AWHC--Guide to the National Peanut Festival, Inc. Records, RG 715

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

715

02-007

001

National Peanut Festival Association History

Series 1: Photographs, 1939-1980

File ID				File Title
715	02-007	001	002	Awards
715	02-007	001	003	Beauty Pageant – Evening Gown
715	02-007	001	004	Beauty Pageant – Entry Photos 1970
715	02-007	001	005	Beauty Pageant – Evening Gown
715	02-007	001	006	Beauty Pageant – Evening Gown
715	02-007	001	007	Beauty Pageant – Miscellaneous
715	02-007	001	008	Beauty Pageant Photographs 1978
715	02-007	001	009	Beauty Pageant – Swimsuit Contest
715	02-007	001	010	Beauty Pageant – Talent Contest
715	02-007	002	011	Beauty Pageant
715	02-007	002	012	Beauty Pageant 6” x 4”
715	02-007	002	013	Beef Cattle
715	02-007	002	014	Pictures of Beef Cattle Champions – 1966
715	02-007	002	015	Bowling Tournament – 1979
715	02-007	002	016	Calf Scramble
715	02-007	002	017	Cubmobile [Soapbox Derby]
715	02-007	002	018	Commercial Exhibits
715	02-007	002	019	Dignitaries
715	02-007	002	020	Dixie Market Days
715	02-007	002	021	Entertainment
715	02-007	002	022	Entertainment
715	02-007	002	023	Exhibits
715	02-007	002	024	Fair
715	02-007	002	025	Golf Tournament
715	02-007	002	026	Governor’s Committee
715	02-007	002	027	Greased Pig
715	02-007	002	028	Hog [Show]
715	02-007	002	029	Japanese Ambassador [1975]
715	02-007	003	030	Little Miss Pageant
715	02-007	003	031	Little Miss Pageant
715	02-007	003	032	Midway
715	02-007	003	033	Miscellaneous
715	02-007	003	034	Negatives
715	02-007	003	035	Parade [with Proofs]
715	02-007	004	036	Parade
715	02-007	004	001	Parade 1960-1969
715	02-007	004	002	Parade
715	02-007	004	003	Parade
715	02-007	004	004	Parade
715	02-007	005	005	Parade
715	02-007	005	006	Parade
715	02-007	005	007	Parade
715	02-007	005	008	Parade
715	02-007	005	009	Parade
715	02-007	006	010	Parade
715	02-007	006	011	Parade
715	02-007	006	012	Parade
715	02-007	006	013	Parade
715	02-007	007	014	Parade
715	02-007	007	015	Parade
715	02-007	007	016	Parade
715	02-007	008	001	Parade
715	02-007	008	002	Peanut Day Montgomery Alabama
715	02-007	008	003	Peanut Displays
715	02-007	008	004	Politicians
715	02-007	008	005	Recipe Contest
715	02-007	008	006	Ribbon Cutting
715	02-007	008	007	Science Fair
715	02-007	008	008	Special Luncheon
715	02-007	008	009	Special Olympics
715	02-007	008	010	Special Queens
715	02-007	008	011	State Capital Visits
715	02-007	008	012	State Exhibits
715	02-007	008	013	Tennis Tournament
715	02-007	008	014	Youth Exhibits

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Series 2: Chairmen's Central Subject and Correspondence Files, 1939-72

