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.
| File Name | Folder Title | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 173108-16-030.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Back Home." | 1966-08-25 |
| 173108-16-031.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping regarding Kenneth Toler from The Lexington Advertiser, "Through Hazel Eyes" by Hazel Brannon Smith. | 1966-10-20 |
| 173108-16-032.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "The Yellow Dog." | 1966-10-20 |
| 173108-16-033.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "Police Records Dating From 1836 Are Found." | 1966-10-26 |
| 173108-16-034.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Symposium Of Experts Sponsored By MFWC." | 1966-09-20 |
| 173108-16-035.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "The Economic Impact." | 1966-09-21 |
| 173108-16-036.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Mississippi Sun, "Do Double Duty." | 1966-09-22 |
| 173108-16-037.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, which includes "Gen. Hogaboom: Company F Plans to Honor Founder of State Guard" by Billy Skelton. | 1966-09-22 |
| 173108-16-038.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "Highway Patrol tries to save your life" by Winfred Moncrief. | 1966-12-17 |
| 173108-16-039.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Capture Of Accused Rapist Difficult Job" by Kenneth Fairly. | 1966-10-28 |
| 173108-16-040.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "In Appreciation." | 1966-10-06 |
| 173108-16-041.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "What To Do If Your Car Is Stolen." | 1966-10-14 |
| 173108-16-042.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "Highway Safety." | 1966-10-27 |
| 173108-16-043.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Mississippi Sun, "Could You Describe Your Car If Stolen?" | 1966-10-20 |
| 173108-16-044.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Patrol Hunting Pair In Ellisville Holdup" by Elsie May Chambers. | 1966-09-06 |
| 173108-16-045.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Southern Reporter, "Patrol urges driving caution on Labor Day." | 1966-09-01 |
| 173108-16-046.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Courses Are Taught: Game Wardens Learning to Adminiseter First Aid." | 1966-09-20 |
| 173108-16-047.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Safe Crackers Caught In Park By Patrolmen." | 1966-09-08 |
| 173108-16-048.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Wanted Men Nabbed In Park Cabin: 2 Safe Crackers Seized In Roosevelt State Park." | 1966-09-08 |
| 173108-16-049.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Driver Training Simulators Will Help Program." | 1966-09-08 |
| 173108-16-050.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from the Macon Beacon, "Many Drivers Licenses Expire September 30." | 1966-09-22 |
| 173108-16-051.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Floods Of Drivers Inundate License Bureau Quarterly." | 1966-09-23 |
| 173108-16-052.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Officers Explain Police Training To State Mayors." | 1966-09-08 |
| 173108-16-053.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | 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. | 1966-10-01 |
| 173108-16-054.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Enterprise-Tocsin, "Moorhead Bank Robbed; Four Caught." | 1966-09-08 |
| 173108-16-055.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "Classes For Cops" by Wayne King. | 1966-10-02 |
| 173108-16-056.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "Higher Salary: College For Cops - - Judge" by Charlotte Moulton. | 1966-10-02 |
| 173108-16-057.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "Drivers license renewal time." | 1966-09-29 |
| 173108-16-058.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, which includes "Driving Simulator Helps Teach Teeners To Drive." | 1966-10-23 |
| 173108-16-059.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Reminder From Highway Patrol About Motor Vehicle Inspection." | 1966-12-19 |