Guide to the Martha Lee Dickson Papers

Record Group 105

Date Span ca. 1900-2010

Extent: 2.5 cubic feet

Biographical Sketch: Martha Lee Dickson, though currently living in Pace, Florida, was a long-time resident of Gordon, Houston County, Alabama. In 1999 she self-published a history entitled, Gordon, Alabama: Pioneer Riverboat Town; Southern Terminus of Alabama's Chattahoochee River Trace. In 2007 she began a second major project, photographing and gathering information on wooden churches in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi (bounded irregularly from Tampa through Birmingham to Jackson). A portion of her research results became her book, Anchors of Faith: Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South (NewSouth Press, 2014).

Scope / Content: Documents Ms. Dickson's research interests in Gordon, Alabama, and wooden churches in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi (bounded by an irregular arc from Tampa through Birmingham to Jackson). Contains research notes, photocopies of primary sources, audiotapes, photo negatives, digital photos, and photo prints.

Organization Organized into 2 series with multiple subseries.

Series 1:  Research related to Gordon, AL history, prior to 1999, 55 file folders.  For Dickson's self-published 1999 book, Gordon, Alabama: Pioneer Riverboat Town; Southern Terminus of Alabama's Chattahoochee River Trace. Organized into 2 subseries. 

• Series 1.1:  Research concerning Gordon families and individuals, including genealogical research (formats include photographs), prior to 1999, 28 file folders.  Arranged alphabetically.
  
  
• Series 1.2:  Gordon Community History research (formats include interviews and artifacts), prior to 1999, 27 file folders.  Arranged alphabetically.

Series 2: Wooden Churches, 1994 – 2009 (bulk 2008-2009), 83 files.  Historical research and similar information, photographs, binders of wooden churches in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi.  Became the basis of Dickson's book, Anchors of Faith: Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South.  Organized into 3 subseries.

• Series 2.1:  Binders, ca. 2009, 7 items.  Dickson's wooden church project of one-page per church, organized by state, then county, then church.  Photographic print and handwritten historical paragraph per church / leaf.
  
  
• Series 2.2: Research materials, 1993 – 2009, 23 file folders.  Textual materials (with a few photographs) of churches, denominational associations, and records of research trips including maps.
  
  
• Series 2.3:  Loose Photographs, 2007 – 2009, 53 file folders.  Contains negatives, prints, and digital photos on CD-Roms of wooden churches and other local structures.  Arranged by state then vaguely chronologically.

Provenance Dickson donated her Gordon materials to Dothan Landmarks Foundation, Inc., which sent them to the Wiregrass Archives in 2004. Ms. Dickson delivered her Wooden Churches material in person to the Wiregrass Archives on April 15, 2010

Preferred Citation Martha Dickson Papers, RG 105, Wiregrass Archives, Troy University Dothan Campus, Dothan, AL.

Access/User Limits? Open per gift agreement

Publications concerning this collection:

Dickson, Martha Lee. Anchors of Faith: Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South. Montgomery: NewSouth Books, 2014.

Dickson, Martha Lee. Gordon, Alabama: Pioneer Riverboat Town ; Southern Terminus of Alabama's Chattahoochee River Trace.  [Dothan, AL]: M.L. Dickson, 1999.

Olliff, Martin T. "It Came from the Archives: History Through Faith." TroyToday (blog). May 24, 2018. https://today.troy.edu/perspectives/faith-through-history-churches/.

 

Inventory

 

Series 1:  Research related to Gordon, AL history, prior to 1999, 55 file folders.  Organized into 2 subseries:  1.1 – Families and individuals ; 1.2 – Community history.  For Dickson's self-published 1999 book, Gordon, Alabama: Pioneer Riverboat Town; Southern Terminus of Alabama's Chattahoochee River Trace.

Series 1.1:  Research concerning Gordon families and individuals, including genealogical research (formats include photographs), prior to 1999, 28 file folders.  Arranged alphabetically.

File ID                               File Title

105-16-0712-001-018     Dickson, Martha Lee

105-16-0831-001-008     Genealogy Search Info

105-16-0712-001-009     Gordon, AL - Family Surnames Recalled in Personal Letters

105-16-0831-001-005     Johnson, Hardy

105-04-0516-001-001     Kingry, C.B.

105-16-0831-001-001     Lee, John Franklin - Gordon, AL

105-04-0516-001-002     Leslie, Miss Dora

105-04-0516-001-021     Liddon, Francis Bartow

105-04-0516-001-003     McLendon Family

105-16-0831-001-002     Meadows Family - Harper, Dupree, Barber

105-16-0712-001-015     Mueller, Edward A.

