Nearly $150,000 Awarded to National Blues Museum in St. Louis—McCaskill Announces

National Blues Museum receives grant to support digitization efforts to increase accessibility to its growing collection

ST. LOUIS – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today the National Blues Museum received nearly $150,000 in grant funding to support the “Keeping the Blues Alive” digitization project to increase the accessibility of its growing collections that document America’s blues heritage.

“St. Louis is home to such rich history, and the National Blues Museum showcases the deep roots the blues have in our city,” McCaskill said. “This support will help ensure this rich history is preserved and celebrated for generations, inspiring future musicians and artists across St. Louis and Missouri.”

The $149,020 in funding from Institute of Museum and Library Services will support the museum’s “Keeping the Blues Alive” project, which will digitize its growing collections to increase accessibility, including video recordings of live performances, public programs, and educational presentations, as well as the Spitzer Collection of blues photographs and recordings. The award requires a non-federal funding match of $223,742, bringing the total project cost to more than $370,000 for the National Blues Museum.

McCaskill visited the National Blues Museum in 2016 to honor legendary blues pianist and veteran Johnnie Johnson with a Congressional Gold Medal. Johnson, an accomplished St. Louis blues musician, was a Montford Point Marine, the African-American Marines unit that endured racism and inspired social change while integrating the previously all-white Marine Corps during World War II. McCaskill cosponsored and helped pass legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to all Montford Point Marines who trained for duty at the segregated Montford Point facility at Camp Lejeune, N.C.