Blues Archives at the University of Mississippi

The Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi is one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of blues-related materials. Located within the J.D. Williams Library in Oxford, the archive houses more than 60,000 sound recordings, 20,000 photographs, 1,000 videos, and extensive manuscripts, posters, and memorabilia documenting the history and culture of blues music. Highlights include B. B. King’s personal record collection, the Jim O’Neal and Amy van Singel / Living Blues Collection, the Trumpet Records Collection, the Sheldon Harris Collection, the John Richbourg Collection, and the Percy Mayfield collection. Founded in 1984, the archive serves as a vital resource for researchers, musicians, and fans seeking to explore the roots and evolution of the blues.