Offered here is a rare letter handwritten and signed by blues musician Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter. A legendary figure of Americana, “Lead Belly” spent time on a Texas chain gang for illegal possession of a firearm. Lead Belly had a volatile temper, which led him to kill one of his relatives in a fight over a woman. After serving seven years in penitentiary, Lead Belly gained his release by writing a song to the governor of Louisiana, who granted him a pardon.

     A versatile musician who specialized in the twelve-string guitar, Lead Belly helped popularize the rural Southern style of music during the early 1900’s. This letter, written on official University of Minnesota letterhead, discusses Lead Belly’s recent tour, as well as burgeoning animosity towards Alan Lomax, one of his earlier collaborators. Lead Belly signed the bottom of the letter in black ballpoint pen as “H Ledbetter.” Lead Belly’s autograph is extremely rare, with only a few instances of his signature surviving to this day. This 8.5x11 inch letter was written in 1948, a year before Lead Belly’s untimely death at the age of 60. This item comes with a University Archives LOA.

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