105-04-0516-001-005     Presley, Renee (Adams)     [incl. photos]

105-04-0516-001-006     [Pynes], Daniel

105-16-0712-001-016     Rountree Brothers Information - Gordon, AL & Crosby, AL

105-04-0516-001-007     Rountree Family     [incl. photos]

105-16-0831-001-015     Rountree Family - Earliest Records - Gordon, AL

105-16-0831-001-014     Rountree Family Bibles w/ Marriage Record of Dr. Rountree

105-16-0712-001-010     Rountree, Elma - Postcard notes in Elma Rountree Collection held at Landmark Park

105-16-0831-001-013     Rountree, Harry - Crosby, AL Area (unincorporated)

105-16-0831-001-011     Rountree, Jeff Davis

105-16-0831-001-003     Rountree, John Griffin

105-16-0831-001-012     Rountree, John Richardson

105-10-0801-MD6-001   Rountree, W. G., Jr. - Family Portrait - 11"x16" Sepia

105-16-0712-001-014     Rountree, William Gaston, Jr. - Gordon, AL

105-16-0831-001-010     Stapleton Family Line - Crosby, Zoe Area (Gordon Route)

105-16-0712-001-017     Tomlinson, Betty - Gordon, AL

105-04-0516-001-009     Tuttle, Edward  --  house/home   [incl. photos]

105-04-0516-001-010     Wood, William   [incl. photos]

 

Series 1.2:  Gordon Community History research (formats include interviews and artifacts), prior to 1999, 27 file folders.  Arranged alphabetically.

File ID                               File Title

105-16-0712-001-002     Alaga, AL

105-16-0712-001-007     Cemetery - Gordon - Historic Marker Dedication

105-16-0831-001-004     Cemetery - Gordon - Oldest Grave Markers

105-16-0712-001-008     Cemetery - Gordon Civil War Soldiers

105-04-0516-001-011     Cemetery - Gordon, AL

105-16-0831-001-006     "Chattahoochee Bottom": A Memoir by Martha Lee Dickson

105-04-0516-001-012     Churches

105-04-0516-001-018     Community  --  Misc.

105-04-0516-001-013     Correspondence

105-16-0712-001-003     Crosby, AL - Houston County

105-16-0712-001-004     Gordon Artifacts - Landmark Park, Dothan, AL

105-16-0712-001-006     Gordon Baptist Church - Historical Marker Dedication  (5/16/2004)

105-16-0712-001-013     Gordon Search Records - Names, leads, phone #s, etc.

105-16-0712-001-005     Gordon, AL

105-16-0712-001-011     Gordon, AL - History - Charles Bowdon Kingry, Mrs. Myra Appling

105-16-0831-001-007     Gordon, Alabama - History of

105-16-0831-001-009     Gordon, Alabama - Pictures in Newspapers, Articles, Calendar, etc.

105-16-0712-001-012     Lee, William F. (Hannah) - Personal Reminiscences of Early Gordon Days

105-04-0516-001-014     Maps

105-04-0516-001-004     Mickels, Frank - Gordon's 1st Black Mayor [incl. photos & audio tape]

105-04-0516-001-015     Newspaper Articles

105-04-0516-001-016     Photographs & Copies of Photographs  --  Misc.

105-04-0516-001-017     Railroad

105-04-0516-001-019     Schools

105-04-0516-001-008     Smith, Walter Lee – Interview audio tape.

105-16-0712-001-001     Smith, Walter Lee - Gordon, AL, Retired Cook - Atlantic Coastline RR.  Interview Transcript.

105-04-0516-001-020     Steamboats

 

Series 2: Wooden Churches, 1994 – 2009 (bulk 2008-2009), 83 files.  Historical research and similar information, photographs, binders of wooden churches in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi.  Became the basis of Dickson's book, Anchors of Faith: Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South.  Organized into 3 subseries:  2.1 – Binders ; 2.2 – Research materials ; 2.3 – Loose photographs (digital, prints, negatives.)

 

Series 2.1:  Binders, ca. 2009, 7 items.  Dickson's wooden church project of one-page per church, organized by state, then county, then church.  Photographic print and handwritten historical paragraph per church / leaf.

File I.D.                             File Label

105-10-0125-001-001     Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South   Alabama - 1  [Contents, A-C]

105-10-0125-001-002     Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South   Alabama - 2  [C-J]

105-10-0125-001-003     Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South   Alabama - 3  [L-R]

105-10-0125-001-004     Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South   Alabama - 4  [R-W]

105-10-0125-001-005     Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South   Mississippi

105-10-0125-001-006     Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South   Florida - 1  [Contents, A-L]

105-10-0125-001-007     Early Wooden Churches of the Deep South   Florida - 2  [L-W]

 

Series 2.2: Research materials, 1993 – 2009, 23 file folders.  Textual materials (with a few photographs) of churches, denominational associations, and records of research trips including maps.

