AAAMC has moved!
We are excited to announce our move into new offices on the 3rd floor of the west tower of Wells Library!
The AAAMC is now open to the public from 10am-12pm as we settle into the new space and prepare for expanded hours and services. In addition to welcoming visitors to our new location, during these limited hours we will be offering the following in-person services:
- Reference consultations about the collections
- Limited in-person collection access during public opening hours (by appointment only)
We will also continue to fill remote reference requests. Please reach out to us at aaamc@iu.edu for requests of questions about the archives.
Upcoming Event!
The Archives of African American Music and Culture will host Jazz Women: Hear My Voice, a concert celebrating the legacy of Black women in jazz. While many people have contributed to the evolution of jazz, from the beginning of the genre, Black women have served in strategic roles as instrumentalists, arrangers, composers, singers, bandleaders and mentors, which advanced the careers of some of the most popular figures in the tradition from Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington to Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie. However, women like Lil Hardin Armstrong and Mary Lou Williams, among others have often been relegated to the margins of jazz history, while they simultaneously shaped the genre as cultural expression and commodity. In celebration of the longstanding contributions of Black women, Jazz Women: Hear My Voice features three unique vocalists, New York City’s rising star Ekep Nkwelle, and Indianapolis’s premier songstresses Sandy Lomax and Brenda Williams. Each performer will showcase a full range of songs, styles and lived experiences that have defined, elevated and sustained jazz within and beyond the Black community. Internationally acclaimed New York-based pianist Luther Allison will accompany Ekep Nkwelle. Sandy Lomax and Brenda Williams will be accompanied by an all-star band from Indianapolis, led by music director and bassist Bill Myers, former President of the African American Jazz Caucus, Inc. Other musicians include Cassius Goens (drums), Kevin Anker (keyboard), Steve Weakley (guitar), and Clifford Ratliff (trumpet).
Welcome to the AAAMC
At the AAAMC, you will find materials covering a range of African American musical idioms and cultural expressions primarily from the post-World War II era. Our collections highlight popular, religious, and classical music, with genres ranging from blues and gospel to R&B and contemporary hip hop. The AAAMC also houses extensive materials related to the documentation of black radio.
More about the AAAMCUnique Collections
Discover unique materials documenting the history and roles of African Americans in the arts, entertainment, and beyond.
Explore CollectionsPreserving Images
The AAAMC preserves thousands of original photographic prints. Many of these are digitized and available online.
Explore Image Collections
Preserving Media
The AAAMC is an active partner with IU's Media Digitization and Preservation Initiative. Thousands of hours of time-based media from our collections will eventually be available online.
Explore Media CollectionsVisit the AAAMC
Visit the AAAMC to explore our collections in person. Our staff is ready to assist you and your research.
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Give to the AAAMC
By supporting the AAAMC through the donation of a collection or financial contribution, you are joining the initiative to preserve and make accessible important cultural and historically significant materials that might otherwise be lost.