John Mellencamp has always been tied to his home state of Indiana – and now he’s making sure his legacy remains there.

Mellencamp will be donating his archives to Indiana University – a collection that includes his creative work, photos, and other memorabilia.

“John’s impact on music and American culture is immense,” said Indiana University president Pamela Whitten. “On behalf of Hoosiers everywhere, I am exceptionally proud of John’s lifelong association with IU and deeply grateful to him for selecting the university as the permanent home for his archives. His collection will be an incredible resource for arts scholars and a clear source of inspiration to our students. We are thrilled to honor him and celebrate his many contributions to music, art and IU.”

Mellencamp still lives in Bloomington, home of IU’s main campus. In fact, his current ‘Live and In Person’ tour kicked off last month with two shows at Indiana University Auditorium.