Guide to the Harold Wiggins Collection

Record Group 019

Date Span 1873-1984 (bulk 1953-1970)

Extent 96 items

Biographical Sketch: Harold Wiggins, a resident of Dothan, AL, (July 13, 1922-October 3, 2009), enjoyed a long career as an international sales representative with Hedstrom Corporation, local manufacturer of wheels for tricycles, children's wagons, etc. He served in World War 2 as a pilot. He continued to fly after the war and was an accomplished photographer.

Mr. Wiggins’ father, W. C. Wiggins, served in the American Expeditionary Force in World War I as a Sergeant First Class in the 14th Co., 4th Motor Mechanics Regiment, Signal Corps stationed at the Third Aviation Instructors Center, Issoudon, France.

Scope/Content: Negative, print, and digitized photographs by Harold Wiggins (some he copied from other sources) documenting aviation in Dothan, Alabama, buildings being erected in town, and the physical geography of Dothan and its surroundings via aerial photography. Also documents the visit of Mrs. Betty Philips, the 2000th "Queen For A Day" [TV contest show] to the 1952 National Peanut Festival and a Hedstrom Company picnic. Contains one digital scan of a copied Japanese photograph showing first bombing run on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. A second series (comprising accession 019-04-0630) consists of memorabilia from William C. Wiggins documenting his service in World War 1 and his interest in history and political campaigns.

Organization: Organized into 2 series:

Series 1: Harold Wiggins Photographs, 1919 – 1970s, 76 images.

Series 2: W. C. Wiggins Papers and Artifacts, 1873 - 1984. Includes military manuals, published history of the war, uniform insignia, VA correspondence, notebook. Also includes miscellaneous items collected by Harold Wiggins, such as a reproduction set of political buttons, spelling book from 1873, etc.

Processing Notes: Received by Wiregrass Archives in six accessions: 019-03-003; 019-03-0714; 019-03-1125; 019-04-0630; 019-05-0725; and 019-15-0508

Photographic prints and negatives scanned by AWHC staff at 300 dpi, TIF, 8x10” output, grayscale or full color.

Preferred Citation: Harold Wiggins Papers, RG019. Wiregrass Archives, Troy University Dothan Campus, Dothan, AL.

Acq Method: Gift

Donor Name: Harold Wiggins and Houston Love Memorial Library (Accession 019-15-0508)

Restrictions: Open for research per donor agreement. Low-resolution scans are free to download and use for non-profit and educational purposes with proper credit (see Preferred Citation). For reprints, high-resolution scans and reprints, contact the Wiregrass Archives.

INVENTORY

Series 1: Harold Wiggins Photographs, 1919 – 1970s, 76 items.

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019-03-003-001: Aerial view of Dothan Airport, ca. late 1930s. Photo by Kargl Aerial Surveys, Inc.

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019-03-003-002: Aerial view of Dothan Airport, circa Late 1930's. Photo by Kargl Aerial Surveys, Inc.

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019-03-003-003 : U.S.A.A.F. P-80 Jet Fighter, circa 1945-1946. [Cut Line on Reverse of Print Reads:] "#29823 A.C. - Jet Fighter. Seen on the Ground is the U.S. Army Air Forces' new P-80 Shooting Star. The Plane is powered by a new jet propulsion gas turbine engine and is capable of speeds in excess of 550 miles per hour. The Service Ceiling is above 40,000 Feet. Credit U.S. Army Air Forces Photo Wash.D.C."

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019-03-003-004: U.S.A.A.F. P-160 "Black Widow" Night Fighter. [4 Dec 1944] [Classification of Photo cancelled 20 Dec 1944] [Cut Line Attached to Bottom Reads:] "Army Air Base, Great Falls, Mont. - a P-61 [160?], the Famed Black Widow, is shown [on a] recent visit to the Alaskan Division's Great Falls Air Base, Described as a [illegible]t fighter plane: [struck through with pencil, replaced with [illegible]t "Functional Night Fighter"]. The raft landed at the Air Base in connection with cold [illegible]ing operations. (Official U.S.A.A.F. Photo)

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019-03-003-005: Amphibian, Experimental Air Plane, Pusher Type with 2 women aboard, ca. 1945-1960.

