Wiregrass Black History Project – Dr. W. Charles Lewis Interview, June 14, 2024
Record Group 298
Date Span: June 14, 2024
Description: Interview 12:10 min. (1.66 GB) ; Transcript = 6 pages.
Biographical Sketch: W. Charles Lewis was born in Ashford, AL, where he was the first African American valedictorian of Ashford High School after desegregation. Attended Tuskegee University then Dallas Theological Seminary for his masters of theology and, in 2000, his doctor of ministry degrees. Founded Proclaiming America's Call for Equality (PACE) in 2015 to award scholarships, and founded the Dothan Community Church where he is (2025) senior pastor. In 2022, he wrote and self-published the book 28 Black History Makers: Dothan, Alabama to commemorate Black History Month and Juneteenth. He has a long resume of activism and leadership. Lewis is married to Geraldine Isaac Lewis and has five children.
Organizational Sketch: The Wiregrass Black History Project is a collaboration between the Wiregrass Black History Channel on YouTube (by David "Mit" Kirkland) and the Wiregrass Archives. Funded in 2024- 25 by Troy University and the Society of American Archivists Foundation through its Catalyst Grant, the Project's goal is to produce nine video recordings of African American elders in the Wiregrass.
The Wiregrass Black History Channel will host edited versions of the interviews. The Wiregrass Archives will make the raw interviews available on its YouTube channel and create metadata records and finding aids that link to the project and to individual video interviews.
Scope / Content Note: Video interview and transcript with Dr. Lewis in which he discusses the production of, and a few of the people he featured in, his book, 28 Black History Makers: Dothan, Alabama, published in 2022.
Provenance: Interview conducted by Mit Kirkland and Deborah Pearson. Provided to the Wiregrass Archives as part of the grant-funded Wiregrass Black History Project.
Processing Notes: Transcriptions made by MS Word AI, then edited by Dr. Martin T. Olliff. Revisions planned to update and correct transcriptions.
Cite as: Dr. W. Charles Lewis Interview, The Wiregrass Black History Project, RG 298, Wiregrass Archives, Troy University Dothan Campus, Dothan, AL.
Acquisition Method: Gift
Donor Name: Wiregrass Black History Project
Proc Date: 7/4/2025 Processor: MTO
Access / Use: Open
CALENDAR:
298-25-0704-Intv-006 Dr. W. Charles Lewis Interview, June 14, 2024 (his book, 28 Black History Makers: Dothan, AL)
Click here for transcript of unedited video shown below (PDF)
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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