Exhibits
The Blues Archive was housed in Farley Hall until it merged with Archives & Special Collections in 2002.
- Blues guitar donated to the Archive
- Photo from dedication at the Barnard Observatory of the “Documenting the Blues” historical marker (2/27/2009)
- Framed print of Ernest C. Withers and Elvis Presley, inscribed by Withers
- Timeline of the Blues Archive
- Poster from “B. B. King in Concert at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts” as part of the Living Blues Symposium (2/27/2004)
Unveiling of historic marker, “Documenting the Blues”, in front of UM’s Barnard Observatory, home of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, to note both Living Blues magazine and the UM Blues Archive.
Photo includes Living Blues magazine staff Amy van Singel (co-founder), Mark Camarigg (publications manager), Jim O’Neal (co-founder), Blues Archive curator Greg Johnson, and Highway 61 Radio Host Scott Barretta.
Marker Text:
DOCUMENTING THE BLUES. The University of Mississippi is internationally renowned for its work in documenting and preserving African American blues culture. In 1983 the Center for the Study of Southern Culture acquired Living Blues magazine, which was founded in Chicago in 1970. The Living Blues and B.B. King collections of records and memorabilia were among the first major components of the Blues Archive, established by the university in 1984.
Photos from the Blues Archive
B. B. King visits the Blues Archive (11 June 1985), poses with his favorite record: Genius + Soul = Jazz / Ray Charles (1961)
Early Blues Archives staff Walter Liniger (left) and blues researcher Gayle Dean Wardlow with some of the interviews Wardlow recorded in the 1960s.
Albert Collins (1932-1993)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973)
Lady Erma
Displayed recordings from the Blues Archive:
- B. B. King Live “Now Appearing” at Ole Miss (1980, LP)
- Bottleneck Guitar Trendsetters of the 1930s (1980, LP)
- Rock in a Weary Land / Southern Sons Quartette (LP, Trumpet Records Collection)
- Play Something Pretty / Johnnie Taylor (1979, 45 RPM)
- Bo Diddley / Bo Diddley (B-Side, Checker 814; Sheldon Harris Collection)
- Shim Sham Shimmy / Champion Jack Dupree (1953/1954, 45 RPM)
Displayed books from the Blues Archive:
(also available in our circulating collections)
- Taj Mahal / Autobiography of a Bluesman / Taj Mahal with Stephen Foehr (2001)
- Bessie / Chris Albertson (2003)
- Woman with Guitar: Memphis Minnie’s Blues / Paul and Beth Garon (1992)
- Soul of the Man: Bobby “Blue” Bland / Charles Farley (2011)
- Live from the Mississippi Delta / Panny Flautt Mayfield (2017)
Additional artifacts on display
- Selection of 3 trading cards from R. Crumb’s Heroes of the Blues collection: Memphis Minnie, Whistler & His Jug Band, Mississippi John Hurt
- Enlargement of the first page of the original recording contract for Elmore James with Trumpet Records (Trumpet Records Collection)
- Antique Victrola
- Antique wax cylinder: Edison Gold Moulded Record