Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, Volume 01 (of 14), 1898

This first volume of the Mississippi Historical Society’s publications, released in 1898, gathers scholarly essays and documents aimed at shedding light on the state’s rich cultural heritage. Edited by the society’s secretary, the collection offers readers a window into the lives of notable Mississippians and the early efforts to preserve their stories.

Among its pages is a compelling tribute to the state’s self‑styled “Backwoods Poet,” a man who spent his childhood in the remote woods of Choctaw County and later taught, wrote, and edited despite a debilitating spinal condition. The essay traces his modest upbringing, his remarkable self‑education in several languages, and his dedication to teaching and journalism, illustrating how his verses captured the hopes and hardships of ordinary people.

Listeners will find in this portrait both a vivid picture of 19th‑century rural Mississippi and an inspiring example of resilience and creative spirit. The piece invites anyone curious about regional literature, frontier education, or the ways ordinary lives shape a state’s cultural legacy.