Preserving the Life and Legacy of Don “Ramblin’” Rhodes
How Augusta University turned decades of journalism and music history into a lasting public archive
For more than 50 years, Don “Ramblin’” Rhodes chronicled the cultural heartbeat of Augusta. With his weekly columns, Rhodes gave voice to emerging artists, celebrated musical legends, and preserved the stories that shaped local identity. Thanks to support from the Porter Fleming Foundation, Augusta University has now completed a project to ensure that legacy lives on, not just in memory, but in a meticulously organized and publicly accessible archive.
A Home for Half a Century of History
In 2011, Rhodes donated the first portion of his papers to the Special Collections and Archives department at Augusta University’s Reese Library. After his passing in 2023, his family contributed additional materials, including personal scrapbooks, correspondence, research files, and rare manuscripts. The Porter Fleming Foundation provided critical funding to process the collection that enabled the university to hire a student archival assistant, acquire preservation tools, and fully prepare the archive for public use.
The result is a 23-box collection that spans more than half a century of music, journalism, and Augusta-area history. Visitors to the archive can explore original newspaper clippings, handwritten notes, photographs, and even an unpublished manuscript on Augusta’s earliest musical venues.
A Treasure Trove for Researchers and Fans Alike
The processed archive includes more than two dozen personal scrapbooks compiled by Rhodes himself: a nearly complete record of his columns, neatly preserved and annotated. His files include interviews and coverage of icons like Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, James Brown, and the band Alabama, alongside detailed research into local history and unsung heroes of Augusta’s cultural past.
The archive doesn’t just document Rhodes’ writing; it reflects his deep curiosity, tireless research, and commitment to honoring the people of his hometown. His self-proclaimed “world’s largest collection of music writing by a single author” offers rich material for students, historians, and music fans eager to understand the evolution of Southern entertainment journalism.
A Lasting Impact on our Community
More than a memorial, the Don “Ramblin’” Rhodes Archive is a resource. It preserves not just a lifetime of work, but the culture it captured. From touring musicians who played the Bell Auditorium, to the small-town roots of country legends, his work provides a continuous cultural history of Augusta. By funding this archival project, the Porter Fleming Foundation helped transform a personal collection into a public legacy, one that future generations can learn from and build on.
The archive is now open for research at Augusta University’s Reese Library.
