Research Guides: ARC 3323 : History of Architecture: Historical / Primary Sources

Special Collections

Whether you need maps, images, or documents related to your topic, MSU Libraries' Special Collections will be an important place to visit. Here are resources to help you find primary sources there. If you have questions about these, contact Special Collections at 662-325-7679 or sp_coll@library.msstate.edu.

Note that Special Collections is open M-F, 7:30a-5:00p and Saturdays, 10:00a-1:00p. It is best to contact them in advance about what you're interested in researching or looking at.

Search Special Collections
Select "Finding Aids" or "Digital Collections" to search through inventories of collections and digitized materials.
CHARM Digital Collections
Includes Mississippi- and agriculture-related photographs, reports, personal diaries,correspondence, business ledgers, daybooks, deeds and records.
University Archives Digital Collections
Search for digitized photographs and documents from Mississippi State University. Includes photographs of 'Old Main' before, during, and after the fire that destroyed it.

Maps and other Resources

Maps will give you insight about how the landscape and settings have changed, as well information about buildings themselves (such as materials, sizes, etc).

MDAH Historic Resources Inventory
The Historic Resources Inventory database (HRI) is a compendium of information about Mississippi’s landmarks and architecture.
MDAH Digital Archives
MDAH Digital Archives include: records received from government agencies and officials, and digital copies of original materials from MDAH collections, including paper documents, photographs, maps, audio, and video.
Sanborn Maps, 1885-1948
These often include building size and shape, construction materials, heights, and function of structures, and location of windows and doors. The maps also give street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers.
Sanborn Map for Jackon / Hinds County, MS (1967)
Located in Special Collections
Sanborn Map for Starkville, Oktibbeha Co., 1925/53
Located in Special Collections

Mississippi Newspapers

Mississippi Newspapers on Microfilm
MSU Libraires has the second largest collection of historical Mississippi newspapers on microfilm in the state. These are located in Special Collections (3rd Floor) in the Mitchell Memorial Library.

Newspaper articles will give you historical context and information about buildings, structures, and communities. Here are some of the newspaper resources we have at MSU.

Chronicling America, 1836-1922
This Library of Congress site features digitized newspapers from across the U.S., 1836-1922, including 137 Mississippi titles (but not every issue!). Select "Mississippi" from the pull-down menu, "All States."
African-American Newspapers, 1827-1998
This database has a vast collection of African American newspapers, but is limited in scope for Mississippi with only 6 titles. Of note, it contains all 117 issues of the Mississippi Free Press, 1961-64.
Newspaper Source (EBSCO)
Good for recent and major events.
New York Times
Use the New York Times Archives as an index to find articles from the national perspective. Some articles will be free to read, but others you will need to search through on our NY Times microfilm collection (located in Current Journals/Government Documents/Microfilm Room on the 2nd floor of Mitchell Memorial Library).