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019-03-003-006: Dothan Country Club, Aerial Photograph, ca. Late 1940's

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019-03-003-007: Dothan Country Club, Aerial Photograph, circa Late 1940's

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019-03-003-008: Eastern Air Lines DC-4, having de-icer installed in wing, possible at EAL Miami Depot. [Cut Line on Reverse of print reads: ["2605 A Crew of mechanics install a de-icer boot on the leading edge of a DC-4 wing [inserted in pencil] in preparation for the coming winter season."

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019-03-003-009: Eastern Air Lines DC-4, refueling, possibly at Miami, EAL Depot. Photo Stamped "Apr 11, 1946" on reverse, hand written "E.A.L. photo #mm742"

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019-03-003-010: Eastern Air Lines Constellation, np., nd.

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019-03-003-011: Eastern Air Lines Technician servicing engine on Constellation, np., nd.

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019-03-0714-001: ca 1919. Airplane is a "Standard" w/ added OX5 engine. Max Fortner, at right, built this plane from a kit before he knew how to fly. Probably first plane in Houston County. Learned to fly from E.P. Lott, traveling barnstormer who later became Chicago station manager for Eastern Air Lines (first commercial carrier in Dothan, August 1940). L-to-R: Etta Ennis, woman thought to be Mrs. Lott, Clara Moore Fortner, Max Fortner.

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019-03-0714-002: ca 1919. Left: E.P. Lott, barnstormer who taught Max Fortner to fly. Lott became Eastern Air Lines station manager in Chicago. Right: Max Fortner. Built this "Standard" airplane from kit, added OX5 engine, THEN contacted Lott for flying lessons.

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019-03-0714-003: 1919, two unknown men standing beside Max Fortner's airplane. Fortner built this plane from a kit, then added an OX5 engine. Plane brand is "Standard."

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019-03-0714-004 : January 1941. William Frasier Fortner, age 19 or 20, flight instructor at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University). Aircraft is a WACO.

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019-03-0714-005: Photo ca. 1941. William Frasier Fortner was the son of Dothan, AL, aviation pioneer Max Fortner and his wife, Clara Moore Fortner. W. F. Fortner became Eastern Airlines' youngest pilot in 1941 at age 19 or 20. Legend has it that Ralph Dowling (later a captain with Eastern Air Lines) gave Fortner 15 minutes of flight instruction at the Dothan, AL, airport, then told him to solo.

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019-03-0714-006: Hugh Wheeless, Sr. ca. 1944

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019-03-0714-007: Virgil Fenn (ÒSquirtÓ) on bicycle, ca. 1944, at Municipal Airport at Westgate.

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019-03-0714-008: Cranking prop: Possibly Hugh Wheeless, ca. 1944

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019-03-0714-009: Dothan Aviation Mechanic: putting a patch on Piper Cub. Painting dope on fabric skin.

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019-03-0714-010: Man leaning on prop: Sonny Gellerstadt ca 1944.

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019-03-0714-011: Dothan Aviation Hanger: Harold Wiggins getting into a Fairchild 24 (instead of steering wheel, Fairchild 24 used two sticks). Plane bought by Hugh Wheeless Sr., later sold to Clyde Segrest of Slocomb, in Feed and Seed Business. ca 1944.

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019-03-0714-012 : Hangar with windsock

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019-03-1125-001: Early- to mid-1950s. Federal Court Building, Dothan, AL, corner of North Foster Street and West Troy Avenue. Federal Building erected in 1911.

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019-03-1125-002: Pawn and Jewelry store, downtown Dothan AL. n.d.

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019-03-1125-003: Arrival of 2000th Queen for a Day, Mrs. Betty Phillips, to Dothan for 1952 National Peanut Festival.

L-to-R: Mr. William K. Jolt, mngr. Of Burlington Mills of Dothan; Mrs. Sarah Wiggins; Unidentified man; Mr. Phillips, Husband of Queen for a Day; Queen for a Day Mrs. Betty Phillips; Unidentified Man in Top Hat; Mr. Harold Wiggins; Unidentified man.

