Guide to the Dothan-Wiregrass Art League Records

Record Group 223

Date Span: 1987-2013

Extent: Five scrapbooks + I file folder

Organizational Sketch: Frances Mizelle Watford founded the Dothan Wiregrass Art League in 1963. The organization became the network of support for the local artists who banded together to promote art in the community. Watford's dream to have a museum in her hometown, Dothan, Alabama was realized in 1988 with the creation of the Wiregrass Museum of Art. Many of the earlier art exhibits took place in the Houston Memorial Library. Membership was less than fifty up until the mid-eighties. DWAL sponsored art shows, scholarships, exhibits and workshops. Many of the artists taught weekly art classes to the community. The group disbanded in June 28, 2016 due to lack of participation and failing membership.
[Sources: Dothan Wiregrass Art League Blog. ; 鈥淗istory of the Dothan Wiregrass Art League,鈥� About Us, published 11 Mar 2016, accessed 15 Aug 2024, Wayback Machine, ]

Scope / Content Note: 5 scrapbooks documenting the history and activities of the Dothan Wiregrass Art League (1987-1994, 2002). Topics include Officer appointments, donations, scholarships awards, art shows, artist profiles, and art lessons plus one file folder of organizational records including meeting minutes, bylaws, rosters, correspondence, brochures (2000-2013).

Organization: Arranged chronologically.

Provenance: Wiregrass Art League (WAL) rented space in the Cultural Arts Center in Dothan. When it dissolved, members took what records and memorabilia they wanted, and these two partially filled scrapbooks were left. Per Susan Brolund (email to Olliff, 9/20/21) "the last members took anything they wanted and left what they didn't have any use for so that Ann [Cotton] could dispose of it." The first accession was given by CAC to Wiregrass Archives on Nov 28, 2016 shortly after DWAL disbanded. The second accession was found by Brolund during an office cleanout and given by CAC to Wiregrass Archives on 9/24/21. The materials were merged into a single accession. A third accession (223-25-0328) came from Elaine Johnson who had acquired it from discards by Houston Love Memorial Library and various estate sales.

Processing Notes: Four of the scrapbooks were housed in 3-ring binders. Materials were removed from the binders and placed in file folders. Empty pages were discarded.

Acquisition Method: Gift

Donor Name: Cultural Arts Center / Elaine Johnson

Access/User Limits?: Open

Proc Date: 8/15/2024 4/10/2025 Processor: DS / Hannah Bledsoe (volunteer)

Inventory

File I.D.				File Label
223	21-0924	001	001	DWAL Scrapbook, ca. 1980s-1990s Materials: newspaper clippings, photographs, magazine clippings, copied pgs from books/magazines, postcards, computer printed imgs Topics: poems, short articles, images
223	21-0924	001	002	DWAL Scrapbook, Mar 26, 1987-Jun 8, 1990 Materials: newspaper clippings, photographs Topics: officer installations, sponsored art shows, art lessons, artist profiles, donation to Wiregrass Museum of Art
223	21-0924	001	003	DWAL Scrapbook, July 2 - Oct 24, 1989 White scrapbook, Blue pattern Desc: spiral bound, sticky sheets Materials: newspaper clippings, photographs Topics: art exhibits, donations, art gallery open house, artist profiles, seminars
223	21-0924	002	001	DWAL Scrapbook, Mar 14, 1990 - Dec 6, 1991 [Folder 1 of 4] Materials: newspaper clippings, photographs, flyers, invitations, correspondence, newsletters, loose materials Topics: art shows, artist profiles, exhibit programs, donations, meetings, art classes, Wiregrass Museum of Art
223	21-0924	002	002	DWAL Scrapbook, Mar 14, 1990 - Dec 6, 1991 [Folder 2 of 4] Materials: newspaper clippings, photographs, flyers, invitations, correspondence, newsletters, loose materials Topics: art shows, artist profiles, exhibit programs, donations, meetings, art classes, Wiregrass Museum of Art
223	21-0924	002	003	DWAL Scrapbook, Mar 14, 1990 - Dec 6, 1991 [Folder 3 of 4] Materials: newspaper clippings, photographs, flyers, invitations, correspondence, newsletters, loose materials Topics: art shows, artist profiles, exhibit programs, donations, meetings, art classes, Wiregrass Museum of Art
223	21-0924	002	004	DWAL Scrapbook, Mar 14, 1990 - Dec 6, 1991 [Folder 4 of 4] Loose Materials Materials: newspaper clippings, photographs, flyers, invitations, correspondence, newsletters, loose materials Topics: art shows, artist profiles, exhibit programs, donations, meetings, art classes, Wiregrass Museum of Art
223	21-0924	002	005	DWAL Scrapbook, 1992-1994, 2002 Materials: newspaper clippings, photographs, notes on artists and artworks Topics: art shows, artist profiles, awarding scholarships Processing Note: photographs removed from oversize pgs and sleeved, 1 sleeve per pg, no more than 6 photographs per sleeve
223	25-0328	001	001	Records of the Dothan Wiregrass Art League. Includes meeting minutes, bylaws, membership rosters, correspondence, receipts, applications for the Local Color art competition and league info brochures for 2000-2013.

Contact Us

Wiregrass Archives
51成人吃瓜 Dothan Campus
Everett 128
502 University Dr.
Dothan, AL 36303

Phone: 334-983-6556 x21327
Email: wiregrassarchives@troy.edu