Belmont acquires Johnny Cash's archives, including handwritten notes
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Johnny Cash in 1957. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Johnny Cash's handwritten song lyrics, letters to other artists and personal musings will soon be available for fans to peruse thanks to his family's new partnership with Belmont University.
Why it matters: Cash's personal archives offer a unique understanding of one of the pillars of American popular music. Belmont recently acquired the trove and plans to make the collection available online.
State of play: The archival collection, which comes from Cash's children, will anchor Belmont's new Johnny Cash Learning Center, located within their upcoming building on Music Row.
- The center will be a hub for student research and will feature an archival exhibit.
How it works: Students and researchers will be able to review Cash's writings by appointment in a secure room. Belmont will also digitize archival material so fans all over the world can see it.
What they're saying: "We are thrilled that our father's archive has found a home at Belmont University," the Cash family said in a statement. "An enormous body of his work, including unpublished writings, will now be available for scholars and students to more intimately connect with the foundational elements of his artistry for years to come."
Between the lines: The archives were an $8.6 million acquisition bankrolled by donations from music executives Scott and Sandi Borchetta, longtime Belmont benefactors Mike and Linda Curb, and the Harper House Music Foundation.
- The archives and learning center will be overseen by Belmont's Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business.
The bottom line: "There is no parallel for what this means for our students and scholars," said Belmont dean Brittany Schaffer (who is also the incoming CEO for the Country Music Association).
- "Direct access to the personal papers and lyrics of one of the most important artists in American history is something most institutions can only dream of."