Mississippi

Name: The Juke Joint King of the Mississippi Hills: The Raucous Reign of Tillman Branch
Brand: Janice Branch Tracy
SKU: 9781626194366
Price: 16.49 USD
Availability: InStock

Elvis Presley may be long gone from Tupelo. The shoreline of Biloxi may alter with every hurricane. But the icons and landmarks of Mississippi history remain preserved in our Magnolia State catalogue. Learn the lessons of an Oktibbeha County schoolhouse. Catch the Hattiesburg boxing match that crowned John Sullivan champion and watch the Yazoo Pass Expedition slog grimly through the marsh. Whether it’s the mournful twang of a blues guitar or the savory sizzle that announces the arrival of Delta Tamales, these Mississippi history books capture the vital sensations of the state’s past.

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The Inspiring Life of Eudora Welty

The Juke Joint King of the Mississippi Hills: The Raucous Reign of Tillman Branch

Lauderdale County, Mississippi:

Church Street

Hidden History of Mississippi Blues

Pass Christian and the Gazebo Gazette

The Haunted Natchez Trace

The Seafood Capital of the World

The Seabees at Gulfport

Ghosts of Mississippi’s Golden Triangle

William Carey College:

Haunted Mississippi Delta and Beyond

Legends and Lore of the Mississippi Golden Gulf Coast

Columbus Chronicles: Tales From East Mississippi

Clinton

Oxford in the Civil War

Belhaven College

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The Juke Joint King of the Mississippi Hills: The Raucous Reign of Tillman Branch

9781626194366

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

In the swamps and juke joints of Holmes County, Mississippi, Edward Tillman Branch built his empire. Tillman's clubs were legendary. Moonshine flowed as patrons enjoyed craps games and well-known blues acts. Across from his Goodman establishment, prostitutes in a trysting trailer entertained men, including the married Tillman himself. A threat to law enforcement and anyone who crossed his path, Branch rose from modest beginnings to become the ruler of a treacherous kingdom in the hills that became his own end. Author Janice Branch Tracy reveals the man behind the story and the path that led him to become what Honeyboy Edwards referred to in his autobiography as the "baddest white man in Mississippi."

Lauderdale County, Mississippi:

9781609490218

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Originally home to the native Choctaw tribe, Lauderdale County was settled and established in 1833 at a prime spot on the eastern border of the Magnolia state. The county flourished as a vital and vibrant hub of railroad commerce until the Civil War brought destruction and devastation. But its resilient citizens rose from the ashes and soon an area once ravaged by war became a home for industry and innovators. Join author and Meridian local Richelle Putnam as she provides the first-ever history of Lauderdale County, from founding to present, recounting the people and events that helped shaped the community into the beloved home it is today.

Church Street

9781626191112

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The 1930s and 1940s saw unprecedented prosperity for the African Americans of Jackson's Church Street. From the first black millionaire in the United States to defenders of civil rights, nearly all of Jackson's black professionals lived on Church Street. It was one of the most popular places to see and be seen, whether that meant spotting Louis Armstrong strolling out of the Crystal Palace Club or Martin Luther King Jr. organizing an NAACP meeting at his field office on nearby Farish Street. Join authors and veterans of Church Street Grace Sweet and Benjamin Bradley as they explore the astounding history and legacy of Church Street.

Hidden History of Mississippi Blues

9781609492199

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Although many bluesmen began leaving the Magnolia State in the early twentieth century to pursue fortune and fame up north, many others stayed home.

These musicians remained rooted to the traditions of their land, which came to define a distinctive playing style unique to Mississippi. They didn't simply play the blues, they lived it. Travel through the hallowed juke joints and cotton fields with author Roger Stolle as he recounts the history of Mississippi blues and the musicians who have kept it alive. Some of these bluesmen remain to carry on this proud legacy, while others have passed on, but Hidden History of Mississippi Blues ensures none will be forgotten.

Pass Christian and the Gazebo Gazette

9781626190931

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

When Hurricane Katrina leveled Pass Christian, a dedicated newspaper helped save the town. After the storm, many evacuees returned to a city they hardly recognized. Local and federal government officials scrambled to restore the infrastructure, including essential water and sewer services. Four months later, the town was still in dire need of basic communication when award-winning journalist Evelina Shmukler, alongside other volunteers, created the weekly Gazebo Gazette. Without funding, offices or a business plan to speak of, they delivered vital relief and safety information when residents had more questions than officials had answers. A godsend for the Pass, the Gazette continues today and was called a "New Town Crier" by Reader's Digest. Author and media expert Dr. Lawrence N. Strout chronicles the paper's journey and the town it served with fortitude and dedication in the face of tragedy and heartache.

