Date processed: 1983; 2003
Processed By: N. Kerr; T. Bernath
Archives of Wiregrass History & Culture
Troy University--Dothan Campus
P.O. Box 8368
Dothan, AL 36304Website: http://dothan.troy.edu/archives
Ph: 334-983-6556 x-327
E-mail: Archivist Dr. Martin T. Olliff <molliff@troy.edu>
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 NPFs 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 Powels 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 Kerrs original work and created a more detailed inventory. In 2004, an informal group of volunteers identified many of the photographs by event and people.
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[N.b. To read this inventory: This is an inventory of FILE FOLDER TITLES as produced by the collections 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.]
|
715 |
02-007 |
001 |
001 |
National Peanut Festival Association History |
|
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 |
Governors 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 |
|
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 Queens 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 |