About
Established in 1991, the Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) is a repository of materials covering a range of African American musical idioms and cultural expressions 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.
The AAAMC supports the research of scholars, students, and the general public worldwide by providing access to holdings which include oral histories, photographs, musical and print manuscripts, audio and video recordings, educational broadcast programs, and the personal papers of individuals and organizations concerned with Black music. We also invite exploration of our collections and related topics through a variety of public events, print and online publications, and pedagogical resources.
Address and Contact Info
Archives of African American Music and Culture
Indiana University
Herman B Wells Library, West Tower, Suite 305
1320 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: (812) 855-8547
Fax: (812) 856-0333
aaamc@iu.edu
Map
Access
The AAAMC is open to the public. Appointments are strongly encouraged so the staff can prepare materials for research. Circulation of AAAMC collection materials is allowed on a limited basis and is restricted to IUB faculty and graduate teaching assistants. Learn more about online access to AAAMC collections on our online access page.Hours and Closures
Monday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Please note that the AAAMC may close or operate by appointment only during holidays and IU breaks. See below for exceptions to our normal hours:
Closures
MLK Day: CLOSED
Spring Break: BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Memorial Day: CLOSED
Juneteenth: CLOSED
4th of July: CLOSED
Labor Day: CLOSED
Thanksgiving Break: BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Winter Break: BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Staff Vacations: BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Parking
There is an Indiana University parking lot outside Wells Library with spots for "EM-P" parking permits, as well as pay-to-park Visitor spots.
Another nearby parking lot is east of the library on 10th St., just a few minutes walk from Wells Library. This parking lot has a variety of parking permit spots as well as paid Visitor spots.
The closest parking garage to Wells Library is the "East Parking Garage" on Eagleson Ave., located across from the Musical Arts Center.
Transit
Bloomington Transit Route 6 Campus Shuttle, the 6 Limited, and the 9 pick up and drop off near Wells Library. A map and schedule can be found on the Bloomington Transit website.