The Mississippi Governor's Mansion

Memories of the People's Home

Phil Bryant, Bill Wilson

• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781496826350
• eBook ISBN: 9781496826374
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Biographies
• Index: Politics & International Relations

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.

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 decisions to ensure the structure was better than we found it, to make all feel welcome, and to treasure every minute of our time in the house.

The upkeep of a historically significant building is constant. I must praise the staff and maintenance crew who helped keep a watchful eye on the property. One of our first orders of business was a renovation in 2013. Plaster walls and the aging HVAC system had fallen into disrepair. It was a huge undertaking to have three floors of pipes and plaster reconstructed. I will never forget seeing the curator remove each crystal prism from the chandelier in the Gold Parlor. I am proud to say all of the hard work and sacrifice was worth the effort. The Mansion is more beautiful than ever for many generations to enjoy.

One of my favorite things to do as first lady was opening the Mansion to everyone I met. From schoolchildren to civic groups to people in the grocery store, I always invited each one to come see the Mansion. I even met people outside on Capitol Street and invited them in for a tour. These guests always turned out to be the most wonderful blessing to my day.

I especially enjoyed giving folks a tour of the private residence. We were not always able to show where we lived, but I took great pleasure in sharing what was on the “other side of the door” when I was available. Our son, who is an interior designer, updated the private residence when the entire house underwent the renovation in 2013. This was his way of donating his time and talents to the beautification of the Mansion’s living space. Additionally, local companies furnished the private residence, and I loved showing off the beautiful furniture donated to the Mansion, an unprecedented act that will hopefully benefit the next Mansion’s executive resident.

We made more precious memories in the house than we can count. The first year, we held our daughter’s wedding reception in the East Garden. Years later, we chased our three grandchildren around the brick sidewalks. We hosted a Supreme Court justice, ambassadors, legislators, artists, cowboys, Wounded Warriors, and pediatric hospital patients, just to name a few. Even rock star Mick Jagger made a surprise visit one evening to the delight of all our guests. Each event, each guest, each day will forever be imprinted on our hearts.

We are happy to give you, the reader, a glimpse into the charm and wonder of the “People’s Home,” the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion.

—FIRST LADY DEBORAH BRYANT

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Plein air painting is very special. Plein air comes from the French, meaning painting outdoors or, more universally, painting from life. You’re right there in the middle of whatever you’re working on, nothing between you and the subject. It’s just you and your paints.

Part of the thrill of plein air painting is that one is stimulated by all of the senses when on location: the sounds, the atmosphere, the smells. Ah, the smells. Is it strange that a visual artist should focus so much on the sense of smell? Maybe. But, from my three years as artist-in-residence at the Governor’s Mansion I will remember most the smell of flowers and freshly mown grass in the garden, motor oil in the garage/man cave, and freshly baked cookies as I painted in the kitchen. All that made the place more real, more personal than merely working from photographs.

And let’s not forget the smell of history. Yes, history has a smell. The way libraries smell like old books; historical buildings, like the Mansion, seem to smell like your grandmother’s china cabinet, a bit musty, but a mustiness filled with the comings and goings of people and the mark they made. I sat painting for days in nearly every single room in the Mansion—working, absorbing everything. Sometimes I got butterflies in my stomach thinking about all the history, all the people who had passed through those rooms, 175 years of history. And I felt incredibly honored that I was becoming just a small part of that history by working on this book with one of Mississippi’s greatest governors. This is one of the crowning achievements of my thirty-some-odd-year career. I hope the people who read this book will enjoy it half as much as I enjoyed helping to make it.

—BILL WILSON

THE MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR’S MANSION

ENTRANCE / FRONT PORTICO

The original entrance to the home offers a grand example of the Greek Revival style so prevalent in the 1800s. The pediment-fronted façade welcomes all who pass the great front door. The beauty of the Mansion draws passersby to stop and photograph the old home. Nestled among the tall buildings of downtown Jackson, the Mansion seems almost out of place in...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• Artist’s Statement
• 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
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author