File I.D.                             File Label

105-10-0125-001-008     Architecture References

105-10-0125-001-009     [Research on Churches - location & history]

105-10-0125-001-010     [Georgia, Florida, & Mississippi Maps (2005-06) - 2008-09 trip: Wooden Churches Search]

105-10-0125-001-011     [Pine Flat Methodist Church - 4x6 photo, hand fan, & note card]

105-10-0125-001-012     Southern Living, Aug, 2009 - "The Story of the Lost Schoolhouses" & correspond. w/ Larry Smith

105-10-0415-001-001     Calendar - Two Hundred Years of Methodism in Alabama Territory   [2008]

105-10-0415-001-002     History of the Churches of the Pine Barren Baptist Association, 1825 - 2001 (Frisco City, AL : Pine Barren Baptist Association, 2001).

105-10-0415-001-003     Leroy R. Priest. D. D., History of the Sampey Memorial Baptist Church (Formerly Ramer Baptist Church), Ramer, Alabama  1857-1992 (Ramer, AL: The Church, 1993).

105-10-0415-001-004     The Clear Spring UMC Cookbook #2, ca. 1994

105-10-0415-001-005     Valley Head UMC  [AL]

105-10-0415-001-006     Early Wooden Churches - Alabama Searches, 2007 - 2009  1/2

105-10-0415-001-007     Early Wooden Churches - Alabama Searches, 2007 - 2009  2/2

105-10-0415-001-008     Early Wooden Churches - Alabama, 2008 - 2009, Additional Info

105-10-0415-001-009     Early Wooden Churches - Alabama - West Side Search

105-10-0415-002-001     Early Wooden Churches - Alabama - No [Church] Info Available

105-10-0415-002-002     Early Wooden Churches -Florida Churches, 2008-2009  1/2

105-10-0415-002-003     Early Wooden Churches -Florida Churches, 2008-2009  2/2

105-10-0415-002-004     Early Wooden Churches - Mississippi, 2008-2009

105-10-0415-002-005     Misc - Other Churches - Texas

105-10-0415-002-006     Misc - Other Churches - North Carolina

105-10-0415-002-007     Misc - Other Churches - Georgia

105-10-0415-002-008     Misc - Other Churches - Georgia Assn.

105-16-0712-001-019     Wooden Churches - Maps Showing Travels

 

Series 2.3:  Loose Photographs, 2007 – 2009, 53 file folders.  Contains negatives, prints, and digital photos on CD-Roms of wooden churches and other local structures.  Arranged by state then vaguely chronologically.

File I.D.                             File Label

105-10-0415-003-001     Alabama Churches - October 2007 - Atmore and Evergreen, AL  -  10 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-003-002     Alabama Churches - November 2007 - 20 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-003-003     Alabama Churches - South - February 2008 - 12 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included, CD unlabeled

105-10-0415-003-004     Alabama Churches - South - March 2008 - 35 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-003-006     Alabama Churches - April  2008 - Clark & Marengo Counties / One from Baldwin Co. - 18 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-003-007     Alabama Churches - May 2008 - Sumter, Clark, Wilcox, Greene, Dallas, Marengo, and Monroe Counties - 30 color photos, 4"x 6", {CD included}

105-10-0415-003-008     Alabama Churches - West Side - May 2008 - Sumter, Clark, Wilcox, Greene, Dallas, Marengo, and Monroe Counties - 38 color photos, 4"x 6", {CD included}

105-10-0415-003-009     Alabama Churches - May 17, 2008 - 8 color photos, 4"x 6", {CD included}

105-10-0415-003-010     Alabama Churches - June 2008 - Atmore, AL and Fruitdale, Al - 6 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-003-011     Alabama Churches - Dec. 17, 2008 - 6 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-001     Alabama Churches - Sept 20-22, 2009 - East Side - 60 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-002     Alabama Churches - October 24, 2008 - Coosa & Elmore Counties - 12 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-003     Alabama Churches - January 19-21, 2009 - Part #1 Counties: Butler, Wilcox, Dallas, Elmore, Montgomery, Coosa, Lowndes, Chilton - 26 color photos 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-004     Alabama Churches - January 19-21, 2009 - Part #2 Counties: Butler, Wilcox, Dallas, Elmore, Montgomery, Coosa, Lowndes, Chilton - 39 color photos 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-005     Alabama Churches - February 16-17, 2009 - 64 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-006     Alabama Churches - CD - February 16-17, 2009 - CD #1 - 3 contact sheets - CD #2 - 2 contact sheets

