The murals dedicated to the life and work of Emilie and Marie Stapp were on display in the Malone Fine Arts Building at the Perkinston Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College during August 2014. Look for these murals and related materials to be on display at other Stone County venues throughout the year. 
Stone County Arts Council Reminders:
We do amazing work!!! Congratulations to Elizabeth Huffmaster for wining a purchase award and $500 watercolor award at the Fairhope Art Show. Congratulations also to member Marilyn Ammons for winning “Best in Show” at the Daphne Arts Show sponsored by the Mobile Watercolor Society.
The Friends of Stone County Libraries has received a $3,000 grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council for the Emilie Blackmore Stapp project. Emilie B. Stapp was a well-known children’s author, who lived at the Friendship Farm in Stone County from 1935 until her death in 1962. She is best known for the Go Hawks and Isabella the Wise Goose book series. Emilie and her sister Marie were active members of this community and were involved in many philanthropic endeavors, including establishing the first library for Stone County citizens. This grant will support research on the Stapp sisters, which will be followed by a presentation and gallery exhibit at the Visual Arts Center on the Perkinston Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
The Friends of Stone County Libraries is excited to be reintroducing the lives, work, and contributions of these two remarkable women to this community. If you knew the Stapp sisters or have any information on them you would like to share please contact Daisha Walker at 228-669-9747 or at daish68@yahoo.com.
Friends is proud to partner with the Stone County Arts Council, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, the DeGrummond Children’s Literature Collection and The Old Firehouse Museum on this project.
Emilie Blackmore Stapp, an American children’s author and philanthropist, and her sister, Marie Graham Stapp, were women with a mission. Their lives are documented in an extensive collection of lively correspondence and letters, published and unpublished manuscripts for children’s stories in books, periodicals, and newspapers; original plays, illustrations and publicity materials; and, personal items, such as photographs of friends and notables, fragile scrapbooks documenting Emilie Stapp’s from 1904 through the time of her death in 1962 can be found in the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi, McCain Library & Archives.
The Stapps lived in Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, and finally in Mississippi during a significant historical period, covering two world wars and the tumultuous Jim Crow era. Emilie Blackmore Stapp probably was years ahead of her time in her work with children of all races and creeds, raising funds for two World Wars, and other philanthropic efforts. Some of these, commencing soon after their arrival in Wiggins, include deeding the land and facility for the Women’s Club of Wiggins, donating over 4000 books to establish the first lending library in Stone County, and funding construction for a new post office.
The Stapp sisters bought a farm they named Friendship Farm out Highway 26 East. There they established a pecan orchard and built their homenamed The Dolls’ House. The home received its name from a rare collection of over 400 dolls of historic significance, that the Stapp sisters acquired from their world travels and prominently displayed there during their lifetimes.You will be hearing more about Emilie Blackmore Stapp in the months ahead as The Old Firehouse Museum and The Stone County Arts Council jointly will celebrate her life and accomplishments in several very distinct ways. You will not want to miss those events so stay tuned for dates to be published!
Stone County Arts Council 