An Interview with Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton about Southern Music

Blues musician Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton was in town a few weeks ago to play a concert as part of the World Championship Old Time Piano Playing Contest, and Southern Studies graduate student Chris Colbeck sat down with Paxton to talk about southern music. Watch the interview below.

Photos from Graduation

With apologies for the delay, here are some photos of the graduating Southern Studies class of 2016, including BA and MA students. Awards and class photo by Jimmy Thomas, photos in gowns by me.

Student Awards for Papers, Documentary Projects Announced at Graduation

Student Awards for Papers, Documentary Projects Announced at Graduation Gray Prize for one of the two best papers by SST undergraduates: Joel Hayes-Davis for “Local Southern Identity as Defined through Foodways” Coterie Award for one of the two best papers by SST undergraduates: Anna McCollum, “What is Today’s South?” Peter Aschoff Award for the best

The Charles Reagan Wilson Fund Campaign Reaches 109%

Thank you so much to all of the generous donors who supported the Charles Reagan Wilson Graduate Student Support Fund through Ignite Ole Miss. We reached 100% of our goal of $25,000 on Monday, two days before the deadline. The campaign ended last night, and we’ve now raised $27,346 from 185 donors. Everyone at the Center has enjoyed watching the donor wall grow with the names of friends and alumni–thank you!

Spring 2016 Thesis Season at an End

Congratulations to all of our Thesis and Internship Defenders! Our last defense of the season was yesterday. Below, a collection of our Instagram posts of each successful defender. [View the story “Spring 2016 Southern Studies Thesis Defenses” on Storify]

Jimmy Thomas on Charles Reagan Wilson the Teacher

Thank you so much to the many who have given so far to the Charles Reagan Wilson Graduate Student Support Fund. To date we’ve raised $18,094 from 129 donors. The campaign, which concludes on May 11, is beginning to wind down. Please consider a gift to honor a great professor, and please share the fund

Ted Ownby on the Resonance of the Charles Wilson Fund

Ted Ownby on the Resonance of the Charles Wilson Grad Student Support Fund   Dear Friends, I encourage you to make a donation to the Charles Reagan Wilson Graduate Student Support Fund. The fund will support research projects for University of Mississippi students studying the American South. Charles Wilson taught History Department graduate students who

Guest Post by Sophie Hay for Recently-Admitted Grad Students

If you’ve recently received an offer to join the Southern Studies M.A. program at the University of Mississippi, huge congratulations are in order! Well done on your success! I’d like to take this opportunity to offer you a big warm welcome on behalf of everyone at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture.

Brown Bag Speaker Interviews by Grad Student Chris Colbeck

This school year, grad student Chris Colbeck, working with the Southern Documentary Project, has done a series of interviews with speakers following their Brown Bag talks. Interviews have included questions about research inspiration and methods, the role of the academy in understanding public policy, and teaching James Agee and Walker Evans.