The Haunted Natchez Trace

9781609495312

$19.99 $14.99 Save 25%

Stretching from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, the Natchez Trace is one of the oldest, most historically significant routes in American history.

Beginning as hunting ground for natives, the Trace became the favored path back home for early settlers who floated down the Mississippi River to sell goods in Natchez. Yet the Trace was riddled with bandits, marauders and other perils, and today troubled and tortured voices from the past still echo along the road. Travel to Grinders Stand where famed explorer Meriwether Lewis met his untimely demise, and onto Kings Tavern, built in the late 1700s, and haunted by the ghost of the innkeeper's mistress. Author and ghost expert Bud Steed recounts these tales, and more, all lurking in the shadows of the Haunted Natchez Trace.

The Seafood Capital of the World

9781609492847

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Predating even colonial America, Biloxi was established for its welcoming gulf shore both a home for traders and a beacon for explorers of the mainland. Geography made Biloxi a historic maritime hub of trade and travel; the seafood industry made it a vibrant, thriving community. Thanks to the efforts of a variety of diverse ethnic groups, Biloxi was dubbed the Seafood Capital of the World at the turn of the century. By the 1920s, there were more than forty seafood factories occupying two bustling cannery districts. Cajuns with deep ties to the region, industrious Croatian immigrants and hardworking Vietnamese migr 's all contributed to Biloxi's seafood industry. Through the Civil War, devastating hurricanes and shifting economies, these hard-fishing families have endured, building Biloxi and forming its character.

The Seabees at Gulfport

9780738553061

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The United States Naval Construction Force, known as the Seabees, have and are still an integral part of the Naval base located in Gulfport, Mississippi.

In June 1942, the U.S. Navy established an advance base depot in Gulfport because of its uncrowded deepwater port, rail access, open land, and a tepid climate that permitted training and open port facilities year-round. The base became the southern home for the Seabees and was ideal for shipping construction material and men to the Caribbean or the Pacific via the Panama Canal. Since the base reopened in March 1966, Seabees have deployed from Gulfport to serve during major conflicts as well as in peacetime. Seabees from Gulfport played an integral part in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and more recently deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq to assist in local construction efforts to rebuild both countries. Seabees assist thousands each year in international humanitarian projects while still calling Gulfport home.

Ghosts of Mississippi’s Golden Triangle

9781467136068

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The Golden Triangle is an institutional hub, but restless spirits of Native Americans, Civil War soldiers and slaves also wander this region. Tales of a mysterious watchman who patrols the railroad tracks between Artesia and Mayhew haunt curious locals. Ed Kuykendall Sr. is rumored to manage Columbus's Princess Theater from beyond the grave. A young girl who died while attempting to free her head from a stair banister is said to still wander the halls of Waverly. Author Alan Brown uncovers the eerie thrills and chills within Mississippi's Golden Triangle.

William Carey College:

9780738542621

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

William Carey College is ideally located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to serve all of South Mississippi, from Jackson to the Gulf Coast and from the coastal borders of Alabama to Louisiana. Originally named South Mississippi College, the school was established in 1906 as Hattiesburg's first institution of higher learning. After an immense fire destroyed the college in February 1910, local businessman W. S. F. Tatum acquired the property and offered the site to Mississippi Baptists for the establishment of a college for women. Mississippi Woman's College opened its doors in 1911 and continued operation until the trustees voted in favor of coeducational status for the college in 1954. Pres. Irving E. Rouse chose the name William Carey College in honor of an Englishman who became known as the "father of modern missions." Today William Carey College has an enrollment of over 3,000 with branch campuses in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Gulfport, Mississippi. Although many of the archives of the college have been destroyed, it is hoped this book will present the interesting story of William Carey College and its predecessors, faculty, alumni, and students.