Hedstrom Union, Inc., sponsored visit by Queen For A Day. Wiggins, a buyer for Hedstrom in Asia, was the escort-designee for Mrs. Phillips for her stay in Dothan. Hedstrom manufactured children's toys such as tricycles, bicycles, tables, chairs, etc.

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019-03-1125-004: 1952 Party for Queen For A Day at home of Max Weldon, Dentist in Dothan

L-to-R: Sarah Wiggins; Harold Wiggins; Mr. Phillips; Queen For A Day Betty Phillips; Max Weldon

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019-03-1125-005: Dinner for Peanut Queens at home of Max Weldon, Dentist in Dothan.

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019-03-1125-006: "Queen For A Day" winner Betty Phillips preparing to ride in the National Peanut Festival Parade, Dothan, AL, 1952. Driver is Harold Wiggins.

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019-03-1125-007: Queen For A Day, 2000th Winner, visited Dothan for National Peanut Festival in 1952.

L-to-R: Sarah Wiggins; Queen Betty Phillips; Mr. Phillips; Harold Wiggins.

Mrs. Phillips's "desire" (part of the Queen For A Day competition) was for her husband to have a new welding helmet. They were from Oklahoma, moved to California.

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019-03-1125-008: Queen For A Day, 2000th Winner, visited Dothan for National Peanut Festival in 1952.

L-to-R: Sarah Wiggins; Queen Betty Phillips; Mr. Phillips; Harold Wiggins.

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019-03-1125-009: Unknown family group of three women and one man. Possibly extended family of Harold Wiggins. n.d.

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019-03-1125-010: Unknown deteriorating building. n.p. n.d.

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019-03-1125-011: Young woman posing against small Dogwood tree. Possibly Sarah Wiggins. Ca. 1950s.

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019-03-1125-012: Desoto Falls near Gadsden, AL. n.d. [1950s]

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019-03-1125-013: Young women canning. Possibly a home economics class, canning club display, or 4-H-type youth organization. Display appears to be in a classroom. n.p. n.d. [1920s or 1930s]

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019-03-1125-014: Kappa Sigma Fraternity, University of Alabama, 1942.

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019-03-1125-015: Hedstrom Corporation Dothan Plant, 1960.

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019-03-1125-016: Hedstrom Corporation Dothan Plant Water Tower, 1960.

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019-03-1125-017: Hedstrom Corporation Picnic, n.d.

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019-03-1125-018: Hedstrom Corporation Picnic, n.d.

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019-03-1125-019: Hedstrom Corporation, costumed "hobo." n.d.
Identified as Robert "Bob" Hedstrom by Tom Hedstrom (son) and Brian Stewart (granddaughter's husband). Dothan Eagle obituary here for June 10, 2015 (accessed February 4, 2016).

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019-03-1125-020 : Hedstrom Corporation, costumed "French artist." n.d.
Identified as John A. Conti by Tom Hedstrom. See a short biography of Conti on Page 8 of Dothan Business Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Program. (Accessed February 4, 2016).

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019-03-1125-021: Young boy, singing for pennies in Havana, Cuba. n.d.

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019-05-0725-001: Japanese photo of first bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor. Photo taken by Lt. Commander Fuchida who led first wave. Photo captured by US from Yokosuka Naval Base, November 8, 1945

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019-15-0508-001-009-001:4" x 5" negative / aerial view of Dothan / n.d. [Negative of print 019-15-0508-001-009-026]

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019-15-0508-001-009-002: 4" x 5" negative + 4" x 5" B/W print / Dr. Moody's home, N. Oates, Dothan / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-003: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Dothan High School / ca 1945

