Thursday March 21, 2013

-I arrived at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 8:00am.  I spent my final day revising the Biography of former Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice.  After completing the revision, I turned it in to Alanna along with my Working Hours to be sent to Dr. Welsh.  I thanked Alanna and Betty for the opportunity and expressed my interest in further volunteer work at the State Archives.  I verified certain materials to be sent to Dr. Welsh.  I left the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 12:30pm.  I had a great experience in my Archival Practicum in the Manuscript Department of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and look forward to any future work with them.

Tuesday March 19, 2013

-I arrived at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 8:00am.  I spent the first two hours working on  Kirk Fordice Revised Biography and Scope and Content.  From 10-12:30, I was stationed at the Reference Desk at Central downstairs.  I checked out and in some more items for patrons and even directed some individuals to the Microfilm room.  Since I'm down to my last couple of hours, I only spent half of the day and left the MDAH at 12:30pm.

Thursday March 13, 2013

-I arrived at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 8:00am.  Today, I had photos taken of myself while I was working at desk.  Alanna went over Kirk Fordice Biography with me.  The bulk of the biography and the Scope and Content sections needed some revisions in terms of continuity and focus.  The Bibliography was perfect though.  I spent the entire day looking back at the notes I made on the Kirk Fordice Collection for the finding aid to revise the biography.  I left the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 4:00pm.

Tuesday March 12, 2013

-I arrived at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 8:00am.  From 8-10, I spent time in the Archival Reading Room doing the final research for Governor Kirk Fordice.  I consulted a book that was available for perusal, Mississippi politics: the struggle of power, 1976-2006.  In addition, I had to start consulting the Subject Files of Kirk Fordice again to clarify some dates of his accomplishments while governor.  From 10:00-12:30, I spent required time at the Reference Desk   Anne Webster, head of MDAH reference services, went over some more commonplace procedures.  I got some first-hand practice checking in and checking out individual's request as well as taking in separate finding aids for special items as well as print requests.  I met a man that conducts some research at the MDAH on a regular basis.  He inquired of my name and when I told him, he asked if I was related to my late father.  He knew my father from his days as State Senator representing Forrest County.  I found that interesting.  After lunch, I continued revising Kirk Fordice biography.  I added book to Bibliography and put together a scope and content section.  As of this writing, I completed my revision of the Kirk Fordice Biography and submitted it to Alanna.  I left the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as of this writing at 4:00pm.

Tuesday March 5th, 2012

-I arrived at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 8:00am. I spent the first half of the day finishing up the final polish of the Kane Ditto biography and then presented it to Alanna.  After a 30 minute lunch, I retreated to the Archival Reading Room  where Alanna wanted me to get some Reference work experience.  Ann, who is the supervisor, had me look up a request for the Joint Resolution Agreements to Ratify Amendments 18 and 21 to the Mississippi Constitution. Anne gave me a series to work with.  I was able to find a lead to the Joint Resolution of Amendment 18 on January 8, 1918.  However, I was not able to find one for the 21st.  I was given another series to search for to find the official Ratification of Amendment 18.  I could not find it.  After becoming a little burned out in the procedure, Joyce, whom has been working with the Mississippi Archives for almost 25 years went over several Reference procedures at the desk.  Most of the procedures I was already aware of concerning the uses of subject files and watching patrons in their personal handling of materials in the media room.  However, Joyce introduced me to some general procedures concerning requests from out of state patrons and the general protocol that is involved.  Many death dates are requested which is understandable.  The Death Index is found under State Government Records.  The Microfilm Locator separates them by Year Span and the first letter of the last name.  It was a very informative experience.  I left the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as of this writing at 4:00pm. 

Thursday February 28, 2013

-I arrived at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 8:00am.  I resumed work on the final box of the Kirk Fordice collections and putting together his Finding Aid.  I spend most of the day on that but finally completed it.  I had Betty take me down to basement and return the last four boxes of the Kirk Fordice Papers and retrieve the Kane Ditto box that had the papers on the events he presided over.  I spend the last hour looking up information on the events to revise my biography.  I left the MDAH at 4:00pm.

Tuesday February 26, 2013

-I arrived at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 8:00am.  I spent almost the entire day working on the final box of the Kirk Fordice  Papers and putting its information in the Fordice Finding Aid.   Just a point of interest, I found the Event flyer from the Mississippi Court of Appeals Swearing In on January 3, 1995.  My father, the late Frank Barber, was one of the Judges on that panel.  That was the first Court of Appeals in Mississippi as a fact.  I remember the event and I remember seeing Governor Kirk Fordice there.  After completing about 3/4ths of the final box, I added my revisions to the Kane Ditto Biography.  On Thursday, I hope to finish the final Fordice box and have someone take me to the basement to retrieve one of the Kane Ditto boxes I worked on.  There are two events I list Kane Ditto being at in the biography in which his activities are uncertain.  I left the Mississippi Department of Archives and History at 4:00pm.  It is important to note that within the Kirk Fordice papers were pictures of three United States Presidents: George HW Bush; Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.  (Photo courtesy of abcnews.go.com)