BOX XII. 1 – Dorothy Dix Symposium
Folder 1 of 1
14 items
Only the #1 item is available
electronically.
The rest of the items are only accessible on site in print form from the
Dix Collection.
The Dorothy Dix Symposium was held on September 27, 1991 at Woodstock
Mansion, Trenton, Kentucky where Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer (Dorothy
Dix) was born in 1861. The Symposium was sponsored by the F. G. Woodward
Library, Austin Peay State University.
Nearly 200 persons gathered for a day long conference to celebrate the
life of Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer, better known as Dorothy Dix.
Six noted scholars presented six papers divided into two separate
topics.
First, The Legacy of Dorothy Dix included the following presentations:
“The Making of a Southern Journalist,” “The Life of Dorothy Dix,” and
the “The World Travels of Dorothy Dix.”
Second, Dorothy Dix’s Career as a Journalist included the following
presentations: “Elizabeth M. Gilmer as Dorothy Dix: Woman Journalist
Rewrites the Myth of the Southern Lady,” “One Hundred Years of Advice:
an Analysis of the Style and Content of Dear Abby and Dorothy Dix,” and
“Dorothy Dix the Woman, the Columnist, the Person: a Look at the Life of
Elizabeth Meriwether.”
The proceedings of the contributed papers titled Dorothy Dix Elizabeth
Meriwether Gilmer ‘The First Woman Journalist’ 1861-1951 is edited by
Inga A. Filippo and Elnor McMahan who also served as coordinators of the
symposium. The papers are available in full text on the F. G. Woodward’s
Library’s Dorothy Dix Collection web site.
Inimitable highlights to the symposium were breakfast served inside the
mansion with piano selections by Anna Laura Page, wife of the President
of Austin Peay State University; during a New Orleans buffet luncheon
strolling university drama students in period costumes provided skits
portraying scenes from Dix’ life. The luncheon was set under the front
yard oaks at Woodstock; tours of Woodstock were given by local
historians; a plaque commemorating the symposium was placed and unveiled
on the lawn of Woodstock; a pre-play dinner buffet and a theatrical
“Dorothy Dix Speaks” production at the local community theater ended the
daily festivity.
1. Dorothy Dix Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer ‘The First Woman Journalist,’
edited by Inga A. Filippo and Elnor McMahan. Proceedings of the
contributed papers session of the Dorothy Dix Symposium. F.G. Woodward
Library, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee. 1993 (http://library.apsu.edu/dix/dix.htm).
Dix Coll PS3515.I635 D622 1991.
2. Symposium narrative (for the day) which includes program logistics,
by Elnor McMahan. September, 1991 (7 p. typed script).
3. Correspondence with Symposium panel members and Inga Filippo,
1991-1993.
4. Letter from Dear Abby, (Margaret Kilgore, assistant to Abigail Van
Buren) to Elnor McMahan, declining the invitation to speak at the
Symposium. 1991.
5. “Tour of Woodstock,” Woodstock tour script, by Elinor H. Thurman,
1991 and 1996.
6. Pre and post Symposium public announcements. The Leaf Chronicle,
Clarksville, Tennessee, The All State, APSU student paper, and a press
release from the [Nashville]Tennessean, September 1991 (5 items).
7. Theatrical production script, “Dorothy Dix Speaks,” by John McDonald
(Dix Coll PS3515.I 635 M32); poster, The Leaf Chronicle announcement of
the forthcoming production with photo of the three main characters;
printed invitation to a later February Valentine performance of “Dorothy
Dix Speaks,” 1991 and 1992 (4 items).
8. Autograph luncheon invitation, September 1993. Celebrating the
printing of the ‘Symposium Papers’ with the panelists at the home of
Inga Filippo. All panelists received a copy of the book; article with
photo of the book presentation to the Meriwether family in New Orleans.
The Leaf Chronicle, Around Town, September 19, 1993 (2 items).
9. Copyright permission correspondence between Inga Filippo and the
symposium panelists for the Symposium publication, 1994.
10. Symposium registration forms of attendants, 1991 (2 folders).
11. Symposium guest book with handwritten names of participants,
September 27, 1991 (incomplete).
12. Symposium program matter including all special tickets such as name
tags, luncheon menu, theatre reminder and reservation response cards,
September 1991.
13. Symposium bills, 1991.
14. Dorothy Dix Symposium, symposium video recording, 4v. 1991 (Dix Coll
VC-Tape PS3515. I 635 D62).
Dorothy Dix
Research Guide (menu)