Guide to the Wendell H. Stepp Papers
Record Group 110
Date Span 1983-2008
Extent ca. 1.5 cf
Biographical Sketch: Wendell H. Stepp (March 25, 1924āJuly 21, 2008) was a Dothan-area historian who co-authored the book Dothan: A Pictorial History with his daughter Pamela Stepp. Extending his interest in both history and civic improvement, he became an influential member of the Downtown Group and the Dothan Festival of Murals, the organization responsible for commissioning and maintaining the historically-themed murals on the walls of downtown Dothan.
Mr. Steppās special area of historical interest was the development and early history
of Dothan, and he gave many presentations to local clubs and organizations concerning
the economical and geographical factors that contributed to Dothanās establishment
and growth. He also wrote and delivered short segments on these topics for WDHN, a
local television channel, and published a series of articles in Dothan Magazine in
a series entitled āStepp Back in History.ā
Stepp played an especially important role in the implementation and design of each
historical Dothan mural. In addition to assisting the Festival of Murals with administrative
tasks, Mr. Stepp suggested and researched the themes of many, if not all, of the murals,
and provided research materials to each mural artist as a basis for his or her work.
Each mural represents a significant moment of or factor in Dothanās history and development,
including subjects like the Dothan Riot, the peanut industry, and the women of the
Wiregrass region.
Mr. Stepp was born in Huntington, W. Va. He met his wife, Winifred, while he served
in the Army Air Corps near her home in England during World War Two. They were married
in November 1945, and moved to the United States shortly thereafter. The Stepps had
two children, Michael and Pamela. In 1965, the Stepps moved to Dothan, AL, where
Mr. Stepp helped build Akwell Industries (later Ansell), retiring in the 1980s as
senior vice president and general manager. Stepp was very active with the Boy Scouts
and the Disabled American Veterans (member of Chapter 87). In addition to these and
his work with the Downtown Group and Festival of Murals, he served on the State Industries
Board, State Board of Veterans Affairs, and the Dothan Historical Preservation Committee.
[Written by Autumn Faulkner, AWHC Intern/UA MLIS Student, June 2011]
Scope / Content: Research notes, newspaper clippings, magazines, texts of media spots, and speeches
concerning the history of Dothan and southeast Alabama. Assembled by Wendell Stepp.
Also contains ca. 1/2 cubic foot of research notes, correspondence, and copies of
contracts concerning the Murals of the Wiregrass project which Mr. Stepp chaired for
so long.
Organization Organized into 4 series:
Series 1: WDHN Presentations, 1991-2000, 7 folders
Originals and copies of scripts for short historical presentations for Steppās WDHN
channel 18 television program. Includes research notes, scripts, and photographs.
Series 2. Wiregrass Festival of Murals 1992-2007 (19 folders)
Papers and notes concerning research, planning, commissioning, and dedicating murals
in downtown Dothan. Includes artist sketches, photocopies of contracts and invoices,
correspondence, and printed color postcards of murals. Also contains minutes of the
first meeting of the Wiregrass Festival of Murals Board of Directors.
Series 3. Historical Research and Publications, 1983-2008 (33 folders)
Research materials and drafts/tearsheets of historical articles written for presentation
or publication, many from Steppās series, āStepp Back in Time,ā published in Dothan
Magazine. Research materials include notes, correspondence, copies of articles, newspaper
clippings, and photographs.
Series 4: Miscellaneous, 1839-2008 (1 folder)
Negatives, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, lecture notes, research notes, 1839 land
grant, Mr. Stepp's memorial service pamphlet 2008, Cong. Terry Everett's tribute to
Wendell Stepp, Certificate honoring the memory of Wendell Stepp - from the President.
Mr. Stepp's brief bio page, photographs.
Provenance Materials collected by Mr. Stepp during the course of his work on the
history and with the historical community in Dothan, AL.
Preferred Citation Wendell H. Stepp Papers, RG110. Wiregrass Archives, ĪŽĀė¾ŽČé Dothan
Campus, Dothan, AL.
Access/User Limits? Open for research, Mrs. Winnie Stepp retains copyright. See Donor Agreement,
April 2011
INVENTORY
Series 1: WDHN Presentations, 1991-2000, 7 folders
Originals and copies of scripts for short historical presentations for Steppās WDHN
channel 18 television program. Includes research notes, scripts, and photographs.
