This 1980 photo of a young and happy Willie at his typewriter at the dining room table at #16 Faculty Row is from the Billy Ross Brown collection. I’m sure it was taken by David Rae Morris soon after his father settled in at Ole Miss. Sarah Davidson loaned Willie the dining room table from her antique shop. When Willie moved to Jackson, we returned the table apologizing for cigarette burns. Sarah, however, was delighted that the table had been “distressed” by Willie Morris. That’s antique talk for enhanced-by-celebrity-use. –Larry Wells
John Cofield is a HottyToddy.com writer and one of Oxford’s leading folk historians. He is the son of renowned university photographer, Jack Cofield. His grandfather, J.R. “Colonel” Cofield, was William Faulkner’s personal photographer and for decades was the Ole Miss yearbook photographer. Cofield attended Ole Miss as well.
Stay tuned for more information on Cofield’s forthcoming book: Oxford, Mississippi ~ The Cofield Collection — a pictorial history book with John’s writing on the history to go along with the photos.
Contact John at Johnbcofield@gmail.com.
