Ted Ownby on Elvis Presley as a Southern Studies Student

Center Director Ted Ownby wrote the introduction for a new book on Elvis Presley by Joel Williamson, Elvis Presley: A Southern Life. Here, his thoughts on whether Southern Studies might’ve saved Presley. Elvis Presley died in 1977. That was the same year the Center for the Study of Southern Culture hosted its first events, and

Professor and Students Participate in Program Examining Slave Dwellings

This article, by Dr. Jodi Skipper, originally appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of the Southern Register.  Check out our archive of past Registers for more. Interpreting the Enslaved: The Behind the Big House Program in Holly Springs, Mississippi For the past two years, Southern Studies students have helped to fill gaps in Mississippi interpretations

Center Welcomes New Historian Jessica Wilkerson

This fall, the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and the Department of History will welcome Jessica Wilkerson as a new assistant professor of history and Southern Studies. Wilkerson comes to the university from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she completed her doctoral work in the field of women’s and gender history.

Oxford Blues Fest Features Center Faculty, Staff, Friends

The Oxford Blues Fest, hosted by the University of Mississippi Museum,  begins this evening, Thursday, July 17.   A panel on blues scholarship tomorrow at 1:15pm will feature Scott Barretta of the Highway 61 radio show and Mark Camarigg, managing editor of Center publication Living Blues.  Southern Studies and English professor Adam Gussow will participate in a

New Fund Honors Charles R. Wilson and Benefits Grad Students

The Charles Reagan Wilson Fund During his 33 years as a professor, Dr. Charles Reagan Wilson has been a mentor for many University of Mississippi students studying southern history and culture, and has served on at least a hundred thesis and dissertation committees, often as chair. At graduation in May, we dedicated and named the

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.

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.