Guide to the Johnny Mack Brown Family Collection
Record Group 054
Date Span 2005
Extent Three audiocassette tapes digitized onto five CD-Roms.
Historical Sketch Johnny Mack Brown, former University of Alabama football star (Rose Bowl of 1926) and star of 167 western movies in the 1930s-1950s, lived with his family in Dothan prior to 1926. After college, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a movie career. In 2005, on the 101st anniversary of his birth, the City of Dothan created the Johnny Mack Brown Film Festival and slated it to become an annual event.
At the first JMB Film Festival, held September 8-10, 2005, the extended Brown Family returned for a reunion and to participate in a number of festival-related activities. Seven members sat for an extensive oral history interview with Dr. Martin Olliff of the Archives of Wiregrass History and Culture (now the Wiregrass Archives).
Various family members hold documents, interviews, and images that document the family's history in the Wiregrass and across the United States.
Scope/Content Three audiocassettes of interviews conducted with various members of the family of Johnny Mack Brown, a favorite son of Dothan who stared in 167 western movies during the 1930s-1950s. Narrators include JMB cousin Sarah Cherry, his sister Louise B. Wright, his niece Anita Wright, his nephew David L. Brown, and his surviving children Cynthia B. Hale, Lachlan Brown, and Sally B. Bergan. Total interview time ca. 2.5 hours. All participants signed release forms.
Provenance Interview conducted by Dr. Martin T. Olliff of the Archives of Wiregrass History and Culture at the Sakado Room, Dothan Civic Center, Dothan, AL, on September 10, 2005, between 11 am and 1:45 pm.
Access/User Limits? Open per releases signed 9-10-05 by all participants.
ProcDate 9/13/2005
Processor MTO
Inventory
054-05-0910-001-Tape 1 of 3, Sides A and B (to counter 315, time ca. 22.5 minutes)
Ms. Sarah Cherry, Dothan, AL, JMB first cousin
Ms. Louise Brown Wright, Redmond, WA, JMB sister
Ms. Anita Wright, Redmond, WA, daughter of “Aunt Louise”
Mr. David L. Brown, Mechanicsburg, PA, JMB nephew
Ms. Judy Wright, Winthrop, WA, daughter-in-law of “Aunt Louise,” interjections
054-05-0910-001-Tape 2 of 3, Sides A and B
Ms. Cynthia Brown Hale, Oro Valley, AZ, JMB daughter
Mr. Lachlan (Locky) Brown, Ventura, CA, JMB son
Ms. Sally Brown Bergan, Nesoya, Norway, JMB daughter
054-05-0910-001-Tape 3 of 3, Side A (to counter 367, time ca. 26.5 minutes)
Ms. Cynthia Brown Hale, Oro Valley, AZ, JMB daughter
Mr. Lachlan (Locky) Brown, Ventura, CA, JMB son
Ms. Sally Brown Bergan, Nesoya, Norway, JMB daughter
054-05-0910-001-CD 1 of 5: Tape 1 of 3, Side A (30 minutes):
Narrators Sarah Cherry, Louise Wright, Anita Wright. Interviewer Marty Olliff. Additional questions by David Brown and Judy Wright.
054-05-0910-001-CD 2 of 5: Tape 1 of 3, Side B (30 minutes)
Narrators were the same until 22.5 minutes into the tape (counter 315), when Cynthia Hale, Locky Brown, and Sally Bergen joined the interview.
054-05-0910-001-CD 3 of 5: Tape 2 of 3, Side A (30 minutes)
Narrators Cynthia B. Hale, Locky Brown, and Sally B. Bergen. Interviewer Marty Olliff.
054-05-0910-001-CD 4 of 5: Tape 2 of 3, Side B (30 minutes)
Narrators Cynthia B. Hale, Locky Brown, and Sally B. Bergen. Interviewer Marty Olliff.
054-05-0910-001-CD 5 of 5: Tape 3 of 3, Side A (26.5 minutes, counter 367)
Narrators Cynthia B. Hale, Locky Brown, and Sally B. Bergen. Interviewer Marty Olliff.
[Tape 3 of 3, Side B is blank.]
Contact Us
Wiregrass Archives
Troy University Dothan Campus
Everett 128
502 University Dr.
Dothan, AL 36303
Phone: 334-983-6556 x21327
Email: wiregrassarchives@troy.edu