File ID				File Title
715	02-007	008	015	1939 NPF Newspaper Scrapbook
715	02-007	008	016	1947-1946 Premium Catalogs & Programs
715	02-007	008	017	Pageant – 1953
715	02-007	008	018	Calendar of Events – 1954
715	02-007	008	019	1955 Beauty Pageant Program
715	02-007	008	020	1956 Houston County Fair (Newspaper Clippings)
715	02-007	008	021	ROFA 1954
715	02-007	008	022	Souvenir Catalog – 1956
715	02-007	008	023	1957 Bands (High School)
715	02-007	008	024	Beauty Pageant – 1957
715	02-007	008	025	1957 Beauty Pageant (Official Material)
715	02-007	008	026	1957 Beauty Pageant (Entry Forms)
715	02-007	008	027	Calendar of Events – 1957
715	02-007	008	028	1957 Carnivals
715	02-007	008	029	1957 Correspondence (General)
715	02-007	008	030	Correspondence – 1957
715	02-007	008	031	1957 Decorations (Flag Catalog)
715	02-007	008	032	1957 Exhibits (General)
715	02-007	008	033	1957 Exhibits (Home Making)
715	02-007	008	034	1957 Fireworks
715	02-007	008	035	1957 Float Construction
715	02-007	008	036	1957 Fort Rucker
715	02-007	008	037	1957 Heth Shows (Carnival Shows)
715	02-007	008	038	1957 National Peanut Festival Program
715	02-007	008	039	News Releases – 1957
715	02-007	008	040	1957 Novelties
715	02-007	008	041	Souvenir Catalog – 1957
715	02-007	008	042	Special Guests – 1957
715	02-007	008	043	Calendar of Events – 1958
715	02-007	008	044	Souvenir Catalog – 1958
715	02-007	008	045	1959 Bands (High School)
715	02-007	008	046	Little Miss Pageant 1959
715	02-007	008	047	1960 State of Alabama. Dept. of Agriculture.
715	02-007	008	048	1960 Assoc. of Ala. Fairs
715	02-007	008	049	1960 Bands – High School
715	02-007	008	050	1960 Baton Twirling
715	02-007	008	051	1960 Beauty Pageant (Correspondence)
715	02-007	008	052	1960 Beauty Pageant (Outgoing Correspondence)
715	02-007	008	053	Concessions – 1960
715	02-007	008	054	Celebrities – 1960 [Photographs]
715	02-007	008	055	Correspondence Misc. Outgoing 1960
715	02-007	008	056	1960 Correspondence To Be Answered
715	02-007	008	057	1960 Entertainment
715	02-007	008	058	1960 Exhibits * Commercial
715	02-007	008	059	1960 Exhibits (Youth)
715	02-007	008	060	Horse Show – 1960
715	02-007	008	061	Little Miss Peanut Contest – 1960
715	02-007	008	062	1960 Premium Lists
715	02-007	008	063	1961 Alabama Dept. of Agriculture
715	02-007	008	064	1961 Amusement Business
715	02-007	008	065	1961 Beauty Queen’s Entry Forms
715	02-007	008	066	1961 Beauty Pageant
715	02-007	008	067	Bills To Be Paid – 1961
715	02-007	008	068	1961 Calf Scramble
715	02-007	008	069	Celebrities 1961
715	02-007	008	070	1961 Correspondence**Incoming
715	02-007	009	001	Correspondence**Outgoing 1961
715	02-007	009	002	1961 Entertainment
715	02-007	009	003	1961 Exhibits
715	02-007	009	004	Floats (1961)
715	02-007	009	005	Free Passes 1961
715	02-007	009	006	High School Bands 1961
715	02-007	009	007	Hog Entry Forms 1961
715	02-007	009	008	Horse Show 1961
715	02-007	009	009	1961 International Assoc. of Fairs and Expositions
715	02-007	009	010	Little Miss Peanut Contest 1961
715	02-007	009	011	Livestock Entry Forms 1961
715	02-007	009	012	1961 Miscellaneous
715	02-007	009	013	1961 National Peanut Festival Committees
715	02-007	009	014	1961 Parade
715	02-007	009	015	Premium Catalog 1961
715	02-007	009	016	Prizes and Premiums 1961
715	02-007	009	017	1961 Publicity
