31 linear feet (72 boxes)

The papers are arranged in five series, of which four contain subseries. The subseries are largely arranged chronologically.

Series 1, Anthropology, 1975-2006

- Subseries 1, Black Metropolis/Bronzeville, 1998-2006

- Subseries 2, Navajo, 1993-1995

- Subseries 3, Ndebele, 1986-1995

- Subseries 4, Zimbabwe, circa 1975-2004

- Subseries 5, General Anthropology, 1981-2006

- Subseries 6, Course Materials and Papers, 1993-2006

Series 2, Ethnomusicology, 1984-2006

- Subseries 1, Blues in the Schools, 1997-2006

- Subseries 2, Blues Musicians, 1984-2006

- Subseries 3, Chicago Music, 1990-2006

- Subseries 4, General Ethnomusicology, 1987-2006

- Subseries 5, Dissertation and Coursework, 1994-2006

Series 3, Chicago Arts and Culture Research, 1992-2006

Series 4, Personal Papers, 1972-2010

- Subseries 1, Student Life, 1972-1999

- Subseries 2, Professional Career, 1996-2006

- Subseries 3, Personal Interest and Biographical, 1986-2010

- Subseries 4, Katherine Davis, 1996-2011

Series 5, Recordings and Interviews, circa 1975-2006, 1995-2005 (bulk)

- Subseries 1, Transcription and Notes, 1995-2000

- Subseries 2, Interview Cassettes, 1995-2005

- Subseries 3, Personal Recordings, circa 1979-2005

Caleb Dube (1957-2006) was an ethnomusicology scholar and teacher who studied blues music through an anthropological framework. The Caleb Dube papers span from 1972-2011 and primarily contain general research in the fields of cultural anthropology and ethnomusicology, along with more narrow research linking these two fields of study to Chicago, and blues music. Audio interviews with Chicago blues musicians are included, and the papers also contain personal materials from Dube’s time as a student and professor, and material relating to his wife, Chicago blues singer, Katherine Davis.

Dube, Caleb (1957-2006)

Caleb Dube (1957-2011) was an ethnomusicology scholar and teacher interested in the anthropological elements of blues music. Dube was born February 2, 1957 in Zimbabwe and grew up amid guerilla warfare. He studied teaching, folklore, African languages, and literature at the University of Zimbabwe, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. In 1993, Dube came to Chicago on a Fulbright Scholarship and began pursuing his doctorate in cultural anthropology at Northwestern University. During his time at Northwestern University, Dube developed a deep interest and appreciation for Chicago blues; his dissertation was titled, “Between Starvation and Stardom: Chicago Blues Musicians as Cultural Workers, 1995-2001.” Dube began teaching cultural anthropology and ethnomusicology classes in 1997 at DePaul University. He also taught at Northwestern University, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Barat College. Dube was married to Chicago blues singer Katherine Davis.

Blues (Music)
Oral history