105-10-0415-004-007      Alabama Churches - April 29 - May 1, 2009 - Part #2 - 40 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-008      Alabama Churches - April 29 - May 1, 2009 - Part #1 - 39 color photos, 4"x 6" & 1 color photocopy 4"x 5" - Apostolic United Pentecostal Church West Blockton, AL

105-10-0415-004-009     Alabama Churches - June 9, 2009 - Wetumpka, Alexander City, Millerville, Fruithurst - 7 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-010     Alabama Churches - July 7-9, 2009 - 35 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-011     Alabama Churches - Oct 13-14, 2009 - 22 color photos 4"x 6" & 1 color photo, 4"x 5 1/4"

105-10-0415-004-012     Alabama Churches - CD - Wooden churches of Alabama

105-10-0415-004-013     Alabama Churches - CD - Disc created by 3-27-2010 by Martha Dickson - includes Florida Churches by accident

105-10-0415-004-014     Alabama - Florida Churches - Nov 2007 - Dec 2008 - 35 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-004-015     Alabama - Florida Churches - Feb 2008 - 27 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-004-016     Alabama - Florida Churches - March 2008 - Clarke Co., Al; Baldwin Co., AL; Pace, FL - 23 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-003-005     Alabama - Florida Churches - Mar/Apr 2008 - 15 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-004-017     Alabama - Florida Churches - CD - Mar/Apr 2008

105-10-0415-004-018     Alabama - Florida Churches - April 2008 - 11 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-019     Alabama - Florida Churches - CD - Feb/Mar 2008

105-10-0415-004-020     Alabama - Georgia Churches - Nov 2007 - 29 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-004-021     Alabama - Georgia - North Carolina - June 2008 - photos taken by Max [Dickson?] - 27 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-022     Alabama  Georgia Churches - June 2008 - photos taken by Max [Dickson] - 10 color photos, 4"x 7" - 29 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-023     Alabama - Georgia - North Carolina Churches - June 2008 - photos taken by Max [Dickson?] - 9 color photos, 4"x 7" - 12 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-024     Florida Churches - Nov. 2007 - 17 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-004-025     Florida Churches - January2008 - 17 color photos, 4"x 6", negative included

105-10-0415-004-026     Florida Churches - January 2008 - HWY 90 East Cities - 15 color photos, 4"x 6", negatives included

105-10-0415-004-027     Florida Churches - April 2008 - Pt. Washington, Wewahitchka, Apalachicola, Key West, etc. - 39 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-028     Florida Churches - CD -  April 2008 - Pt. Washington, Wewahitchka, Apalachicola, Key West, etc. - 1 CD

105-10-0415-004-029     Florida Churches - Sept 23-25, 2008 - 41 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-030     Florida Churches - Nov 16-18, 2008 - 49 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-031     Florida Churches - February 2009 - 1 church - St. George Episcopal Church Fort George Island, FL 32226 - 21 color photos, 4"x 6", negative included

105-10-0415-004-032     Florida Churches - March 5, 2010 - Escambia County - 1 color photo, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-033     Florida Churches - CD - disc created 3-27-2010 by Martha Dickson

105-10-0415-004-034     Florida - Unique Churches - Stucco or Masonry - 2008 - 5 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-11-0604-001-001     Florida - Glen Julia UMC & Old MT Pleasant UMC [Mt Pleasant, FL] - includes photographs

105-11-0604-001-002     Florida - Grand Ridge [FL] UMC - Grand Ridge Town History - Photos

105-11-0604-001-003     Florida - Photographs, 2008-2009 - Old Buildings - Florida

105-10-0415-004-035     Mississippi Churches - 3-21-2009 - [Communities of] Ocean Springs, Gulfport, Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis, Kiln, & Poplarville - 37 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-036     Mississippi Churches - May 27, 2009 - Greene County & Perry County - 8 color photos 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-037     Mississippi Churches - October 25, 2009 - 37 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-038     Mississippi Churches - Nov 4-5, 2009 - [includes 4 Alabama Churches from beginning of trip (2 repeats)] - 45 color photos, 4"x 6"

105-10-0415-004-039     Mississippi Churches - CD - disc created 3-27-2010 by Martha Dickson

 

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Wiregrass Archives
Troy University Dothan Campus
Everett 128
502 University Dr.
Dothan, AL  36303

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