Pilgrimage Garden Club to host symposium on Pre-Civil War Natchez history

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The Pilgrimage Garden Club will host an afternoon symposium Saturday, September 26, examining the impact of the Mississippi River, cotton, and key events that shaped Natchez before the Civil War.

Held in memory of the late James McHenry Wade, former curator of Longwood, the program is titled “The People, River, and History that Shaped Natchez.” It runs from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Carriage House on the grounds of Historic Stanton Hall at 410 N. Commerce St. Admission is $25.

Following the symposium, a dedication ceremony will be held at Longwood at 140 Lower Woodville Road for the new Enslaved Quarters exhibit, located in the property’s historic dependency building. Admission is free.

Dr. Terrel Williams, president of the Pilgrimage Garden Club, said the exhibit will highlight the history of the enslaved families who lived and worked at Longwood and explore how dependency buildings – historically known as slave quarters – can provide invaluable insight into their daily experiences.

The symposium will focus on the explorations of La Salle, the transformation of the cotton industry following Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin, and the importance of preserving these stories and historic resources for future generations.

The symposium brochure highlights the significance of the Mississippi River, stating it has long shaped the history of Natchez, serving as a vital source of settlement, commerce, and conflict.

“This program explores how the river fueled the cotton economy and plantation system while profoundly influencing the lives of the enslaved people whose labor sustained it,” the brochure notes.

The publication states that through these interconnected stories, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the region’s complex history and the ongoing efforts to preserve and interpret these narratives.

“Together, these topics offer a deeper understanding of the history, culture, and legacy of Natchez and the lower Mississippi River Valley,” said Williams.

In addition to Williams, who will serve as emcee, the symposium will feature presentations by six speakers:

* Stephen Perkins, author and co-founder of ForrestPerkins in Washington, D.C., will discuss “The Discovery of the Mississippi River by Rene’-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.”

* Becky Anderson, educator and historian at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, will discuss “Natchez Indians on the Bluff of the Mississippi River.”

* Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez, will discuss “Dread and Dreams: The Mississippi River and the Journey of Prince Ibrahima.”

* Lynette Tanner, owner of Frogmore Plantation, will discuss “Cotton: White Gold on the River.”

* Carter Barnes, executive director of the Historic Natchez Foundation, will discuss “Plantation Dependencies and Longwood.”

* Douglas Lanfear, Longwood docent and former staff member at Rosalie, will discuss “Longwood Dependency: From History to Interpretation.”

Williams will deliver the symposium’s welcome, opening remarks, and closing remarks.

Tickets to the symposium can be purchased at NatchezPilgrimage.com or by calling Natchez Pilgrimage Tours at 601-653-0919.

In 2025, the Pilgrimage Garden Club held its first James Wade Memorial Symposium, which focused on Longwood and the donated ostrich eggs that Dr. Rush Nutt and his eldest son, Rittenhouse Nutt, used to smuggle Egyptian cotton seeds out of Egypt.