Grad Students Work with SFA and SouthDocs on Farish Street Project

More than a year ago, Southern Studies grad students Turry Flucker, Anna Hamilton, and Kate Hudson set out to investigate and document Jackson, Mississippi’s Farish Street as part of a Southern Foodways Alliance and Southern Documentary Project effort to study the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Through oral histories, photography, and film, the students asked

Fred McDowell the Subject of Latest SouthDocs Film

The life of Mississippi hill country bluesman Mississippi Fred McDowell (1904–72) is the subject of a documentary film being made by Scott Barretta and Joe York. The idea for the film came about when the two discovered that the University of Mississippi owned a short film about McDowell called Bluesmaker, which was made in his longtime home of Como by Christian Garrison, who was a resident filmmaker for the university.

Center Welcomes Catarina Passidomo, New Professor of Foodways

The University of Mississippi has hired Catarina Passidomo to join the faculty with a joint appointment in Southern Studies and sociology and anthropology. Beginning in the fall semester of 2014, Passidomo—who will claim an office in Barnard Observatory—will teach foodways courses to undergraduate and graduate students.

June Issue of Living Blues Magazine on Newstands

The June issue of Living Blues features a cover story on guitarist Roy Lee Johnson, a central figure in the 1960s Georgia blues scene who is releasing his first record in 15 years later this year. Inside the magazine are articles on Johnny Drummer, Vernon Garrett, Tommie “T-Bone” Pruitt and Henry “Son” Simms, a blues

Watch Charles Reagan Wilson’s Last Lecture

Retiring professor Charles Reagan Wilson delivered the Mortar Board Last Lecture, which represents the last lecture of the academic year, on Friday, May 2.  The lecture was titled “Whose South? Lessons from Studying the South at the University of Mississippi.” Watch the lecture here: Charles Reagan Wilson, “Whose South? Lessons from Studying the South at

Charles Reagan Wilson Retires

Charles Reagan Wilson brought together everything from Hank Aaron to Zydeco as coeditor of the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, and now his final chapter at the University of Mississippi is complete. After 33 years as a history and Southern Studies professor, Wilson retired in May.