Jennifer Brannock of the University of Southern Mississippi has been awarded the 2020 Reference and User Services Associations’ Genealogy and History Achievement Award. This award from the history section of the organization recognizes a librarian, library or publisher for professional achievement in historical or genealogical reference, service or research librarianship.

Brannock, Professor and Curator of Rare Books and Mississippiana, has worked at the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries since 2004. She coordinates bibliographic instruction, supervises general reference activities, coordinates outreach efforts, curates exhibits, and conducts collection development and management activities for Mississippiana, rare books, and genealogy.

Since 2005 she has worked with Southern Miss history professor Dr. Andrew P. Haley on the Mississippi Community Cookbook Project which explores the state’s culinary and local history through collecting Mississippi cookbooks and digitizing the items for worldwide use. Haley noted Brannock’s extensive work with faculty, students, and community members. He said she had “given talks at conferences and in the homes of women’s club members and enlisted the help of librarians from across to the state to build collections.”

Brannock was cited by the association for her expansion of the usage of academic archival materials for professional and family historians, and for her knowledge of the historical value of archival materials. In particular, the organization noted that the cookbooks project is “a marvelous example of bringing together academic users and the community.”

Brannock’s research interests include special collections outreach, reference service, and popular culture. She is currently working on a book about Mississippi author Con Sellers and ideas of gender and sexuality reflected in the mid-century lowbrow publishing industry.