715	02-007	009	018	1961 Special Guests
715	02-007	009	019	1962 Alabama Dept of Agriculture & Industries
715	02-007	009	020	1962 Amusement Business
715	02-007	009	021	1962 Bands (High School)
715	02-007	009	022	1962 Beauty Pageant
715	02-007	009	023	1962 Beauty Pageant (Correspondence)
715	02-007	009	024	1962 Beauty Pageant (Entry Forms)
715	02-007	009	025	1962 Beauty Pageant, Little Miss Peanut
715	02-007	009	026	1962 Beef Cattle
715	02-007	009	027	Calf Scramble
715	02-007	009	028	1962 Chair Committee
715	02-007	009	029	1962 Contracts
715	02-007	009	030	1962 Correspondence (Incoming)
715	02-007	009	031	1962 Correspondence (Outgoing)
715	02-007	009	032	1962 Correspondence (Miscellaneous)
715	02-007	009	033	1962 Cubmobile (Boy Scouts Soapbox derby)
715	02-007	009	034	1962 Exhibits (Commercial)
715	02-007	009	035	1962 Exhibit Space (Non-Commercial)
715	02-007	009	036	1962 Exhibits (Youth)
715	02-007	009	037	1962 Float Contracts
715	02-007	009	038	1962 Hogs
715	02-007	009	039	1962 International Association of Fairs & Expositions
715	02-007	009	040	1962 Little Miss Peanuts (Parade)
715	02-007	009	041	1962 Livestock Entry Forms
715	02-007	009	042	1962 Mailing List
715	02-007	009	043	1962 National Peanut Festival – Information Pamphlet
715	02-007	009	044	1962 Parade
715	02-007	009	045	1962 Premium Catalog
715	02-007	009	046	1962 Publicity
715	02-007	009	047	1962 Recipe Contest (Finished Product)
715	02-007	009	048	1962 Recipe Contest (Mailed Recipes)
715	02-007	009	049	1962 Recipes
715	02-007	009	050	1962 Recipes
715	02-007	010	001	1962 Science Fair
715	02-007	010	002	Souvenir Catalog – 1962
715	02-007	010	003	1962 Special Guest (Correspondence)
715	02-007	010	004	1962 Telephone Calls
715	02-007	010	005	1963 Alabama Assoc. of Fairs
715	02-007	010	006	1963 Beauty Pageant Entry Forms
715	02-007	010	007	1963 Beauty Pageant Correspondence – Incoming
715	02-007	010	008	1963 Calf Scramble
715	02-007	010	009	Correspondence – Incoming 1963
715	02-007	010	010	Correspondence (Miscellaneous) 1963
715	02-007	010	011	Correspondence – Outgoing 1963
715	02-007	010	012	1963 – Entertainment & Advertising
715	02-007	010	013	Exhibit Space – Commercial 1963
715	02-007	010	014	Exhibit Space – Non-Commercial 1963
715	02-007	010	015	Youth Exhibits – 1963
715	02-007	010	016	1963 Festival Program
715	02-007	010	017	Floats – 1963
715	02-007	010	018	1963 Free Passes
715	02-007	010	019	High School Bands – 1963
715	02-007	010	020	Hogs – 1963
715	02-007	010	021	International Assn. Of Fairs & Expositions – 1963
715	02-007	010	022	Little Miss Peanut – 1963
715	02-007	010	023	Little Miss Peanut Pictures & Entry Forms – 1963
715	02-007	010	024	Livestock Entry Forms (Beef Cattle) – 1963
715	02-007	010	025	Mailing List – 1963
715	02-007	010	026	NPF Bd. Of Trustees Minutes and History – 1963
715	02-007	010	027	Parade – 1963
715	02-007	010	028	Premium Catalog – 1963
715	02-007	010	029	Recipe Contest – 1963 (Finished Product)
715	02-007	010	030	Recipe Contest – 1963 (Distance)
715	02-007	010	031	Science Fair – 1963
715	02-007	010	032	Special Guests – 1963
715	02-007	010	033	Bay Liner – 1964 [Employee Newsletter – Atlanta & Saint Andrews Bay Railway]
715	02-007	010	034	Beauty Pageant – 1964
715	02-007	010	035	Contracts – 1964
715	02-007	010	036a	Correspondence – 1964