In our first column, we mentioned the treasures housed in the Blues Archive and in the Department of Archives and Special Collections. This article explains how the Archives acquire these materials and spotlights recent noteworthy acquisitions.

The basic acquisition procedure in both locations is simple: donation or purchase. Donors may be individuals, institutions, and even corporations. On behalf of Tallahatchie County, the Chancery Clerk recently donated a compilation of newspapers dating back to 1888. G. P. Putnam's & Sons provided promotional materials for several novels to add to the manuscripts donated by Nevada Barr, a mystery writer and Park Ranger in Mississippi.

The Blues Archive began with the donation of two large collections and the purchase of a third. Over the years, donations and purchases have contributed to the growth and depth of the Blues Archive. Major donors include record labels, Living Blues magazine, and many individuals. By sending recent releases, the record companies enable the Blues Archive's sound recording collection to continue growing. Individuals in the United States and abroad have sent such items as articles, photographs, and concert schedules of artists and events.

Purchases for the Department of Archives and Special Collections made during 1995 are as varied as the donations. A number of rare printed materials have been added to the collection. A copy of the printed treaty confirming the cession of Chickasaw lands to the United States (1834), one of only a few surviving copies, has been acquired, as well as one of the earliest examples of printing from Mississippi, an 1837 note printed in Coffeeville. Book purchases are a staple of the archival diet. Yet, even staples can be imaginative as shown by the following purchases: The Elvis Encyclopedia; the advance reading copy, one of about 20 printed, of The Chamber; From a Log Cabin in Mississippi to a Metropolitan Pulpit; and Forgotten Places: Uneven Development in Rural America.

Materials purchased for the Blues Archive include books, recordings, videos, and periodicals. This year's purchases include rare blues 78's, recordings of some of the great blues artists: Charley Patton, Blind Blake, Washboard Sam, Barbecue Bob, and Bo Carter. This purchase also included a rare Robert Johnson 78 of "Hell Hound on My Trail" and "From Four Until Late" on the Perfect label. This particular copy is exceptional, since the labels are placed on the wrong side.

The Department of Archives and Special Collections and the Blues Archive welcome suggestions of potential donors in our collecting areas.

Lynda McNeill, Debbielee Landi, Blues Archives

601-232-7753, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Department of Archives and Special Collections

601-234-6091, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.