Mississippi 4-H Learning Center and Pete Frierson 4-H Museum

We have a 100-year history of 4-H in Mississippi, and now we have a beautiful and exciting place to display it for the world to see. This 2000 square foot facility is located at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson, MS. More than 125,000 visitors pass by its front doors every year. With your help we can fill it with our history and open those doors. We invite you to make your 4-H history a part of our 4-H history.

What
4-H historical materials are being collected for preservation at Mississippi State University Library 4-H Archives and then for exhibit at the 4-H Learning Center and Pete Frierson 4-H Museum in Jackson, Mississippi.

Why
The 4-H museum exhibits will document the history of 4-H, the contribution of 4-H to progress in Mississippi, and the contributions of the persons, organizations, and families who have participated in and supported 4-H. The Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State University will permanently preserve these 4-H records and artifacts. Materials will first be logged into the archives and preserved. Many materials will then be selected for use and/or reproduced for permanent display. Other items will be loaned or reproduced for rotating displays.

What to donate
Photographs, documents, and artifacts will be accepted. Artifacts that illustrate unique or unusual features of Mississippi's 4-H history will be especially welcome. Written stories detailing your personal experiences in 4-H are especially important to us.

When
RIGHT NOW!
4-H materials are needed immediately. Please don't delay. The sooner we have your artifacts, the sooner we can share our history.

How to donate
Cash donations may be made through our secure server.

To donate artifacts, simply contact one of these three offices:

1. Your county Extension Office

2. Betty Self, University Archives Assistant, Mississippi State University Library, (662) 325-7723, or bself@library.msstate.edu

3. Morris Houston, (601) 829-3611, mhouston@ext.msstate.edu

4. You may also call 1-662-325-3350 and request someone contact you.

You may take smaller collections/items to your county Extension office and complete a provided form. Larger collections of materials will be picked up on an appointment basis if necessary.

Items may be permanently donated or in some cases loaned. If you know of someone who may have information to share, please help us connect with him or her.

We understand some items may be too dear to part with permanently. We may be able to accept loans for special showings, come to you to photograph or make copies of items, or just visit and get a valuable story.

Artifact examples:

• Virtually anything that tells something of our 4-H history
• Photos (with names and places, if possible)
• Record books are especially desired
• News clippings
• Diaries, letters, notes, cards
• 4-H paraphernalia
  Pins, trinkets, banners, flags, 4-H signs
• Trophies and award prizes, especially if they represent key event awards, such as a trophy given at the very first state 4-H beef show, items such as electric appliances, silver trays, plaques
• Uniforms or official 4-H clothing items
• Items used with a 4-H project, such as halters, cooking items, gavels, sewing
  equipment, clothes
• Ribbons must be marked as to their purpose, with winners name, and should represent a major event
• Entire collections
• Collections or items from notable individuals, such as political leaders, entertainers, writers, artists
• Items that reference key historical events, such as State or National Congress events, consolidation of boys and girls clubs, early desegregation, wartimes

If you think it is interesting, then it is.
Contact us and we'll help.

Forms
4-H Archives Collection Survey/Receipt
Artifact Gift Card