Take a look at the past through the lens of ”It Came from the Archives” as Wiregrass archivist and historian Marty Olliff shares stories from Alabama’s history. For each episode, our host and Olliff explore a facet of Wiregrass history, drawing contemporary connections to the world we live in today. Oh, and by the way, these stories are fascinating and fun, with facts and tales you’ll definitely want to share with someone! So tune in and let us be your guide through the Wiregrass archives.
Born in 1860 in Grangers Mill (now Henderson) in Pike County, Alabama, Charles Henderson became a wealthy businessman, a civic booster, an office holder, and an education proponent.
Join host Greg Phillips and historian Marty Olliff for a story of love, war, and heartbreak. Together they’ll delve into the WWI letters of Irene Pierce and the soldiers who vied for her affection.
This time, Greg Phillips and Marty Olliff delve into the history of Dothan’s National Peanut Festival. Given the prominence of the festival, you might think that Dothan had a lifelong relationship with the peanut, but it turns out its first love was cotton. And if it wasn’t for a pesky little insect, that relationship might still be going strong today.
This time, Greg Phillips and Marty Olliff are talking about an Army Infantry Division newspaper, known as “The Dixie.” Recently, the Wiregrass Archives received a collection of this newspaper, which trains a lens on life in the southern 31st division of the Army.
Today, we’re tackling African American history in the Wiregrass Area, through the lens of one family in particular. In many ways, life for the Weems family in the mid-twentieth century was similar to that of other African-American families in Alabama, but in others, their experiences were extremely different.
In the inaugural episode of “It Came from the Archives”, Host Greg Phillips sits down with Marty Olliff, Director of the Wiregrass Archives in Dothan, Alabama. Marty tells us the story of A.A. Wiley, who founded Troy University and would leave an imprint on the Wiregrass region.