Our Mission

The Black Gospel Archive (BGA) encompasses the Baylor Libraries’ numerous programs, projects,
archival collections, and resources that identify, collect, preserve, and make accessible Black sacred materials.

BGA News

September 1, 2023

WACO, Tex - The Black Gospel Archive at the Baylor University Libraries received a major gift from music collector Opal L. Nations of Oakland, California this week with the donation of more than than 4,000 items for inclusion in the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program (BGMPP).

The Opal Nations Collection consists of 1,873 LPs, 400 78s, and 784 45s, plus 500 Pewburner CDs and assorted ephemera. This important collection of Black Gospel recordings will expand the physical and digital collections at the BGMPP and provide a richer experience for Black Gospel researchers, scholars, and fans alike.

Digitization on the Opal Nations Collection will begin in mid-2025 following a thorough inventory and cataloging process which is currently underway.