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.
-
173108-16-038.pdf
Date: 1966-12-17
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "Highway Patrol tries to save your life" by Winfred Moncrief.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-039.pdf
Date: 1966-10-28
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Capture Of Accused Rapist Difficult Job" by Kenneth Fairly.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-040.pdf
Date: 1966-10-06
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "In Appreciation."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-041.pdf
Date: 1966-10-14
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "What To Do If Your Car Is Stolen."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-042.pdf
Date: 1966-10-27
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "Highway Safety."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-043.pdf
Date: 1966-10-20
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Mississippi Sun, "Could You Describe Your Car If Stolen?"
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-044.pdf
Date: 1966-09-06
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Patrol Hunting Pair In Ellisville Holdup" by Elsie May Chambers.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-045.pdf
Date: 1966-09-01
Description: Newspaper clipping from Southern Reporter, "Patrol urges driving caution on Labor Day."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-046.pdf
Date: 1966-09-20
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Courses Are Taught: Game Wardens Learning to Adminiseter First Aid."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-047.pdf
Date: 1966-09-08
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Safe Crackers Caught In Park By Patrolmen."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-048.pdf
Date: 1966-09-08
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Wanted Men Nabbed In Park Cabin: 2 Safe Crackers Seized In Roosevelt State Park."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-049.pdf
Date: 1966-09-08
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Driver Training Simulators Will Help Program."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-050.pdf
Date: 1966-09-22
Description: Newspaper clipping from the Macon Beacon, "Many Drivers Licenses Expire September 30."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-051.pdf
Date: 1966-09-23
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Floods Of Drivers Inundate License Bureau Quarterly."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-052.pdf
Date: 1966-09-08
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Officers Explain Police Training To State Mayors."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-053.pdf
Date: 1966-10-01
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Mail Pouch," message addressed to Commissioner T. B. Birdsong from R. F. Powers, Purchasing Agent, Greenwood Staple Cotton Coop. Assn.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-054.pdf
Date: 1966-09-08
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "Moorhead Bank Robbed; Four Caught."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-055.pdf
Date: 1966-10-02
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "Classes For Cops" by Wayne King.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-056.pdf
Date: 1966-10-02
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "Higher Salary: College For Cops - - Judge" by Charlotte Moulton.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-057.pdf
Date: 1966-09-29
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "Drivers license renewal time."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-058.pdf
Date: 1966-10-23
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, which includes "Driving Simulator Helps Teach Teeners To Drive."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-059.pdf
Date: 1966-12-19
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Reminder From Highway Patrol About Motor Vehicle Inspection."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-060.pdf
Date: 1966-12-17
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Crackdown Called On State Roads In Effort To Slow Heavy Death Toll" by Associated Press.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-061.pdf
Date: 1966-12-18
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Scene of Horror, Yet It May Come 50 More Times" by Kenneth Fairly.
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-062.pdf
Date: 1966-12-18
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Patrol Will Crack Down To Cut Highway Slaughter."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-063.pdf
Date: 1966-12-29
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Mississippi Sun, "State Wins Honors In Pedestrian Contest."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-064.pdf
Date: 1966-12-20
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "A helpful new system."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-065.pdf
Date: 1966-12-17
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Install IBM Service: Renew Drivers License Without Leaving Home."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-066.pdf
Date: 1966-12-16
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Highway Patrol Tells Suspensions."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-067.pdf
Date: 1966-12-20
Description: Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Mississippi Wins Again."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-068.pdf
Date: 1966-12-18
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Congratulating."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2
-
173108-16-069.pdf
Date: 1966-12-29
Description: Newspaper clipping from The Mississippi Sun, "State Wins Honors In Pedestrian Contest."
Folder Title: Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2