File I.D. File Label
110-10-1014-001-001 Pictures
110-10-1014-001-002 Pictures 1-16
110-10-1014-001-003 Script #11
110-10-1014-001-004 Script #8
110-10-1014-001-005 WDHN - 1/20/00
110-10-1014-001-006 WDHN Master
110-10-1014-001-007 WDHN Research
Series 2. Wiregrass Festival of Murals 1992-2007 (19 folders)
Papers and notes concerning research, planning, commissioning, and dedicating murals
in downtown Dothan. Includes artist sketches, photocopies of contracts and invoices,
correspondence, and printed color postcards of murals. Also contains minutes of the
first meeting of the Wiregrass Festival of Murals Board of Directors.
File I.D. File Label
110-10-1014-001-008 Fundraising
110-10-1014-001-009 History and Murals
110-10-1014-001-010 Insurance
110-10-1014-001-011 Johnny Mack Brown Mural
110-10-1014-001-012 Mission Statement
110-10-1014-001-013 Mules in the Wiregrass Mural
110-10-1014-001-014 Mural 5 - Women of the Wiregrass
110-10-1014-001-015 Mural Book Notes
110-10-1014-001-016 Murals
110-10-1014-001-017 Murals and Downtown Group
110-10-1014-001-018 Paints and Coating
110-10-1014-001-019 Peanut Festival
110-10-1014-001-020 Railroads and Turpentine
110-10-1014-001-021 Salute to the Peanut Industry Mural
110-10-1014-001-022 Sherman Rose Mural 1
110-10-1014-001-023 Steamboat Mural
110-10-1014-001-024 Tours
110-10-1014-001-025 Tuskegee Airmen
110-10-1014-001-026 Wiregrass
Series 3. Historical Research and Publications, 1983-2008 (33 folders)
Research materials and drafts/tearsheets of historical articles written for presentation
or publication, many from Steppās series, āStepp Back in Time,ā published in Dothan
Magazine. Research materials include notes, correspondence, copies of articles, newspaper
clippings, and photographs.
File I.D. File Label
110-10-1014-001-027 Alveeta Hawk [Alveta Hawk]
110-10-1014-001-028 Columbia
110-10-1014-001-029 Couch Construction
110-10-1014-001-030 Early Dothan
110-10-1014-001-031 Electricity
110-10-1014-001-032 Ellicott's Line/Spanish Florida
110-10-1014-001-033 George Washington Carver
110-10-1014-001-034 Harry Hall
110-10-1014-001-035 Headland
110-10-1014-001-036 Letter from Claudia Williams
110-10-1014-001-037 Local History and Development
110-10-1014-001-038 [Local History]
110-10-1014-001-039 Local Magazines and Brochures
110-10-1014-001-040 Logging
110-10-1014-001-041 Magazine Articles
110-10-1014-001-042 [Miscellaneous Research/Clippings]
110-10-1014-001-043 Negro Fort
110-10-1014-001-044 Notes of Early Dothan
110-10-1014-001-045 Opera House and Bates
110-10-1014-001-046 Schools
110-10-1014-002-001 Street Names
110-10-1014-002-002 Streets DT
110-10-1014-002-003 [Tear Sheets]
110-10-1014-002-004 Wiregrass History
110-10-1014-002-005 Wiregrass Research
110-10-1014-002-006 (1) J.P. Folkes, W.J. Baxley, A.C. Crawford and Misc.
110-10-1014-002-007 (2) First post office - Town name - Ltr J.P. Folkes
110-10-1014-002-008 (4) Streets - Ross Clark Circle
110-10-1014-002-009 (9) Incorporation, Houston County
110-10-1014-002-010 Mr. Keener Baxley - Early History
110-10-1014-002-011 [Newspaper Clippings]
110-10-1014-MD7-OS1 Columbia Recorder Newspaper 28 April 1892
110-10-1014-OS-001 Dothan Eagle Newspaper 27 October 1953 (bound)
Series 4: Miscellaneous, 1839-2008 (1 folder)
Negatives of switchboard at General Telephone Co, 3rd floor, newspaper clippings,
pamphlets edited by Mr. Stepp, lecture notes, research notes, 1839 land grant, Mr.
Stepp's memorial service pamphlet 2008, Cong. Terry Everett's tribute to Wendell Stepp,
Certificate honoring the memory of Wendell Stepp - from the President. Mr. Stepp's
brief bio page, photographs.
Contact Us
Wiregrass Archives
ĪŽĀė¾ŽČé Dothan Campus
Everett 128
502 University Dr.
Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: 334-983-6556 x21327
Email: wiregrassarchives@troy.edu