Community, University Partnership Brings Mayfield Legacy to Life

"This is a momentous occasion for the Ecru community," said Jeannie Speck-Thompson, an Ecru native and university archivist and assistant professor who has been a driving force behind the project since its inception. "Sharing M.B. Mayfield's inspiring story and showcasing his artwork is a true honor.

"The museum will be a place of education, inspiration and pride for the whole community of Ecru for generations to come."

The soft opening event on July 18 welcomed guests for an exclusive first look at the M.B. Mayfield House Museum. Attendees enjoyed guided tours of the historic home, which was restored to preserve Mayfield's personal effects and creative works.

Mayfield's story is of special significance to the university, as he was one of the institution's first Black students – albeit not publicly due to Jim Crow laws at the time. Mayfield was invited to work as a janitor at UM in 1949 so he could secretly begin auditing art classes in a broom closet.

Bob McGee, president of the Pontotoc County Historical Society, attended the soft opening and said the society "looks forward to working with the M.B. Mayfield Foundation on future projects honoring this amazing artist."

"We are very excited about the opening of the Mayfield House Museum in Ecru," he said. "Mr. Mayfield was an amazing artist who, through his art, brought to life his memories of his childhood and hometown."

The museum's opening is one of the latest milestones in a project that was bolstered by a multi-year collaboration with M Partner, a signature initiative of the university's Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement.

Through this collaboration, Ole Miss faculty and students have provided critical support, from cataloging Mayfield's personal archives to developing marketing and outreach strategies.

"It's wonderful to see that the project has matured and is now becoming a reality for the Ecru community," said Laura Martin, M Partner director and associate director of the Grisham-McLean Institute. "The connections and relationships made during M Partner's involvement outlasted the work and serve as a prime example of how the initiative helps energize projects in our state."

With support from Second Nature, the University of Mississippi Museum has also recently added an M.B. Mayfield Traveling Trunk to its educational programming for grades K-12. Sponsored by the M.B. Mayfield Foundation and curated by Speck-Thompson, the trunk is free to rent and contains replicas of Mayfield's artwork, lesson plans and other resources to bring his story into classrooms across the state.

"The M.B. Mayfield Traveling Trunk provides a different, but refreshing perspective of Mississippi history," said Kassidy Franz, the UM Museum's curator of education. "With never-before-seen artworks that were granted usage for the trunk, individuals will gain new insight and knowledge about Mayfield's remarkable life and legacy."

Speck-Thompson said that providing the trunk to the museum is "exciting and meaningful."

"I hope the trunk will serve as a valuable educational tool, inspiring and educating those who use it through the art and writing of M.B. Mayfield," she said.

The M.B. Mayfield House Museum welcomes guests by appointment. To schedule a visit, go to the museum's website. To inquire about renting the traveling trunk, visit the UM Museum's website.

Top: The interior of M.B. Mayfield's house has been restored to give visitors a feel for how the artist lived and created his acclaimed paintings and other works. The museum is open to visitors in Ecru by appointment. Submitted photo