Willie Nelson Donates Major Portion of His Manuscripts, Correspondence, and Records to the University of Texas

From the U. of Texas:

Internationally famous singer-songwriter Willie Nelson has donated major portions of his collection of correspondence, manuscripts, records and awards to the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin.
Along with other music collections at the center, the Willie Nelson Collection provides scholars with a deeper understanding of Nelson’s music, career, relationships and creative process.
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The collection includes photographs, correspondence and song manuscripts; posters, illustrations and portraits; platinum records, certificates and awards; signed books; screenplays; and many personal items, including Indian headdresses, dream catchers and numerous gifts and tributes from Nelson’s fans.
The collection also includes letters and photographs from musicians including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard, as well as others including Bill Clinton, Ann Richards, Stephen Colbert, Peter Jackson and Lionel Richie. The collection also pays tribute to Nelson’s fans, who have given him countless gifts and notes over the years, which will now be professionally preserved.
The Briscoe Center has long emphasized the development of its music resources as an integral part of its mission to document the historical experience of the American people. The center’s collections include 50,000 commercial and field recordings; the John A. Lomax Family Papers; and many collections related to Texas music, including the Armadillo World Headquarters Archives, the Burton Wilson Collection and the Soap Creek Saloon Archives. The Texas Music Collection contains more than 100 Nelson LPs, and the Texas Poster Collection includes advertisements for Nelson’s early concerts in Austin. The center’s photojournalism holdings also include images of Nelson performing live and visiting with celebrities.

Read the Complete Announcement
See Also: Briscoe Center Online Reference Tools/Digital Collections

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