Freedom Rider Files, 1960-1966 Series 2985
This is a collection of records transferred from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to the Department of Archives and History in March 2026. The files document Commissioner Thomas Butler (T. B.) Birdsong’s response to civil rights events in Mississippi during the early 1960s. Of primary interest are Birdsong’s files and correspondence related to the Freedom Rides during the summer of 1961. Individuals throughout the country sent letters expressing support for and opposition to Commissioner Birdsong’s statements regarding the Freedom Riders. There are also nine folders of Freedom Riders’ arrest records and mug shots, which appear to be duplicates of material found in the State Sovereignty Commission Records. A few memoranda also mention James Meredith’s March Against Fear in 1966. The bulk of the material is newspaper clippings related to the Civil Rights Movement, and also general articles of interest to DPS at the time. All pages were scanned and can be accessed here. The original documents can be viewed in the William F. Winter Archives and History Building. Ku Klux Klan related documents transferred by DPS are also available for research.
Read MoreThis is a collection of records transferred from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to the Department of Archives and History in March 2026. The files document Commissioner Thomas Butler (T. B.) Birdsong’s response to civil rights events in Mississippi during the early 1960s. Of primary interest are Birdsong’s files and correspondence related to the Freedom Rides during the summer of 1961. Individuals throughout the country sent letters expressing support for and opposition to Commissioner Birdsong’s statements regarding the Freedom Riders. There are also nine folders of Freedom Riders’ arrest records and mug shots, which appear to be duplicates of material found in the State Sovereignty Commission Records. A few memoranda also mention James Meredith’s March Against Fear in 1966. The bulk of the material is newspaper clippings related to the Civil Rights Movement, and also general articles of interest to DPS at the time. All pages were scanned and can be accessed here. The original documents can be viewed in the William F. Winter Archives and History Building. Ku Klux Klan related documents transferred by DPS are also available for research.
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173108-16-006.pdf
Date: 1966-09-19
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Chief Ray Is Completing 25 Years Of Service Here" by Kenneth Fairly.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-007.pdf
Date: 1966-10-28
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Accused Rapist Caught After One-Year Search: State Officers Praised For Intensive Efforts" by Kenneth Fairly.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-008.pdf
Date: 1966-04-05
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Birmingham News, "Patrol's goals: Men, definition of jurisdiction" by George Metz.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-009.pdf
Date: 1969-03-20
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Star-Herald, "Ask Antiseptic Crackdown."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-010.pdf
Date: 1966-10-10
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Head Patrol Academy."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-011.pdf
Date: 1966-08-06
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "Highway Safety a Spiritual Problem."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-012.pdf
Date: 1966-08-11
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Picayune Item, "Eight Cows Killed Last Weekend on Hwy. 43: Motorists Up in Arms."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-013.pdf
Date: 1966-08-13
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "On Ready."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-014.pdf
Date: 1966-08-24
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Copiah County Courier, "Motorists Told What to Do if Involved in Accident."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-015.pdf
Date: 1966-08-25
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Wardens Receive Training," photos by Charles Gerald.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-016.pdf
Date: 1966-08-25
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "Fasten your seat belt."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-017.pdf
Date: 1966-08-30
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "'Let's Drive Right' Teaches Safe Driving."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-018.pdf
Date: 1966-08-25
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "Jones Appointed To Staff As New Traffic Director: Will Devote Full Time to Accident Prevention In State."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-019.pdf
Date: 1966-08-25
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "The Law, Your Lawyer, and You."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-020.pdf
Date: 1966-08-31
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Copiah County Courier, "Uncle Al From Allen Says."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-021.pdf
Date: 1966-08-25
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "The High Sheriffs" by U. S. Press Association.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-022.pdf
Date: 1966-09-08
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Police Bowled Over."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-023.pdf
Date: 1966-09-01
Description: Newspaper clipping from Southern Reporter, "Traveling Over Hill and Dale."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-024.pdf
Date: 1966-09-08
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Court Throws Out Edwards' Curfew" by Associated Press.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-025.pdf
Date: 1966-09-01
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Safety Experts Urge Holiday Driving Care."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-026.pdf
Date: 1966-09-22
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Reminding All Motorists About Our State Law On School Buses."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-027.pdf
Date: 1966-10-02
Description: Newspaper clippings from The Clarion-Ledger newspaper, which include "7,000 Cattle Brands Registered In State, Many Currently Used" by Jean Culbertson.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-028.pdf
Date: 1966-09-01
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Patrolman Honored," photo by Mike Jones.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-029.pdf
Date: 1966-09-02
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Highway Patrol Urges Safe Labor Day Fun."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-030.pdf
Date: 1966-08-25
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Back Home."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-031.pdf
Date: 1966-10-20
Description: Newspaper clipping regarding Kenneth Toler from The Lexington Advertiser, "Through Hazel Eyes" by Hazel Brannon Smith.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-032.pdf
Date: 1966-10-20
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "The Yellow Dog."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-033.pdf
Date: 1966-10-26
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "Police Records Dating From 1836 Are Found."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-034.pdf
Date: 1966-09-20
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Symposium Of Experts Sponsored By MFWC."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-035.pdf
Date: 1966-09-21
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "The Economic Impact."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-036.pdf
Date: 1966-09-22
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Mississippi Sun, "Do Double Duty."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
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173108-16-037.pdf
Date: 1966-09-22
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, which includes "Gen. Hogaboom: Company F Plans to Honor Founder of State Guard" by Billy Skelton.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2