John Cofield Draws Packed Crowd for Book Signing

This story has been updated with additional photos.
Oxford folk historian John Cofield, scion of one of Oxford’s most storied families, drew a large crowd at The Chancellor’s House as he unveiled his new book, “Oxford, Mississippi: The Cofield Collection.”

Cofield is the son of the renowned University of Mississippi photographer, Jack Cofield, and grandson of J.R. “Colonel” Cofield, who was William Faulkner’s personal photographer and the photographer for the Ole Miss yearbook for many years. John draws in thousands of people through his Facebook posts, which feature historical and modern photos of Oxford.

“I thought Facebook was just for baby pictures and recipes,” Cofield told the crowd at the event. “I never thought it would become what it has.”
Dozens of people showed up to not only get their book signed, but to also shake John’s hand, take a picture with him, or even to introduce themselves after viewing his Facebook posts the past few years.

Allen Boyer, HottyToddy.com’s book editor, praised “Oxford, Mississippi: The Cofield Collection” as a “notable achievement.” Boyer wrote, “In the memories that Cofield presents, just as in the composition of a photograph, there is for every image a perspective.”
“It’s just a fabulous book,” Square Books owner Richard Howorth said. “Everybody’s so happy about it. And there are so many old Oxford people here, it’s like a reunion.”