Welcome to Archives & Special Collections
The Department of Archives & Special Collections contains archival papers, photographs, films, and sound recordings related to Mississippi, the Blues, the University of Mississippi, and the American South. The four units within the department, General Special Collections, the Blues Archive, the Visual Collections, and the Modern Political Archive, are managed by four curators and a Library Specialist who assist numerous patrons with their research needs. They also give regular presentations on Mississippi’s history and culture.
In The News
Updates
Archives and Special Collections will be closed to the public May 11 – June 9 for installation of new flooring. Because archival materials have to be temporarily moved to allow the work to be completed, collections will be inaccessible during this period. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience, but these much needed repairs will greatly improve the Archives for decades to come. You can still access our digital collections at https://egrove.olemiss.edu/archives/ Please contact archivesdept@olemiss.edu for questions about this process.
Past Events
Archives to Digitize Audiovisual Holdings for Worldwide Accessibility
Highlighted Collections
In 1979, Clarksdale, Mississippi’s Carnegie Public Library director Sid Graves founded the Delta Blues Museum, the first museum in the world dedicated to the blues. The Sid Graves Collection features correspondence, photographs, and more related to the museum and Grave’s personal life. There are also materials related to the Mississippi Library Association and various Mississippi literary figures.