Bring it on home: An Exhibition of Sonny Boy Williamson II Materials from the William E. Donoghue Collection

Anyone learning about the blues can easily be forgiven for mistaking the identities of two famous blues harmonica players, both named Sonny Boy Williamson. Scholars differentiate the two as Sonny Boy Williamson I (John Lee Curtis Williamson, 1914-1948) and Sonny Boy Williamson II (Alex Miller, 1912-1965). The majority of this exhibit focuses on Sonny Boy Williamson II. William E. “Bill” Donoghue (1941–2017) was an investment expert and author of an investment newsletter and multiple books, including The New York Times best selling William E. Donoghue’s Complete Money Market Guide. Donoghue’s other major passion was Sonny Boy Williamson II. Using the sobriquet ‘Fessor Mojo, Donoghue gave multiple lectures on his blues hero, authored the book “Don’t Start Me To Talkin’” (1997). He was working on a manuscript and documentary intended to be the authoritative sources on Sonny Boy Williamson II. Bill’s family donated his extensive collection to the Blues Archive earlier this year. The items displayed here represent only a small fraction of this collection.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/spe_exhibits/1018/thumbnail.jp

A Sampler of Mississippi Authors

The exhibit displayed several genres -- poetry, fiction, drama, children/young adult -- featuring samples from several Mississippi writers from the 20th and 21st centuries. The materials are from the collections of the Department of Archives and Special Collections in the University of Mississippi Libraries and have not been digitized. For questions about the materials from this exhibit, please contact the Department: [email protected]://egrove.olemiss.edu/spe_exhibits/1017/thumbnail.jp

Romance and Revelry

This digital collection contains Mardi Gras invitations from 1883 and Valentine\u27s Day cards from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The Mardi Gras invitations are from the Small Manuscripts Collection (MUM00400) and the Valentine\u27s Day cards are from the Ann Rayburn Collection (MUM00380). Items were on display at the J.D. Williams Library in the 1st floor exhibit case from January-February 2016.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/spe_exhibits/1001/thumbnail.jp

William Faulkner’s Books: A Bibliographic Exhibit

This digital collection represents the photographic work shown as part of the physical exhibit, William Faulkner\u27s Books: A Bibliographic Exhibit, January 2- December 12, 2014, in the Department of Archives and Special Collections, University of Mississippi Libraries.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/spe_exhibits/1000/thumbnail.jp

Guitar and Framed posters

Guitar embellished by artist Lamar Sorrento; 2 Framed Items: Sonny Boy Williamson at the Rhythm & Blues Bristol Corn Exchange, Sat. 29 February [1964]; American Folk Blues Festival 1963https://egrove.olemiss.edu/sonnyboyii_exhibit/1029/thumbnail.jp

A Sampler of Mississippi Authors: Novelists

The exhibit displayed several genres -- poetry, fiction, drama, children/young adult -- featuring samples from several Mississippi writers from the 20th and 21st centuries. The materials are from the collections of the Department of Archives and Special Collections in the University of Mississippi Libraries and have not been digitized.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/spe_exhibits/1020/thumbnail.jp

Framed items: photos and autographs

3 framed items hang on the wall: The Ultimate Caribbean Jazz Spectactular: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson (1995); Collected autographs of Buddy Holly and the Crickets; Framed photo of Sonny Boy Williamson with Frank Frosthttps://egrove.olemiss.edu/sonnyboyii_exhibit/1028/thumbnail.jp

A Sampler of Mississippi Authors: Children\u27s and Young Adult Authors, 1930-2021

The exhibit displayed several genres -- poetry, fiction, drama, children/young adult -- featuring samples from several Mississippi writers from the 20th and 21st centuries. The materials are from the collections of the Department of Archives and Special Collections in the University of Mississippi Libraries and have not been digitized.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/spe_exhibits/1022/thumbnail.jp

Framed photo and poster with Guitar

3 framed items hang on the wall: Framed Photo of Pool Hall by Birney Imes; Poster for R&B at the Ricky-Tick Club, Plaza Ballroom, Guildford [1964]; Poster from Charleston Blues Festival, February 14-22, 1992; Guitar embellished by artist Lamar Sorrentohttps://egrove.olemiss.edu/sonnyboyii_exhibit/1030/thumbnail.jp

Tribute to Alex Rice Miller. Chair back.

a painted chairback in tribute to Alex Rice Miller.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/sonnyboyii_exhibit/1018/thumbnail.jp