. Francis Xavier Academy.
A resource section provides links to a vast array of internet sites, allowing users to connect with everything from The Attic Gallery in Vicksburg to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Categories of links include “City, State, and Region,” “Vicksburg Accommodations,” “Internet Exhibits,” “Museums,” “Historic Places,” and “Libraries and Research Centers.”
According to Executive Director Ted Smith, the SCHF web site offers an important extension to the organization’s cultural programming. “Technology isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of cultural organizations,” Smith commented. “But I believe our web site is a powerful tool for exploring and sharing our rich cultural heritage.”
In addition to the photo gallery and resources section, visitors to the SCHF web site can also access stories from current and past issues of the organization’s newsletter.
The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation wishes to thank Mississippi Internet Services for providing space for its web site.
If you like what you see inside…
Please consider joining the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation today!
Membership Levels
____ Family - $ 25.00
____ Contributor - 50.00
____ Sponsor - 100.00
____ Patron - 250.00
____ Benefactor - 500.00
____ Founder - 1,000.00 +
____ Other - ________
Benefits include reduced fees for SCHF workshops and classes, invitations to special events,
and the satisfaction of supporting an outstanding cultural activities center!
Make checks payable to:
The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation
1302 Adams Street
Vicksburg, MS 39183
Or call (601) 631-2997 for more information.
It’s tax deductible!
The Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation
1302 Adams Street
Vicksburg, MS 39183
Phone: (601) 631-2997
Fax: (601) 631-3734
E-mail: info@southernculture.org
Web Site:
www.southernculture.org
Ted J. Smith
Executive Director
tjs@southernculture.org
Julienne Crawford
Program Coordinator
jfc@southernculture.org
Elizabeth Nichols
Secretary
bhn@southernculture.org
Board of Directors:
Fred Farrell, President
Landman Teller, Jr.,
Vice President
Nancy Bell, Secretary
Shouphie Habeeb, Treasurer
Todd Boolos
Lonnie Boykin
Joy Brabston
Don Brown
Carol Eaton
Molly Eidson
Hobbs Freeman
Dorethea Gholson
Linda Harris
Anita Houston
Betty Jackson
Betty Sue Kline
Glenda LaGarde
Laurence Leyens
Don Miller, Jr.
George Roesch
Dr. John Stepan
Ex-officio:
Dr. Carolyn Ellis Staton
Dr. Charles Reagan Wilson
The Southern Slate derives its name from the rich educational history associated with the buildings of the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex. That teaching tradition continues today with our current mission as a cultural activities center.