A Hattiesburg Legacy Preserved: The Waldoff’s Department Store Records

News item published on: 2026-07-28 14:35:00

Illustration of the front exterior of Waldoff's department store, featuring a cream-colored façade with a series of tall decorative arches supported by dark columns. Large display windows line the ground floor, with a central entrance beneath the For generations, Waldoff's Department Store was woven into the fabric of Hattiesburg, serving the community and earning a lasting place in the city's history. Now, that legacy will be preserved through the newly processed Waldoff’s Department Store records, available for research in University Libraries Special Collections at Southern Miss.

Donated by Milton Waldoff through several accessions beginning in 1997, the collection documents the management and operations of Waldoff's Department Store from the mid-1950s until the store's closing in 1994. In addition to business records, the collection chronicles Milton Waldoff's professional, civic, political, and social involvement in Hattiesburg and throughout Mississippi, offering researchers a broad look at both the department store and the community it helped shape.

The collection includes correspondence with customers and employees, advertisements, newspaper clippings, architectural drawings, and more than 4,500 photographs and slides documenting store events, promotions, and construction projects.

Ella Lauderdale stands beside a large open archival scrapbook displayed on a table in a library or archives reading room. The oversized volume contains a colorful illustrated page featuring a bird and a photograph. Display cases and framed artwork are visible in the background. Ella Lauderdale, assistant curator of historical manuscripts, began processing the collection in July 2025. During the process, she uncovered several memorable artifacts, including an original painting depicting the newly renovated East Pine Street entrance following the store's 1966 expansion. Other notable discoveries include samples of Waldoff's sewn-in clothing labels from the 1970s and colorful merchandise return tags from the early 1960s, offering a glimpse into the store's branding and customer experience.

Among the materials that stood out most to Lauderdale are records that offer unique perspectives on both the history of Waldoff's Department Store and the Hattiesburg community it served. "One of my favorites is the Waldoff's College Board, an extracurricular club for college women interested in fashion, modeling, and professionalism," said Lauderdale. "They hosted live modeling sessions at the department store, fashion shows, and even compiled a 'camp list' of back-to-school essentials for students."

The collection also sheds light on Milton Waldoff's civic engagement through records documenting his involvement with the Hattiesburg Chamber of Commerce, including efforts to support downtown redevelopment during the late 1960s. In addition, campaign materials collected by Waldoff from the 1950s and 1960s provide valuable context for researchers interested in Mississippi's political history.

Together, the business records, photographs, memorabilia, and civic materials provide a comprehensive record of one of Hattiesburg's most beloved businesses and the family who shaped its legacy. The collection offers valuable primary source material for researchers exploring local history, retail, fashion, politics, community development, and the broader story of Hattiesburg. While the photograph log and several architectural drawings are still being finalized, the majority of the collection is now available for research in Special Collections.