Finding Aid for Jack Van Camp Photographs, 1994-2001 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Katie Nichols

Service Location	Boxes
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 1

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Collection Overview

Title: Jack Van Camp Photographs, 1994-2001

ID: 26/20/195

Primary Creator: Van Camp, Jack (1953-)

Extent: 0.1 cubic feet

Arrangement: Arranged in a single series: Series 1) Photographs. Materials are arranged by size.

Date Acquired: 07/22/2014

Subjects: Champaign, Illinois, Danville, Illinois, Harmonica music (Blues), Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign, Rhythm and blues

Formats/Genres: Photographs

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of black and white photographs taken by Jack Van Camp of blues and gospel musicians performing at music venues in Champaign, IL, including The Blind Pig and The High Dive. Photographed performers include the Blind Boys of Alabama, Lonnie Brooks, Robert Lockwood Junior, and the Mighty Blues Kings.

Biographical Note

Jack Van Camp (1953-) from Danville, IL has been a photographer since the 1970s. Initially a nature photographer who was also an avid blues fan, Van Camp began taking his camera to blues shows in the Champaign, IL area in the mid-1990s. Influenced by jazz photographer Herman Leonard, he shot in a similar style but used 35mm film and natural light as opposed to the staging and artifical lighting often used by Leonard.

Van Camp often collaborated with David Nolan, a self-taught photographer also from Danville, while shooting blues shows in the area, as well as on two blues photography exhibits.

Subject/Index Terms

Champaign, Illinois
Danville, Illinois
Harmonica music (Blues)
Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
Rhythm and blues

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Access Restrictions: no restrictions.

Acquisition Source: Jack Van Camp

Acquisition Method: gift.

Related Materials: David Nolan Photographs and Personal Papers, 1978-2015, UA.12.9.137, Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Photographs, 1994-2001],
[All]

Series 1: Photographs, 1994-2001

Consists of black and white photographs of blues musicians playing at The Blind Pig and The High Dive. Includes 5x7 and 8x10 photos.

Box 1

Folder 1: The Blind Pig, 5x7 prints, 1995-1997: Includes Duke Robillard, Sept. 21, 1995 (2 photos); Jimmy Rogers, June 17, 1995; Honeyboy Edwards, Jan. 27, 1996 (2 photos); Ronnie Baker Brooks, c. 1997; Madison Slim, undated; and Li'l Ed, undated.
Folder 2: The Blind Pig, 8x10 prints, 1994-1998: Includes Big Daddy Kinsey, March 1994 (Donald Kinsey at far right); Byther Smith, 1995; Johnny "Clyde" Copeland, March 17, 1995 (2 photos); Robert Jr. Lockwood, March 24, 1995; Jimmy Rogers, June 17, 1995 (3 photos); Eddie Shaw, Aug. 25, 1995 (2 photos); Blind Boys of Alabama, Sept. 22, 1995 (Jimmy Carter-far right); Big Time Sarah, Jan. 13, 1996; Jr. Wells, March 23, 1996; James Cotton, Aug. 31, 1996; Debbie Davies, Sept. 6, 1996; Lonnie Brooks, Jan. 20, 1998; Eddie Burks, June 26, 1999; Donald Kinsey, undated; Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets, undated (Anson Funderburgh-far left, Sam Myers-far right) ; The Mighty Blue Kings, undated (clockwise from top left: Jerry DiVivo, saxophone; Donnie Nichilo, piano; Bob Carter, drums; Sam Burkhardt, saxophone; Gareth Best, guitar; Jimmy Sutton, stand-up bass; and Ross Bon, vocals); Candy Foster, undated; and Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater, undated.
Folder 3: The High Dive, Urbana Shades of Blue Festival, and Borders Bookstore, 8x10 prints, 1995-2000: Includes Luther Johnson, July 9, 1999; Anson Funderburgh, Feb. 25, 2000 (3 photos); Rod Piazza, Aug. 20, 2000 (2 photos); Big Daddy Kinsey and Donald Kinsey, July 1995; Nigel Mack, Oct. 20, 1996; and Fruteland Jackson, Apr. 25, 1997.