The Mississippi Governor's Mansion: Memories of the People's Home

By Phil Bryant, Deborah Bryant and Bill Wilson

Welcoming its first executive in 1842, the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion is the second-oldest continuously occupied governor’s residence in the United States. The Mansion is both a public building open for tours and the private residence of the governor and his family. In this unique book, readers are invited to explore the entirety of the building, from the attic to the garage and everything in between.

The Mississippi Governor’s Mansion: Memories of the People’s Home is the first book of its kind dedicated to images and stories about the Governor’s Mansion. The volume reveals Governor Phil Bryant’s profound respect for the office he holds and his deep appreciation for the National Historic Landmark in which he resides. Through his personal, often touching reflections, Governor Bryant pays tribute to former governors, their families, and the many public servants who have dedicated their lives to taking care of this beautiful Greek Revival masterpiece.

More than sixty elegant watercolor paintings by noted Mississippi artist Bill Wilson accompany the governor’s stories. Wilson captures the beauty and majesty of the home, its furnishings, and the restored historic grounds. The volume also features a personal foreword by First Lady Deborah Bryant inviting readers into her home, an artist’s statement by Wilson, and a brief historical essay written by Mansion curator Megan Bankston.

• Language: English
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Release date: Oct 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781496826374

Phil Bryant

Phil Bryant served as the sixty-fourth governor of Mississippi after serving as lieutenant governor, state auditor, and as a member of the state legislature. He is also a former law enforcement officer and adjunct professor of American government at Mississippi College.

Book preview

THE MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR’S MANSION

THE

MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR’S MANSION

Memories of the People’s Home

Governor Phil Bryant

Foreword by First Lady Deborah Bryant

Artwork by Bill Wilson

University Press of Mississippi / Jackson

Publication of this book was made possible in part by a generous donation from the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation.

The University Press of Mississippi is the scholarly publishing agency of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning: Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi, and University of Southern Mississippi.

www.upress.state.ms.us

The University Press of Mississippi is a member of the Association of University Presses.

Photographs courtesy of the Governor’s Office

Artwork copyright © 2019 by Bill Wilson

Text copyright © 2019 by Phil Bryant

All rights reserved

Printed in China

First printing 2019

∞

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Bryant, Phil (Dewey Phillip), 1954– author. | Bryant, Deborah (Deborah Hays), author. | Wilson, Bill (Artist), artist.

Title: The Mississippi Governor’s Mansion : memories of the people’s home / Governor Phil Bryant, Foreword by First Lady Deborah Bryant, Artwork by Bill Wilson.

Description: Jackson : University Press of Mississippi, [2019] | First printing 2019.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019017223 (print) | LCCN 2019022235 (ebook) | ISBN 9781496826350 (cloth : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Mississippi Governor’s Mansion (Jackson, Miss.)—History. | Governors—Dwellings—Mississippi. | Historic buildings—Mississippi—Jackson. | Jackson (Miss.)—Buildings, structures, etc.

Classification: LCC NA108.J2 M57 2019 (print) | LCC NA108.J2 (ebook) | DDC 720.9762/51—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019017223

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019022235

British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data available

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

by First Lady Deborah Bryant

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

by Bill Wilson

ENTRANCE/FRONT PORTICO

GOLD PARLOR

STATE DINING ROOM

BACK ROSE PARLOR

FRONT ROSE PARLOR

STAIRCASE

CREAM BEDROOM

GREEN BEDROOM

GOLD BEDROOM

PUMPKIN BEDROOM

THE ATTIC

PRIVATE QUARTERS DINING ROOM

PRIVATE QUARTERS DEN

CONFERENCE ROOM

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

22ND SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT STATUE

THE KITCHEN

MAN CAVE MEMORABILIA

TEXACO

THE NOMAD

THE HARLEY

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

BOAR

MISSISSIPPI COWBOY BOOTS

IN COUNTRY

BACK PORTICO

EAST GARDEN

BENCHES

BACK ROSE GARDEN

GARDEN GATE

GARDEN WALL

FIRE HYDRANT

THE BIRDHOUSE

CATHEDRAL OF ST. PETER THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH

A BRIEF HISTORY

by Megan Bankston, Curator

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

Phil and I are thrilled to share this beautifully illustrated book with personal accounts from our time living in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion. Over eight years, our love and dedication for this historic residence only grew. We were always mindful that this is the People’s Home and that we would only be there for a short time. Before we ever moved into the Mansion, we made conscious