Forrest County, Mississippi Genealogy and History
Gene Phillips, County Coordinator
Jeff Kemp - State Coordinator
Position Vacant - Assistant State Coordinator
New or updated in the last 30 days
PLANNING A VISIT? Hattiesburg Convention Center and Visitor's Bureau LOCAL RESOURCES South Mississippi Genealogical and Historical Society Genealogy books from around the state and out of state. Also genealogy publications from outside the state. See website for details. NEWSPAPERS AND TELEVISION LIBRARIES South Mississippi Genealogical & Historical Society Index of General Genealogy Books Index of State Genealogy Books Index of Family Genealogy Books The Library of Petal, Hattiesburg, and Forrest County Mississippi collection with many valuable resources. Census records and old newspapers on microfilm with viewers that make copies. Ample parking. Worth visiting just to see the building and the Mississippi Room! Genealogy materials are in the tower above the Mississippi Room. Access is by special elevator which is unlocked by the attendant at the second floor desk in exchange for your driver's license. There is one very small table and two chairs. The entrance to the stairs is locked. Open Monday-Thursday 8 am-8 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm. The Libraries at the University of Southern Mississippi Cook Memorial Library, University of Southern Mississippi McCain Graduate Library, University of Southern Mississippi: Extensive collection of genealogy materials other than census records and microfilm are located in the Cleanth Brooks Reading Room on the third floor. Security precautions require that all purses and backpacks be placed in lockers outside the room. A copy machine is available and copies are twenty cents per page, payable to the librarian when you leave. If you wish to access a special collection it is best to make arrangements ahead of time. Open 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday. Manuscripts and Archives at McCain Library, University of Southern Mississippi: How-to page tells you what they have, where it is, how to access it, and more. Parking is a problem at USM when school is in session. Enter the campus from Hardy Street to get a visitor parking permit at the guardhouse, allow plenty of extra time to find a parking space, and expect a pleasant five minute walk. Materials available at USM include local, state, national, and worldwide records. Search the online catalogs by clicking the links above. Sample of what's available for Hattiesburg area: Bibliography of Hattiesburg Materials in the McCain Archives Bibliography of Hattiesburg Materials in the Mississippiana Collection at McCain Library Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby This museum houses memorabilia from the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf Wars. More than 6,100 items from all branches of the military are displayed. Re-Opening October 2001 Free admission. 12 miles South of Hattiesburg on Hwy. 49. MISCELLANEOUS LINKS Mississippi Department of Archives and History Excellent legal and public information, links to the state courts, the state bar association Mississippi State Agencies and Departments HOW YOU CAN HELP Did you find a bad link or address? Do you have something to donate? Volunteering for the MSGenWeb Project Volunteering for the USGenWeb Project Sign Up to Transcribe a Census COUNTY OFFICES Forrest County Chancery Court: Land records, Will records, Divorce records Forrest County Circuit Clerk: Marriage Records, Criminal Records, Civil Records Circuit Clerk - Lou Ellen Adams MISSISSIPPI GENWEB RESOURCES MSGenWeb Home Page and County list USGenWeb Archives for Mississippi FORMATION OF MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES NEIGHBORING COUNTIES Forrest County was formed in 1908from the Second Judicial District of Perry County, and the city of Hattiesburg was selected as the seat of justice for the county. All records prior to 1908 are found in Perry County, whose county seat is New Augusta, Mississippi. Some records were copied and transferred when Forrest County was formed, but the researcher should check both counties for records in that timeframe. FORREST COUNTY GENWEB DATA First Families of Perry County The Civilian Conservation Corps BIBLE RECORDS BOOKS FOR SALE Byrd Family of South Carolina and Mississippi by Charles Byrd Ben and Jean Strickland left a valuable legacy to researchers in south Mississippi.It is my understanding that a list of published works, prices, and ordering information can be obtained by contacting:
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CEMETERIES Morriston Jesus Name Church Cemetery Perry County Cemeteries (Forrest County was formed from Perry County in 1908). Forrest County Cemeteries at Interment.net (Old Myers and Mill Creek) USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project If you have recorded a cemetery or would like to do so, please contact me about posting on this site. If you know of websites that contain Forrest County Cemetery information please send me the link so I can post it here. CENSUS RECORDS COMMUNITIES How Brooklyn Got It's Name : Contributed by Mahlon Martin DEATH RECORDS Wright Freeman Funeral Home Records AB CDE FGH IJKL MNO PQRS TUVWXYZ HOMEPAGES WITH FORREST COUNTY ROOTS Descendants of Silas and Jenny Freeman Simmons Melba's Southern Families - Byrds of SE MS Absalom Breland - Ancestor to South MS Brelands Hinton Family Researchers - Hintons of SO MS Melba Goff Allen's Homepage - MANY SOUTH MS SURNAMES This is a must see site, but plan on staying a while - make sure and let Melba know you appreciate her work. She has contributed so much to South MS Genealogy with her online records! Breland Researchers - If you are researching the Breland surname, you have to go to this site. It is loaded with information. Peggy Conn Burley's Southern Surnames: Anybody researching the Conn family from around Forrest/Perry Counties must see this site! LOOKUPS MAPS 1895 MAP OF MISSISSIPPI. Very large and detailed MARRIAGES Forrest County Bride Index 1921-1925 Forrest County Groom Index 1921-1925 Forrest County Marriages at Melba's Southern Families MILITARY RECORDS Union Army Volunteers from Perry County OBITUARIES Mississippi Obituary Search Links OTHER WEBSITES The Political Graveyard:Forrest County Bill Strong's Eclectic Mississippi Photo Tour PEOPLE AND PLACES The Wedding of Miss Emily Cook and Mr. Reece Orville Bickerstaff Charles and Octavia McIlwain Family Descendants of William Calvin Griffin Civil War Record of William Mark Stevens QUERIES Forrest County Queries at Ancestry RESEARCHERS SCHOOLS Educable Schoolchildren of Perry County, Mississippi: 1892 by Lynda Bailey Chandler Excellent 1890 census substitute Helene School Basketball Team Hill Denson, George May, and the rest of the 1929 basketball team. Helene School was also known as Carnes. WILL RECORDS Forrest County Will Records 1908 - 1924 Forrest County Wills Transferred from Perry County, 1908 MISCELLANEOUS LINKS TO OTHER SITES Mississippi Public Health Statistics Order birth, death, marriage certificates from the state vital records bureau. Bill Stong's Eclectic Mississippi Photo Tour:Lots of wonderful pictures of odd and not so odd things from all over the state, plus the best Mississippi links page I have seen! Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians National Archives and Records Administration Search electronic records online or search the catalog .This site has been greatly improved! |
New or updated in the last 30 days