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.

Celebrating HBCU Music Traditions

March 22, 6:00 pm

AAAMC invites you to join us on March 22nd at 6PM for Celebrating HBCU Music Traditions, a symposium honoring the foundational and innovative musical heritages at historically Black colleges and universities.

The symposium, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and co-sponsored by the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, will feature several prolific scholars presenting research documenting the historical legacy of the distinguished choirs, marching bands, and jazz ensembles that forged strong, positive images of HBCUs, contributed to the sustainability of their institutions, and uniquely impacted student success.

Following the model originally established by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in the aftermath of the Civil War, these traditions remain a strong presence at HBCUs in the twenty-first century and continue to serve a vital role in shaping and defining African American identity both at home and abroad.

This collaborative event will include a special performance by the HBCU Alumni Ensemble, created for this occasion, who will sound the richness of these traditions.

We look forward to seeing you at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Grand Hall on March 22nd at 6PM. Space will be limited!

Celebrating HBCU Music Traditions event flyer

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 AAAMC

Featured collection: Logan H. Westbrooks Collection


More about the Logan H. Westbrooks Collection

Preserving 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 Collections