Marion Barnwell, Dorothy Shawhan and Libby Hartfield investigated and documented the life of Fannye Cook, an avid birdwatcher, author of Freshwater Fishes of Mississippi, and a leader in the fight for the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission. Cook was born in Crystal Springs, Mississippi and had a strong affinity for nature from the beginning of her life. She spent most of her time outdoors. She spent her youth away from home, working as a teacher in Panama Canal Zone and as an auditor for the IRS in Washington, D.C., but she returned to Mississippi determined to make Mississippi a better place for conservation. Cook’s influence lives on today, with the Game and Fish Commission now known as the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science was also founded by Cook, a legacy that continues to be cherished. This museum is a continuation of her research and was made possible only because of the many museums she created throughout her career. Cook, a woman who believed that people over 40 should not have their photos taken, was not one to talk about herself. Fannye Cook’s story is a must-read for anyone who loves Mississippi history, Mississippi conservationists and Mississippi lovers. Fannye Cook: Mississippi’s Pioneering Conservationist is more than the story of a Mississippi woman who loved to measure fish. It’s also the story of Mississippi’s history and conservation policies. All because of one passionate woman, who was not afraid “to strip down to her teddies” to wade in the river when others were afraid. Marion Barnwell will be on the panel “Conserving Mississippi History” at 4:00 pm in Capitol Room 201A. David Crews, Josh Foreman, David Sansing, and Dr. Richard deShazo will also be on the panel.