Austin’s Katherine Davis has lived her life in the blues. West Side archivist Kenn Cook, Jr. visited Davis, shot current photos of Davis and collected images of artifacts of her life.

Katherine Davis looks through personal photographs and archival materials at her home in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. (Kenn Cook Jr.)
A framed portrait of Katherine Davis’s father rests among family archival materials inside her home in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. (Kenn Cook Jr.)
A collection of blue glass bottles is displayed inside the home of Katherine Davis in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. (Kenn Cook Jr.)
  • Katherine Davis holds a photograph of herself performing at the Museum of Science and Industry inside her home in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. (Kenn Cook Jr.)
  • Katherine Davis looks through personal photographs and archival materials at her home in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. (Kenn Cook Jr.)
  • Blues singer Katherine Davis sits for a portrait in her home surrounded by family photographs and personal archives in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026.(Kenn Cook Jr.)
A historic photograph of Katherine Davis and then Mayor Harold Washington rests among her personal archival materials inside her home in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. (Kenn Cook Jr.)
Family photographs and archival materials belonging to Katherine Davis are displayed inside her home in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. (Kenn Cook Jr.)
  • Katherine Davis
  • Katherine Davis holds a copy of her play I Dream in Blues while standing for a portrait inside her home in Chicago on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. (Kenn Cook Jr.)