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How to Find Public Records in Mississippi
Public Records Search: Mississippi
State Archives
The second oldest department of archives in the United States, the
Mississippi Department of Archives and History was founded in 1902 to
preserve the state�s archival holdings. The site may be visited at
mdah.state.ms.us. There, researchers will find archived records and a
vast collection of information maintained by this Mississippi agency.
The Mississippi State Archives are open to the public. The MDAH library
can be found at 200 North Street in Jackson. Anyone with valid photo
identification may handle the collection materials after signing
research agreement form. While no materials may be checked out,
photocopies may be made. Mississippi residents are entitled to one hour
of free research from MDAH staff. Non-residents may pay $15 for one hour
of staff research. Staff may spend no more than one hour on any specific
request.
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History preserves a
collection of Mississippi spanning from prehistory through the present.
�Government documents, bound volumes, maps and drawings, photographs,
oral histories, and video and audio tapes� are only some of the agency�s
holdings. Unlike many other state archives, MDAH is also involved in the
preservation of landmarks like the Eudora Welty House and the Governor�s
Mansion.
The online capabilities of the site are impressive and helpful to
researchers who may not visit MDAH in person. The Sovereignty Commission
Online and the Jefferson Davis Estate Papers are two databases of
archives that may be searched online. To perform other online searches
from the home page, click on the main heading (left side menu) Archives
and Library. Next, click on the online catalog. MDAH provides a rather
extensive search mechanism that is an excellent feature for
long-distance researchers.
From this page, researchers may perform a basic catalog search or use
the tools listed on the second half of the page to search specific
collections. As a sample search, in the data entry box, type the word
marriage to pull up archived listings of marriage records. At this
point, the site directs you to a page listing the resources that contain
your keyword in the title. This sample search pulls up a record for
Marriages of Old Tishomingo County, Mississippi. Click on the blue
number of this listing to view the entire record. You will then be
directed to the record listing where the item is located as well as
multiple descriptors.
From the online catalog, researchers may also look to the latter half of
the page which provides links to the biographical index, cemetery index,
county court case files, Freedman�s Bureau Record index, photograph
collection, family coat of arms, newspaper holdings, county records on
microfilm, etc�The site does not have a complete collection of vital
records (it does explain how these may be maintained), but it does offer
resources like census records where date for events like births or
deaths may be obtained.
Online researchers may also browse the online collections such as the
Master List of Microfilm, Natchez District or the Alfred Holt Stone
Collection. This page is also unique because it allows researchers to
perform advanced searches and also to access previous searches�a novel
feature that makes online searching a touch easier.
MDAH accepts requests for records and materials by mail, email (refdesk
@ mdah.state.ms.us) and fax (601-576-6964). Out of state request must be
prepaid, so only mail requests may be honored. It�s important to include
as much relevant information as possible when requesting information.
When requesting death records for instance, be sure to include your
topic�s full name, county of residence when death occurred, sex, race
and the approximated date of death.
Whether you require census records or Civil War pension records, this
site is a great reservoir of archived information and records. It�s
important to carefully go over the help pages. Some requests require
different information or a different process by which to get the
information. Requesting Civil War records entails a different procedure
than locating marriage records for example. Browse the site to find just
how extensive their records and collections really are.
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