Ownership of Grant collection transferred to Mississippi State

(Video by Sarah Kirk)

STARKVILLE, MISS.—Ownership of the archives and collections of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum was formally transferred to Mississippi State University March 20. The agreement between the university and the Ulysses S. Grant Association, the collection’s founder, paves the way for MSU to better curate and present the treasured offerings, both to scholars and the public. The agreement takes effect July 1.

“The collection is a great asset, not just for the museum but for the campus and the area in general,” said Anne Marshall, MSU history professor and executive director of both the U.S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum and of the U.S. Grant Association. “The papers are a fantastic resource to researchers, and the artifacts in the museum bring in visitors from all over the world. This is the latest step in a great relationship.”

Mississippi State and the Ulysses S. Grant Association took a major step Thursday [March 20], forever binding their longstanding relationship through an MOU that transfers USGA archives and collections ownership to MSU’s Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library. MSU Vice President for Development and Alumni John Rush, left, MSU President Mark E. Keenum, and USGA President Jim Bultema signed the momentous document, outlining MSU’s care for the nationally important collection and solidifying the more than 16-year bond between the two entities. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

The presidential library is the largest single collection of Grant papers in the world. It was established on the MSU campus in 2012 and is home to a vast repository of correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks and memorabilia, much of it in Grant’s own hand, along with more than 4,000 published works focused upon Grant, his generalship and his presidency, much of it primary historical source material preserved from his own time. The collection and its displays currently reside in a dedicated wing of the Mitchell Memorial Library, located in the heart of the university’s campus.

“Mississippi State University is widely recognized for our collaborative culture and successful partnerships,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “The Ulysses S. Grant Association is one of our greatest partners, and we are honored to work with the USGA team. With this new agreement, we are investing in the long-term success and impact of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum. Generations of scholars, students and visitors will benefit.”

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

Ownership of Grant collection transferred to Mississippi State

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