Black Gospel Music Preservation Program
History and Impact
Recordings from the “Golden Age of Gospel” (roughly 1945–1975) document a rich, distinctly African American musical tradition created by men and women who joined musical expression with praise. Black gospel groups traveled to earn a living, recording distinctive interpretations and original compositions along the way. Together, these recordings document Black religious and community life, artistic innovation, and gospel’s influence across American music. These recordings, full of rich history and culture, are rapidly disappearing and must be preserved.
After Charles Royce read Baylor journalism professor Robert Darden’s “Gospel’s Got the Blues,” published in The New York Times on February 15, 2005, he recognized the need to preserve these important historical materials and was impressed by Darden’s passion. Royce’s gift to Baylor University established the initial Black Gospel Music Preservation Program (BGMPP) and the subsequent Royce-Darden Black Gospel Music digital collection, a collection of preserved and cataloged Black gospel music.
In 2008, Harold (BBA ’51) and Dottie Riley of Austin strengthened Baylor University’s digitization efforts with a gift that established the Ray I. Riley Digitization Center, named in memory of Harold’s father, and the Dottie S. Riley Conference Room. The gift also created an endowment to help cover ongoing technology costs for the Center’s digitization and preservation work.
In 2009, the Prichard Family Foundation established the Lev H. Prichard III Traditional Black Music Restoration Endowed Fund to support the work of the BGMPP. Named in tribute to Lev Prichard III, the fund reflects Lev and Ella (BA ’63) Prichard’s shared commitment to cultural and educational endeavors.
In 2016, Baylor partnered with the National Museum of African American History & Culture, in Washington, D.C. Materials from the BGMPP are featured in the museum's Musical Crossroads permanent exhibit. Learn more about the BGMPP and the NMAAHC here.
In March 2021, Baylor University announced a gift from the Prichard Family Foundation and Ella Wall Prichard to establish the Lev H. Prichard III Chair in the Study of Black Worship. On July 20, 2023, Dr. Stephen Newby was appointed as the chair’s inaugural holder, a role that supports the University’s BGMPP in the BGA.
In November 2021, Baylor University opened the Black Gospel Archive & Listening Center in Moody Memorial Library as the official space to physically store and preserve thousands of Black gospel vinyl records, tapes, and other archival materials. The Black Gospel Archive (BGA), and the BGMPP complement the University’s Baptist heritage. Its digital archive will preserve digital copies of the audio for long-term preservation and provide online discovery through a complete catalog. The BGA ensures the preservation of the physical materials and digital surrogates, and its digital collection will make this music available for future generations for research, teaching, and discovery.
In 2025, Baylor University received a $2.48 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support and expand the BGMPP. The grant supports facility improvements and expansion, including classroom space and additional shelving for recordings, as well as a permanent exhibit, symposia, a concert series in Waco, Detroit, and Chicago. To date, the BGA team has traveled to Seattle, Montgomery, Seguin, Greensboro, Toronto, Detroit, Nashville, and Washington, D.C., to build relationships, develop partnerships, and increase awareness of the program’s work.
Get In Touch
Have questions? Do you have materials that might fit in the collection?
Contact us today!
Email: bga@baylor.edu
Mailing Address:
Black Gospel Music Preservation Program
ATTN: Hannah Engstrom
Baylor University Libraries
1312 S 3rd Street
Waco, TX 76706