A Legacy Comes Home: Jefferson Davis Citizenship Story at Beauvoir
Some stories belong in books. Others belong in the places where history actually happened.
For Dr. Howard Edward Haller, great-great-grandson of Jefferson Davis, the long journey to restore his ancestor’s U.S. citizenship is now finding a home at Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis’s historic estate and presidential library in Biloxi, Mississippi.
From Washington D.C. to the Gulf Coast
In 1978, after 13 years of persistence, Howard’s work led to the passage of Public Law 95-466, signed by President Jimmy Carter, restoring Jefferson Davis’s citizenship.
Decades later, the original documents, letters, and artifacts from that journey have been entrusted to Beauvoir — the very place Jefferson Davis spent his final years.
Preserving the Story for Future Generations
Beauvoir’s upcoming display will showcase:
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The official red-line Joint Resolution
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Letters from senators and the White House
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Archival photos of Howard’s advocacy in Washington
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The personal story of a grandson’s promise kept
This is more than a political achievement — it’s a reminder of reconciliation, determination, and the power of one voice.
From the halls of Congress to the halls of Beauvoir, this story has traveled far — and now it’s ready to inspire a new generation.
See the Story in Person — and Take It Home
For visitors to Beauvoir, the exhibit is a rare opportunity to connect with a piece of post–Civil War history. But the story doesn’t end when you leave the museum.
You can take the entire journey home with: