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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 173108-16-091.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Southern Reporter, "Seek leading patrolman." | 1966-12-08 |
| 173108-16-092.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clippings from The Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News, "Police Chief Award" and "Columbus Officers Will Get Training." | 1966-12-09 |
| 173108-16-093.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Driving Trainers Will Go Into State Schools." | 1966-08-30 |
| 173108-16-094.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Southern Reporter, "Caution urged on highways at Thanksgiving." | 1966-11-17 |
| 173108-16-095.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Sun Herald, "Warning On Hiding Licenses" by Associated Press. | 1966-10-06 |
| 173108-16-096.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from an unknown newspaper, "Rules Of Grammar?" | 196x |
| 173108-16-097.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Survived Action, Clobbered Here" by Kenneth Fairly. | 1966-12-27 |
| 173108-16-098.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Jackson Daily News, "Our Readers' Viewpoint: State Driver Law Offers Contrasts" by B. G. Badeaux. | 1966-12-22 |
| 173108-16-099.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "Citizens Band members praised for holiday work." | 1967-01-03 |
| 173108-16-100.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Southern Reporter, "Check license for renewal." | 1966-09-22 |
| 173108-16-101.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Hattiesburg American, "Operation Roadguard is life-saving effort" by Winfred Moncrief. | 1966-12-30 |
| 173108-16-102.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Progress-Item, "Inspection Of Vehicles To Begin Jan. 1." | 1966-12-29 |
| 173108-16-103.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from Copiah County Courier, "Public Relations Workers Need Imagination To Be Successful" by Neil Woodruff. | 1966-01-04 |
| 173108-16-104.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Meridian Record, "New Drivers License Application Forms Will Speed Delivery" and "Inspection of Vehicles Begins January 1, 1967." | 1966-12-30 |
| 173108-16-105.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clippings from unknown newspapers, which include "Tragedies By Autos Continue To Increase," an obituary for Grady Brunson, "To Showcase," and "Deadline Nears For Inspection." | 196x |
| 173108-16-106.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Carthaginian, "Motor Vehicle Inspection Due." | 1966-12-08 |
| 173108-16-107.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Clarion-Ledger, "Innovative Procedure Begins In Driver Training." | 1966-09-09 |
| 173108-16-108.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Bolivar County Democrat, "Miss. Highway Safty Patrol." | 1966-11-17 |
| 173108-16-109.pdf | Traffic Safety and General DPS Clippings, Part 2 of 2 | Newspaper clipping from The Commercial Dispatch, "Word Of Caution Issued To Those Who Plan Trips." | 1966-11-17 |