Guide to the
National Peanut Festival, Inc. Records, 1939-83
Record Group 715

Date processed:  1983; 2003
Processed By: N. Kerr; T. Bernath

Repository Information

Archives of Wiregrass History & Culture
Troy University--Dothan Campus
P.O. Box 8368
Dothan, AL  36304

Website:  http://dothan.troy.edu/archives

Ph:  334-983-6556 x-327
E-mail:  Archivist Dr. Martin T. Olliff  <molliff@troy.edu>

Administrative Information

Permanent Accession Size   39 cubic feet

Organizational History:  On a near freezing November 10, 1938, Dothan held its first National Peanut Festival, featuring Dr. George Washington Carver as the honored guest.  In 1939, the event ran for 3 days and included a "queen's ball," a pageant, and a parade.  World War II forestalled fairs from 1942-1946, but the Dothan Jaycees revived the Festival in 1947.

The fair grew until in 1952 the Chamber of Commerce turned operation over to a non-profit management company, the National Peanut Festival Association.  The Association added a carnival to the Festival and extended its run to a week.  In 1956 the Festival received accreditation from the Association of  Alabama Fairs, which made it eligible for state financial support.  Also in 1956, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association awarded the Peanut Farmer of the Year at the Festival.

Fair exhibits became part of the activities in 1962.  Now the events include Youth exhibits, home-making exhibits, commercial and non-commercial exhibits, livestock shows, a peanut recipe contest, "Cubmobile" soap-box derby, calf scramble, greased pig contest, bowling and golf tournaments, Little Miss and National Peanut Festival Pageants, the parade, special guests, and "big name" entertainment.

The Festival Association created the office of Executive Director in 1973 to handle daily management issues.  This position was supplemented by an office staff in 1976, and the fair continued to grow into a 2-week event by 1979.

Statement of Provenance:  In 1983, the Executive Director of the National Peanut Festival, Inc., John Powell, secured the records of the organization by donating them to the Auburn University Archives, the closest fully-functioning archival repository to the NPF’s home of Dothan, AL.  In 2002 Troy State University Dothan opened its Archives of Wiregrass History and Culture under directorship of Dr. Martin T. Olliff.  Dr. Olliff had worked at the Auburn Archives, and secured transfer of the NPF records from Auburn, with permission of the leadership of the NPF.

Scope / Content Note:  Collection documents the growth of the Festival and Association from a small civic-pride endeavor to a major permanent organization and annual week-long festival.  Before 1973, responsibility for the Festival fell to an annually-appointed chairman assisted by various committees.  The Executive director took over such responsibility after 1973.  This division is reflected in the records, which are organized into 5 series: 

1. Photographs, 1939-1980:  ca. 2.6 cubic feet.  Newspaper and publicity publication-quality photo prints of various NPF activities, particularly the annual beauty pageants, parades, and fair midway.  Also contains small snapshots of similar activities, as well as received publicity photos of headliner entertainers.  Most in 8 x 10 black-and-white prints, others in 4 x 6 color prints, slides, and negatives.

2. Chairmen's Central Subject and Correspondence Files, 1939-72:  ca. 6.4 cubic feet.  As noted above, operational control of the NPF fell to an appointed chairman until 1973.  These files document the activities of the chairmen.  Arranged alphabetically by subject within years.  Before 1957, NPF chairmen did not keep systematic files.  For example, the only file for 1939 is a newspaper scrapbook.  Only with 1957 are their more than a few files per year.

3. Chairmen's Financial Records, 1957-72:  62 files.  Similar to previous series, these records document the financial activities of the NPF for the years indicated, including concession and other contracts, taxes paid, financial statements, etc.  Arranged chronologically.

4. Director's Subject and Correspondence Files, 1973-83:  ca. 25 cubic feet.  In 1973 the NPF board appointed a full-time executive director, John Powell, who served until 1983.  These files document the growth of the NPF during Powel’s tenure, as well as his policies and daily operations.  Arranged alphabetically by subject title per year.

5. Director's Financial Records, 1973-79:  ca 1 cubic foot.  Documents the financial activities of the NPF in the years indicated.  Includes budgets, financial statements, contracts, bills , salaries, audits, etc.  Arranged alphabetically per year.

Processing Notes:  This collection was originally processed by Dr. Norwood Kerr while working at the Auburn University Archives in 1983.  In 2003, Tina Bernath of the Archives of Wiregrass History and Culture extended Kerr’s original work and created a more detailed inventory.  In 2004, an informal group of volunteers identified many of the photographs by event and people.

Inventory

[N.b.  To read this inventory:  This is an inventory of FILE FOLDER TITLES as produced by the collection’s creators.  Each file has a particular code that allows for its individual identification.  This inventory is arranged by SERIES, regardless of box and file location.]

Initial File Created by AWHC

Series 1:  Photographs, 1939-1980