Country star, actor and farm advocate Willie Nelson has donated many of his platinum records, manuscripts and creative documents to the University of Texas.
UT's Dolph Briscoe Center for American History on Thursday announced Nelson's gift. The Willie Nelson Collection in Austin will be the focus of an upcoming exhibit.
UT officials say the collection includes letters and photos from fellow musicians including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard and Lionel Richie. The items also pay tribute to Nelson's fans and their gifts and notes to him over the years.
Grammy-winning Nelson, who turned 81 last month, co-founded the Farm Aid movement to help family farmers. He's also appeared in more than three dozen films and television shows.
Nelson is from the Central Texas town of Abbott.