Haunted Mississippi Delta and Beyond

9781455626946

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The Mississippi Delta possesses a rich past that fuels the haunted lore of the present. In this ghostly guide, Barbara Sillery delves into the legends and myths, tracking the homes where spirits still roam. She interviews witnesses and reveals vivid firsthand accounts of paranormal activity. A short history of each site and its ghostly inhabitants adds to the mysterious allure of these locales. Fourteen bone-chilling chapters profile the cavorting spirits and their often-frightening antics. Greenville's lost ghost remains on guard duty at the former armory. Rowan Oak, Mount Holly, the Lyric Theatre, the Old Capitol Museum, Rosedale and Waverley all have tales to tell and lively spirits who will not lie still.

Legends and Lore of the Mississippi Golden Gulf Coast

9781609499044

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Colorful tales of the MS Gulf Coast from specters to sodas and from buccaneers and pioneers.

The story of the Mississippi Golden Gulf Coast can't be told without a few tall tales--pirates, buried treasure, ghosts and colorful characters pepper its diverse past. From incredible stories of the pirate Jean Lafitte to iconic legends like Barq's Root Beer, travel from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi and every nook and cranny in between to discover the legends and lore of Mississippi's Golden Gulf Coast. Local historian Edmond Boudreaux explores this exciting history, recounting the fantastic tales that launch the reader into the past and create a truly captivating history.

Columbus Chronicles: Tales From East Mississippi

9781609498597

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

After its founding in 1821, Columbus endured the hardships of early settlement and the tumult of the Civil War to enjoy years of prosperity while also weathering some hard times. Through it all, the city developed into the beloved homeplace residents are proud of today. Rufus Ward has been a diligent steward of the region's history, and his popular "Ask Rufus" column stands as proof. This new collection presents some of his best historical tales. Taken together, these stories cover the breadth of the city's history and capture the essence of the region's heritage. What Native American tribes once called east Mississippi home? What are the oldest surviving houses in Columbus? What Columbus family provided Eudora Welty with her favorite mint julep recipe? "Ask Rufus."

Clinton

9780738553719

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

In 1940, the town of Clinton had scarcely grown in size or population since the Civil War. However, the coming of World War II forever changed the identity of this small Southern college town. Aside from the sudden departure of its best and brightest men and women for the front lines, global war touched Clinton in the form of a German POW camp and a Navy V12 training school at Mississippi College. Clinton: 1940-1980 picks up where author Chad Chisholm ended his previous book, with Clinton in the midst of postwar growth. It is a chronicle of Clinton's living history, a treasury of photographs for all Clintonians.

Oxford in the Civil War

9781596293182

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Though no legendary battles took place at Oxford, the community was deeply affected by the War Between the States and deeply involved in its proceedings. Oxford in the Civil War tells the story of the steadfast men and women who fought to defend their homeland. Join author Stephen Enzweiler as he recounts the lives of Oxfordians caught in the grips of civil war. Looming historical figures include L.Q.C. Lamar, a politician and so-called "fire eater" who organized the Nineteenth Mississippi Regiment in Oxford; the "University Greys," a unit organized by Ole Miss students; and Jacob Thompson, former secretary of the interior under President James Buchanan who resigned and returned to Oxford to serve the Confederate cause. Although Union general Andrew "Whiskey" Smith burned much of the town to the ground, Oxford survived. And the resilient people--both slaveholders and slaves--finally have their stories told here.

Belhaven College

9780738506128

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Plagued from its beginnings by fires, financial hardships, and the dismal days of war, Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, has persevered into the twentyfirst century to become a leading liberal arts institution with one of the South's most diverse small college populations. In this delightful journey into the school's storied past, vintage photographs illuminate the beloved campus, early classes, annual events, and prolific leaders that friends and alumni of Belhaven will recall with fond memories. Founded in 1894 by Dr. Louis T. Fitzhugh, Belhaven College for Young Ladies occupied a large residence and spacious grounds formerly belonging to Colonel Jones Hamilton and named after his ancestral home in Scotland. Just seven months after it opened, the college burned to the ground on February 7, 1895. New buildings were constructed, and the college reopened in the fall of 1896. Fires would also wreak havoc on the school in 1910 and 1927; the school would go on to affiliate with the Presbyterian Church in the early part of the century; and the post-Depression years would find Belhaven facing an uphill struggle to continue operating with minimal funds. Shaken but not defeated, Belhaven continued to grow and with each passing decade gained more national recognition, whether through its renowned music program, its high standards of academic excellence, or the introduction of intercollegiate sports following the school's first admittance of male students in 1954. Although the years have brought numerous changes and Belhaven now rests on the cusp of the computer age, the school's commitment to traditional Christian values still permeates every aspect of a student's education.