Millsaps students are not the only curious visitors to the Millsaps-Wilson Library. Although the majority of the library’s holdings are for campus users, the Millsaps Methodist archives are open to the public, and visitors are encouraged.

The J. B. Cain Archives of Mississippi Methodism is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. “We welcome visitors interested in researching Methodism in Mississippi, writing church histories or even delving into their own family history,” says College Archivist Debra McIntosh.

The archives, named for Methodist historian Rev. John Buford Cain, provide a large collection of manuscripts correspondence, diaries, journals, sermons and church histories dating from 1799. The archives also contain church records of closed or discontinued churches. Important papers in the collection include manuscripts belonging to Methodist leaders William Winans, Benjamin Drake, and Charles Galloway, as well as papers from members of the Lambuth missionary family.

“The archives represent a joint effort of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church and Millsaps College,” states McIntosh. “Along with the College Archives, they are particularly useful for illustrating the collaboration between the College and the Mississippi Methodist Conference, making possible a more complex examination of each institution’s history and involvement in political and social change.”

The library provides reference service to assist visitors in their research, and appointments are encouraged to ensure that adequate staff is available for this service. Lists of holdings and supplemental information can also be obtained via the Millsaps website.

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Millsaps Magazine  |  Millsaps | Last Edited April 23, 2001