Contact: Pattye Archer

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University Libraries and its Mississippi Political Collections announce the inaugural G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Research Fellowship and Lecture Program, on Friday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. in Mitchell Memorial Library’s John Grisham Room.

Montgomery Fellow Tim Galsworthy, a history and military history lecturer at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, England, is the featured speaker.

His talk, “Not Your Grandfather’s Republican Party: Civil War Memory, Civil Rights and the Rise of the Modern Mississippi GOP,” will provide engaging and thought-provoking discussion on the evolution of the political landscape, particularly focusing on the intersection of Civil War memory, civil rights, and the emergence of the contemporary Mississippi GOP.

Organized by Kate Gregory, assistant professor and director of the Mississippi Political Collections, the event is inspired by other congressional centers around the country as a way to highlight the MSU Libraries’ collections, especially those of the late Congressman Montgomery and Sen. John C. Stennis.

“The Mississippi Political Collections should be a destination for political researchers,” Gregory said. “In addition to the expansive Montgomery collection, the Stennis collection is one of the largest congressional collections in the country. This lecture series will draw attention to our collections and encourage researchers to use these valuable resources.”

Gregory said her inspiration from similar programs at other congressional archives  initiated the sharing of her idea with the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation and, as always, its board members were supportive.

“In 2023, the Montgomery Foundation made a generous contribution to establish an annual research fellowship and lecture series,” she said. “Congressman Montgomery’s 2,500-cubic-foot collection of papers is a testament to his remarkable legacy and forms a cornerstone of the library’s archival holdings, representing one of the largest congressional collections in the United States.”

Gregory said the late congressman was a constant advocate for the State of Mississippi and his alma mater, Mississippi State University.

“I am always amazed at, and appreciative of, the support the congressman gave the Mississippi Political Collections (and this university) during his life, and now, how his legacy continues through the support of the foundation.”

Gregory said the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Research Fellowship is designed to foster high-quality academic and professional study, offering an annual award of up to $5,000 to support travel expenses for scholars and other interested patrons. This funding aims to facilitate research within the MPC’s extensive archival collections, enhancing access to valuable resources and contributing to a deeper understanding of Mississippi’s political history.

Each year scholars may apply for the fellowship and a selection will be made in March. For more information on the program, visit https://www.library.msstate.edu/montgomery-lecture.

Gregory said the Nov. 17 event promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees, providing a unique opportunity to engage with and reflect upon the historical and contemporary aspects of Mississippi’s political landscape.

“This program will not only highlight the research being done in our collections, but will also continue to honor Congressman Montgomery, his life and his legacy.”

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.