Oral History Project about the Noxubee Refuge Looking for Information

Do you have some great stories about hunting, fishing or working in the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge –  or maybe your family was uprooted from its home in the 1930’s to make way for the Refuge?  If so,The Friends of the Noxubee Refuge (FONR) Organization would like to hear from you.  FONR is conducting a historical project about the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge and specifically about the families and individuals who were uprooted in the 1930’s from their properties as the Refuge was formed.  As part of the Rural Resettlement Division of the Resettlement Administration set in place in the 1930’s by the Roosevelt Administration, as many as 1200 families were scheduled to be moved from their farms and homes. The area was later developed (1940) as the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge through the Bankhead –Jones Farm Tenant Act.

Member Jan Bryant indicates that FONR is compiling the stories and information of people who may have lived on the land that is now the Refuge. Bryant indicates that while they have names of some of the families, there are many more of which they have little or no information.  “We’d very much like to interview and record the stories and memories of those who grew up on the Refuge land.”

The group is also interested in hearing from those who have frequented the Refuge over the years, fished in the lakes or worked there at one time.  Stories about your experiences involving the area are welcome and may become part of the historical collection.

Persons who provide information for the project will be asked to sign a simple release form and agree to be interviewed either by voice recorder or camcorder. Interested persons may contact Jan Bryant at 662-323-2277 or email at jcb34@msstate.edu  for more information.

To find out more about the Refuge, you can visit the website at:
http://www.fws.gov/noxubee/  or FONR's website at:
http://www.friends-of-noxubee-refuge.org/