Gallery space in the Leontyne Price Library at Rust College
Feb. 1st – Feb. 28, 2018
opening reception Thursday Feb.1, 2018 5 pm-7 pm
150 Rust Avenue Holly Springs, Ms 38635
Open to the public
In celebration of Black History month FANCY! and The Son and Friends of Junior Kimbrough along with Leontyne Price Library at Rust College present
Mississippi Women in Blues an exhibit focusing on the presence of Afro-American women in the Mississippi Blues world.
A presentation of photographs, films and archival material shines a light on these mysterious creatures. Many were popular artists in their day but have fallen into obscurity, and off the radar.
Afro -American Women are ubiquitous figures within the Mississippi Blues community. Black females appear as muse, singer, musician, audience member, dancer, manger, and club worker, but who remain largely uncredited and invisible.
Default players never raising to the ranks as band member. Only seen as willing and capable players, not Blues musicians.
The exhibition focuses on Holly Springs residents musicians Ellen Jefferies and Mary Coleman. Also Como area ladies Jessie Mae Hemphill and Sharde Thomas who have gained international recognition for the their music.
Photos, films, and other archival material on view was provided by private collections, and learning institutions. All funding for the exhibition was granted through private donation, or in kind funds, and with the generous support from
Rust College Leontyne Price Library, UNC Wilson Library Folklife Collection.
Articles on view provided by
Rust College, Leontyne Price Library
Special Collection Dr. William A. Mc Millan
University of Memphis
McWherter Library
Special Collections, Memphis Musical Heritage
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Memphis, Tenn.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYC
University Of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Wilson Library, Special Collections, Southern Folklife Collection
Center For Southern Folklore, Memphis, Tenn.
University of Mississippi, Blues Archive, Oxford, Ms
Private collections of Carla Robinson, Mrs. Judy Jacoby, John Shaw and Adam Lore
Photographs by folklorist Cheryl Thurber, William Ferris
Master photographers Bill Steber, Yancey Allison
Films by William Ferris, Judy Peiser, David Evans
Research by Wanda Pegues
Curated by Amy Verdon and Daniel Wood
Sponsored by FANCY! and The Son and Friends of Junior Kimbrough