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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Hopson, Blackwell, England,
Frazier, Hickman, Johnson, Kirby, Michel,
Norwood, Simmons (12th), Thomas, DeBar
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 53
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION, EXPERTISE AND 1
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE OF KATIE BLOUNT ON THE OCCASION OF HER 2
RETIREMENT AS DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES 3
AND HISTORY. 4
WHEREAS, Mississippi Department of Archives and History 5
Director Katie Blount, who led the agency through many successful 6
endeavors, including the establishment of the nationally 7
recognized Two Mississippi Museums and supported efforts to adopt 8
a new state flag, has announced her retirement after leading MDAH 9
since 2015. Blount's retirement will be effective June 30, 2026; 10
and 11
WHEREAS, Blount, who began her career at MDAH as a public 12
relations coordinator in 1994, is the agency's seventh director 13
since 1902 and only the second woman to hold the position. 14
Charlotte Capers became the first woman to head MDAH and a state 15
agency in 1955. Blount has more than three decades of public 16
service in Mississippi; and 17
WHEREAS, under Blount's leadership, MDAH has strengthened 18
relations with Tribal Partners through repatriation and begun work 19
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on several renovation or development projects at Native-American 20
sites, battlefields, and civil rights sites, among other historic 21
sites, and the upcoming Margaret Ann Crigler Park in downtown 22
Jackson; and 23
WHEREAS, earlier this year, Blount was recognized with a 24
Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for State 25
and Local History (AASLH) for her commitment to inclusive 26
storytelling, which has reshaped programming, interpretation, and 27
staffing at the agency charged with preserving historical records, 28
artifacts, and properties. Blount also developed the agency's own 29
long-term strategic plan that is implemented concurrently with the 30
state-mandated plan; and 31
WHEREAS, Blount said MDAH achievements during her tenure 32
should be credited to the agency's staff, who are committed to 33
preserving Mississippi's history and telling the stories of the 34
state's people and places. "Mississippi's history is the central 35
arc of American history, from the Native American experience to 36
cotton and slavery, Civil War, Reconstruction, up to the Civil 37
Rights Movement and beyond," Blount said. "I'm extremely grateful 38
I've had the opportunity to serve the people of this state and 39
work alongside a staff whose passion to preserve history runs as 40
deep as mine"; and 41
WHEREAS, Spence Flatgard, President of the MDAH Board of 42
Trustees, described Blount's leadership as "transformational." 43
"Her commitment to telling the full story of Mississippi's 44
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compelling history has elevated the work of MDAH. Katie is 45
universally respected by her peers and state leaders. Her love 46
for public service and for Mississippians has helped us tell our 47
story to schoolchildren and to presidents. Our state has been 48
blessed by her leadership, and she will always have our profound 49
gratitude"; and 50
WHEREAS, businessman Kane Ditto, a former Jackson mayor who 51
previously served as president of the MDAH Board of Trustees and 52
is currently a member of the Foundation for Mississippi History 53
Board of Directors, said Blount "has provided inspirational and 54
strategic leadership for MDAH" in the 10 years since she became 55
director. "When visiting with department staff, I am struck by 56
their enthusiasm and sense of purpose. That attitude starts at the 57
top," Ditto said. "Building on the legacy of the department as a 58
national leader in documenting and preserving our state history, 59
Katie has led the department to new heights of achievement and 60
recognition"; and 61
WHEREAS, Blount rose through the ranks at MDAH, working under 62
previous directors, Elbert R. Hilliard and H. T. Holmes. She 63
served as assistant to the director and deputy director for 64
communication before she was promoted to director in 2015. During 65
her tenure at MDAH, Blount shepherded the opening of the Two 66
Mississippi Museums in 2017, during the state bicentennial. Since 67
then, more than 744,000 people have visited from across the nation 68
and other countries; and 69
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ST: Recognize Katie Blount on the occasion of
her retirement as Director of the Mississippi
Department of Archives and History.
WHEREAS, in 2022, the William and Elise Winter Endowment was 70
established by the Foundation for Mississippi History, the 71
nonprofit that supports MDAH. The endowment ensures Mississippi 72
students can attend the museums free of charge and covers the cost 73
of transportation and lunch for the school field trips; and 74
WHEREAS, "Ensuring that future generations have access to 75
world-class museums that tell our state's powerful history is a 76
lasting legacy we can all be proud of," Blount said. "Embracing 77
complex stories draws audiences and earns the trust of partners in 78
a position to pour resources into Mississippi. We have 79
consistently shared Mississippi's layers of rich narrative through 80
our work"; and 81
WHEREAS, Katie Blount has made Mississippi's history more 82
accessible, inclusive and meaningful for all Mississippians and 83
for audiences around the country: 84
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 85
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize the dedication, expertise 86
and commitment to excellence of Katie Blount on the occasion of 87
her retirement as Director of the Mississippi Department of 88
Archives and History, and thank her for her lasting impact on our 89
state. 90
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 91
Katie Blount, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of the 92
Mississippi Department of Archives and History and made available 93
to the Capitol Press Corps. 94