Photograph by William Ferris

Store Keys held by Aden Fisher White, S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Reganton, Mississippi, 1974
13 × 20 in. (image size)
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-123

Photograph by William Ferris

L.L. Club, Leland, Mississippi, 1975

Archival Pigment Print
13 × 20 in. (image size)
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-170

Photograph by William Ferris

The California Club, 310 Silver City Road, Belzoni, Mississippi, 1975
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-168

Photograph by William Ferris

Sergeant Webb, Parchman Penitentiary, Camp B, Lambert, Mississippi, 1974
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-169

Photograph by William Ferris

Kudzu Car, Abbeville, MS
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-171

Photograph by William Ferris

Pecolia Warner with her "P" quilt, Yazoo City, Mississippi, 1975
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-131

Photograph by William Ferris

Home of Amanda Gordon, 10536 Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975

13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-159

Photograph by William Ferris

Home on Highway 27, between Utica and Crystal Springs, Mississippi, 1976

13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-152

Photograph by William Ferris

Roadside trailer, Highway 61, north Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1977

13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print

The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-126

Photograph by William Ferris

Metal chairs on front porch, Mississippi Delta, 1975

13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-125

Photograph by William Ferris

Rural church, Highway 27, west of Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1977
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-127

Photograph by William Ferris

Clover Valley M.B. Church, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1977
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-130

Photograph by William Ferris

"Vernalia," Reganton, Mississippi, 1979
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-128

Photograph by William Ferris

Hubert Hamblett portrait by Theora Hamblett, Oxford, Mississippi, 1975
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-132

Photograph by William Ferris

Head of cedar walking cane carved by Luster Willis, Crystal Springs, Mississippi, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-134

Photograph by William Ferris

J.L. Garrison, Rossville, Tennessee, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-133

Photograph by William Ferris

Painted door sign, Indianola, Mississippi, 1974
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-136

Photograph by William Ferris

"Get Right With God" road sign, Indiana, Mississippi, 1977
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-135

Photograph by William Ferris

Jim Steed mailbox, Route 1, Box 18A, Utica, Mississippi, 1974
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-137

Photograph by William Ferris

Cold watermelon vendor, Leland, Mississippi, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-138

Photograph by William Ferris

Unidentified watermelon vendor and son, Betcheimer Store, Highway 27, Utica, Mississippi, 1974
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-139

Photograph by William Ferris

Jim Steed, Route 1, Box 18A, Utica, Mississippi, 1974
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-141

Photograph by William Ferris

Louvennia Willis and Nora (a neighbor's child), Route 1, Box 86, Crystal Springs, Mississippi, 1974
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-146

Photograph by William Ferris

Left Cooper and Joe Cooper, Kent's Alley, Leland, Mississippi, 1974
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-142

Photograph by William Ferris

Unidentified man and woman, Cohn Brothers Country Store, Lorman, Mississippi, 1974
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-144

Photograph by William Ferris

Aden Fisher White, S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Reganton, Mississippi, 1974
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-143

Photograph by William Ferris

Victor "Hickory Stick" Bobb, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1976
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-145

Photograph by William Ferris

Inmate on water break, Parchman Penitentiary, Camp B, Lambert, Mississippi, 1974
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-148

Photograph by William Ferris

Unidentified fireworks salesman, Leland, Mississippi, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-147

Photograph by William Ferris

Unidentified rider and pony, Yazoo City, Mississippi, 1975
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-149

Photograph by William Ferris

Bus barn, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-150

Photograph by William Ferris

Highway 61, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-151

Photograph by William Ferris

Country store, Old Port Gibson Road, Mississippi, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-153

Photograph by William Ferris

Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-154

Photograph by William Ferris

Rose Hill Church and Congregation, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-155

Photograph by William Ferris

Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-156

Photograph by William Ferris

Amanda Gordon, Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-157

Photograph by William Ferris

Reverend Isaac Thomas, Rose Hill Church, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-158

Photograph by William Ferris

William Ferris Sr., hay field, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1963
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-161

Photograph by William Ferris

Robert Appleton, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1963
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-160

Photograph by William Ferris

Shelby Fitzpatrick, Hester Magnuson, Martha Ferris, King, and Queenie, 11186 Fisher Ferry Road, Ferris home, Warren County, Mississippi, 1963
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-162

Photograph by William Ferris

Shelby Ferris, 11186 Fisher Ferry Road, Ferris home, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-163

Photograph by William Ferris

Rose Hill Church pasture, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-165

Photograph by William Ferris

James Bottom, Ross Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1975
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-164

Photograph by William Ferris

Horse pasture, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1976
13 × 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-166

Photograph by William Ferris

Horse pasture, Fisher Ferry Road, Warren County, Mississippi, 1976
Wes Carter Lake, Warren County, Mississippi, 1974
20 × 13 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-167

Photograph by William Ferris

S.M. White & Son Crossroads Store, Old Port Gibson Road, Reganton, Mississippi, 1974
13 x 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-124

Photograph by William Ferris

Crescent Theatre, 211 North Hayden Street, Belzoni, Mississippi, 1977
13 x 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-129

Photograph by William Ferris

Unidentified street acress, Kent’s Alley, Leland, Mississippi, 1974
13 x 20 in. (image size)

Archival Pigment Print
The Do Good Fund, Inc., 2016-140

William Ferris

William "Bill" Ferris (b. 1942) is a filmmaker, author, educator, and a prominent folklorist. Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Ferris's fascination with collecting and documenting stories began on his family's farm, Broadacres, where he lived and worked alongside several African American families who were employed by his family. His education brought him up North, where he eventually earned a PhD in folklore from the University of Pennsylvania. In the succeeding years, Ferris taught at Yale University (New Haven, CT) and co-founded with Judy Peiser the Center for Southern Folklore (Memphis, TN).

In 1978, Ferris became the founding director of the University of Mississippi's Center for the Study of Southern Culture. His efforts there—forming a Blues archive, co-editing with Charles Wilson the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, and releasing music field recordings on the center's record label—contributed to the growing respect for Southern studies.

Later, from 1997 to 2001, Ferris served as the Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He returned to academia in 2002 with a position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he served as a professor of history and folklore, and as the senior associate director of the Center for Study of the American South. Ferris has authored and edited numerous books. He added Grammy Award winner to his resume in 2019 for Best Historical Album for the Dust-to-Digital boxed set Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris. In 2024, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame by the Blues Foundation.

< Previous

Next >

William Ferris

Full List of Photographers