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019-15-0508-001-009-004: 4" x 5" negative / Girard Ele[mentary] / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-005: 4" x 5" negative / Montana Street School / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-006: 4" x 5" negative + 4" x 5" B/W print / aerial view /Rec Center, NW corner of Dothan High School / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-007: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Dothan looking WNW / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-008: 4" x 5" negative + 4" x 5" B/W print / aerial view / [Collins] Baking Co / July 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-009: 4" x 5" negative + 4" x 5" B/W print / aerial view / Section 5 / Tract of land owned by Central of GA R.R. for Ind[ustrial] Dev / 1 June 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-010: 4" x 5" negative + 4" x 5" B/W print / aerial view / Tract of land owned by Central of GA R. R. for Ind[ustrial] Dev[evlopment] / 1 June 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-011 : 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Covington Planter Co (old German prisoner of war buildings put together / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-012 : 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Supreme Ice Cream / tow banner / Dothan, AL / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-013: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Speigner Concrete w[ith] Home Guano above / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-014: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Home Guano Co (Red Fox) & Speigner Concrete Block / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-015: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Home Guano & Speigner Concrete Block Co / looking west / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-016: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Home Guano / Agricultural Sulphur & Chemical / Speigner Concrete Block / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-017 : 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / First structure of Hedstrom / looking NE / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-018.1: 4" x 5" negatives / aerial view / Central of GA property / [possibly] Columbia Hwy past WOOF? / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-018.2: 4" x 5" negatives / aerial view / Central of GA property / [possibly] Columbia Hwy past WOOF? / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-019.1: 2.5" x 5" negative / Men working saw mill / Williams-Voris Lbr [Lumber] Mill ? / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-019.2 : 2.5" x 5" negative / Men working saw mill / Williams-Voris Lbr [Lumber] Mill ? / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-019.3: 2.5" x 5" negative / Man working planning mill / Williams-Voris Lbr [Lumber] Mill ? / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-019.4: 2.5" x 5" negative / Men working saw mill / Williams-Voris Lbr [Lumber] Mill ? / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-019.5: 2.5" x 5" negative / Men working saw mill / Williams-Voris Lbr [Lumber] Mill ? / n.d.

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019-15-0508-001-009-020: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Hedstrom Plant / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-021: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Sanitary Dairy ? / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-022: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Sanitary Dairy / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-023: 4" x 5" negative / aerial view / Universal Concrete Pipe Co / north of Couch Constr. Co. / 1954

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019-15-0508-001-009-024: 8" x 10" print / Aerial view of Dothan looking northeast / Main Street / Oates St. - Foster St. - St. Andrews

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019-15-0508-001-009-025: 8" x 10" print / Aerial view of Dothan looking east / Oates Street, left to right foreground / Main St. on right side

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019-15-0508-001-009-026: 8" x 10" print / Aerial view of Dothan, south of Main St., looking north-northeast / Left to Right, Oates St. - Foster St. - St. Andrews, ca. 1950s [Print from negative 019-05-0508-001-009-001]

Series 2: W. C. Wiggins's Papers and Artifacts 1873-1984

File I.D.				File Label
019	04-0630	001	002	Wiggins, W.C. -- Military Promotion Certificates, 1918-1919
019	04-0630	001	003	Third Aviation Instruction Center, Issoudun, France, 1918 Unit Shoulder patch [3rd AIC, Red, Blue, White circles, black "3" in center] Aviation Staff Sergeant stripes YMCA/KoC Introduction Card, Third Aviation Instruction Center Certificate of Employment, Aeronautical Engineering Dept, Third AIC
019	04-0630	001	004	Letter to Veterans Administration, 1933 Memorial Certificate signed by Pres. L.B. Johnson, n.d.
019	04-0630	001	005	CD-Roms "The History of the Municipal Airport & the Establishment of Napier Field", by Dr. Irby Clide Bates; 1944 [Microsoft Word Format] Courtesy copy: Forty five images from Accessions 03-003, 03-0714, 03-1125, 05-0725
019	04-0630	001	006	Books and notebooks "Verdun: an Illustrated Historical Guide," Editions Lorraines, Fremont, Verdun [France, post-1919] "United States Army Infantry Tactics [1873] "The Elementary Spelling Book"; Noah Webster, L.L.D.; Revised Edition; 1880; American Book Company [Note Sewing Repair to Front Cover] Personal Notepad, advertising The Birmingham News
019	04-0630	001	007	Picture Frame - Wooden, eyebrow shape with star carving
019	04-0630	001	008	Artifacts Political Buttons, mounted and framed Loose political buttons: Goldwater (1964) and Reagan/Bush, 1984 AEF Aviation Uniform Collar Insignia American Legion Lapel Pin AF & AM Masonic Membership Card, Opp Lodge #600, 1926

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