Mississippians

Civil Rights, Mississippi, and the Novelist's Craft was an "Open Doors" exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of integration at the University of Mississippi in October 2002.

It is said that art imitates life. The authors showcased in this exhibit have chosen to utilize the very real drama of the Civil Rights Movement within their own fictional creations. Five of the writers, in fact, were directly inspired by three infamous episodes in Mississippi's history.

Using examples from this thematic genre, various steps in the writing and publishing process are also displayed - from an author's personal notes, to the last page of a typed manuscript, and an uncorrected advance galley that the publishers provide to book dealers and reviewers.

This exhibit [was] part of the yearlong observance of the 40th anniversary of the integration of the University of Mississippi. The exhibit, on display from Thursday August 1st, 2002 to Monday November 4th, 2002 [was] located just outside the Department of Archives and Special Collections, in the J.D. Williams Library.