Wiregrass Archives, Wiregrass Black History Channel complete project – Troy Today

The Wiregrass Archives at Troy University Dothan and Mit Kirkland of the Wiregrass Black History Channel have completed a collaborative project funded by the Society of American Archivists. Titled “Capturing Black History in the Wiregrass,” the project features nine video interviews with African American residents of Dothan who lived through the era of racial segregation and desegregation. Seven interviews focused on places. Five interviewees discussed their childhoods in the former Southside neighborhood, razed in 1960 for Dothan’s first urban renewal project, and two discussed the former business and entertainment districts of Baptist Bottom and downtown’s Five Points. The last two focused on people. Dr. W. Charles Lewis talked about his book, “28 Black History Makers: Dothan, Alabama,” which he presented at the April 2025 John Woodham Memorial Lecture. Themar Long remembered his father Ted Long, “Stylist to the Stars,” who claimed 23 movie hair and makeup credits including “The Wiz,” “Dead Presidents” and “Hustle and Flow.” Director of the Wiregrass Archives Dr. Marty Olliff said this project is key to preserving oral history that would otherwise be lost. “Local history that stays locked in the memories of residents gets lost,” he said. “Capturing those memories first-hand and making them available to the public is
Read More