On March 8, the MSU Libraries was honored with the Elbert T. Hilliard Oral History Award at the Mississippi Historical Society’s annual Awards Brunch in Jackson for the “Echoes of Lloyd-Ricks-Watson” oral history project.

The “Echoes of Lloyd-Ricks-Watson” oral history project contains interviews with former occupants or those with relationships to the Lloyd-Ricks-Watson building and records stories concerning their experiences and the personalities that occupied the building from its original opening in 1929 through its current remodeling and renaming in October 23, 2010.

Ryan Semmes, Interim/Internal Coordinator of the Congressional and Political Research Center, said, “We are very pleased that MHS has honored us with the Hilliard award. This project is unique among oral history projects in that it does not solely seek to document the history of individuals, but also the building itself and its changes. We worked with the faculty, staff, and students, folks who lived in and interacted with the building and each other.”

The award honors Elbert R. Hilliard, who served as director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for thirty-one years, and is awarded to the most outstanding oral history project exemplifying a distinguished collection, high-quality preservation, and proper use of oral history.  Frances Coleman, Dean of Libraries, accepted the award during the presentation in Jackson, MS and noted that she was “honored to accept this award on behalf of the Mississippi State University Libraries. These oral histories not only encompass the history of the building and the experiences of the individuals involved, it enhances the history of the University and the state while at the same time providing additional research opportunities for students and researchers."  She added "The project was successful due to the excellent work and expertise of many Library faculty and staff."

The “Echoes of Lloyd-Ricks-Watson” project can be viewed and explored online at http://library.msstate.edu/echoes

For more information on Mississippi State University Libraries, please visit http://library.msstate.edu.

For information on the Mississippi Historical Society and its awards, please visit http://mdah.state.ms.us/new/government/mississippi-historical-society/.

Submitted by
Angela M. Patton
Library Associate
Mississippi State University Libraries