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Southern Miss to Collect Oral History Interviews Commemorating Webb Schools Centennial Celebration

Tue, 12/03/2013 - 10:15am | By: Charmaine Williams Schmermund

In celebrating the centennial of the R.W. Webb Elementary School in Bay St. Louis, The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast is teaming up with the landmark's owners to record oral history interviews from everyone who has a memory to share about the building.

Interviews will be recorded during the Centennial Celebration Saturday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the former school, located at 300 Third Street in Bay St. Louis. The building, built as a school in 1913, later served as a civic center in the 1960s, meeting place in the 1990s and, after surviving Hurricane Katrina, a gathering place during recovery efforts. Now the 100-year-old building serves as the home of coast architect Larry Jaubert and his wife, writer Ellis Anderson.

The Centennial Celebration oral history project is funded through a grant provided by the Mississippi Humanities Council. As a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the project will involve collecting oral interviews using film and audio equipment about the history, significance and transformation of the school over the past 100 years.

For more information, contact Shugana Williams at shugana.campbellFREEMississippi or call 228.214.3423.