Monday, March 7, 2011

N.A.P.S. & The Natchez Historical Society

On Monday, March 7, 2011, N.A.P.S. founder and team leader Mike Chapman met with Mimi Miller of the Natchez Historical Society in order to strengthen the ties between the two organizations.  Mike is a member of both the Natchez Historic Society and the Historic Natchez Foundation that Mimi and her husband Ron head up.  N.A.P.S. has now arranged with the Natchez Historic Society to archive its research with the foundation, thus insuring that our research and information will be available to the public in the future.  "This is very important because it gives permanency to the valid and significant research that we do.  I hope it provides incentive for our investigators to do top quality research and reporting into the sites we plan to investigate, and establish us as a great source of information and history regarding Natchez and Adams County," said Mike.  "I want us to be respected and known as a group that does very serious historical research and contributes quality reports and information in that service."

Mike and Mimi also discussed the importance of Meadvilla in the history of Natchez and Mimi revealed that B.L.C. Wailes is her favorite Natchez historical figure.  Mike advised her that N.A.P.S. is currently working to restore the cemetery at Meadvilla by clearing the cemetery of the overgrowth and making a wide path that can be maintained by mowers, back to the cemetery site.  N.A.P.S. will also be researching, to the extent we can, all of the people reportedly buried there.  Mike verified with Mimi the people on the list that are buried on the grounds, and the lists matched.  Mike asked Mimi to provide suggestions as to what cemetery to restore next, and Mimi was delighted to suggest the overgrown cemetery at Elgin Plantation.

Other discussions centered on the Old County Jail and access to the files there, as well as King's Tavern's architecture, construction, and history.  Mike said, "We look forward to continuing to work closely with Mimi and the Natchez Historical Society with the common goal of preserving and archiving the rich history of our area."

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