Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi

First Edition. Signed by Gov. Phil Bryant and artist Bill Wilson.

As new in dust jacket.

An artful, insider’s tour of the mightiest mansion in Mississippi

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.

PHIL BRYANT is the sixty-fourth governor of Mississippi. Previously he served as lieutenant governor and state auditor and as a member of the state legislature. He is a former law enforcement officer and adjunct professor of American government at Mississippi College.

BILL WILSON is a transplanted Alabama native and has been a proud Mississippian for fifty of his fifty-seven years. He has been a working artist for the past thirty years and spent three years as artist-in-residence at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion. Mr. Wilson began his artistic career as a portrait painter having portraits across the country in private, corporate and state collections including eight supreme court justices.