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Lois Dozier Norvell papers
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Evelyn 'Lois' Dozier Norvell (1917-1986) was born in Athens, Georgia, on December 24, 1917. Her parents were Obedience 'Obie' Rogers Dozier, Sr. (1888-1939) and Alice Louise Brinkley (1888-1967). Lois' siblings were Roger Dozier and Alice 'Lallie' Dozier Benkoski. On February 19, 1949, Lois married Lauren Gardiner Norvell (1910-1981), cousin of Oliver Hardy. Lauren was a graduate of Emory University (Atlanta, Ga.) and a reporter for the sports department of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Nancy Kathleen Norvell (1957-1994), born in Atlanta, Georgia, was their only child. Nancy married Timothy Lee Boaz on May 20, 1989. She had a Ph.D. in psychology and was taking flying lessons in Florida when her airplane ran out of fuel. Nancy died in the subsequent airplane crash on February 8, 1994, and is buried at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Thomson, Georgia.
Lois graduated from Georgia Evening College (now Georgia State University) with a degree in Business Administration on May 25, 1942. During World War II, Lois sent and received letters from men and women in military service. most of her correspondents were students form Georgia Evening College. Once a month, Lois published a newsletter providing information about the soldiers with whom she corresponded. Lois received awards and public notoriety for this and her other activities in the war effort. In February, 1967, she received a USO certificate in recognition of her distinguished service to the nation through United Service Organizations. In 1947, Lois served as chairman of the Office of Price Administration Information Panel in Newnan, Georgia. During World War II, Lois was advertising manager for Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, but she relinquished the job when the former advertising manager returned from the war.
Lois began her writing career early in life and won several prizes for her writing skills as a teenager. In high school, she was associate editor for central Night School's newspaper, Modern Knight. White attending college, she was editor of the college newspaper, Evening Signal. She later worked as a reporter for the Cobb County Times in Marietta, Georgia, the Newnan Herald in Griffin, Georgia, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the Society Department in the fashion section as a garden editor. While working as garden editor in 1953, a camellia originated and cultivated by the Central Georgia Nurseries in Macon, Georgia, was named for her, 'The Lois Norvell Camellia.' From approximately 1954 to 1964, Lois was assistant editor and advertising manager of The Coca Cola Bottler in Atlanta, the company magazine for Coca Cola Company. She died on October 15, 1986 and is buried at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Thomson, Georgia.
The donor of this collection suggests researchers interested in writing about this family should contact her. See Library and Archives staff for her contact information.
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This collection consists of Lois Dozier Norvell's correspondence, publications, personal records and memorabilia, and photographs. The collection has been arranged in four series following that order. Lois' primary war correspondents included the following: Dean C. Broome; F.A. (Jack) Brown; Hogan F. Buford; Ed Clark; Frank Cloudt; Don J. Coffee, Jr.; Claudia M. Couch; Bill DeHood; Charles M. Dobbins; Dean E. Dreyer; George R. Edwards; Jack Farr; Joseph F. Forestal, Jr.; J.M. Gregory; Frank E. Hamilton, Jr.; Hugh H. Howell, Jr.; Jean Johnson; Waldo Keller; Jimmie Lacher; Robert C. Lowe, Jr.; Larry Manley; James G. Mason; Robert T. Solenstein; Raymond Styles; Charles W. Swilling; Julian Thomas; Newton M. White. Some letters are addressed to Lois and Caroline Reid, a few to Caroline only. Caroline, one of Lois' close friends, helped her with the newsletter. Lois' family and personal correspondents include her parents, her daughter, her aunts Carolyn Lois 'Carrie' Dozier and Eva Brinkley, her uncle Jack Kane, and sister Lallie, in addition to various college friends and coworkers.
The photographs series consists of photographs of Lois, her wartime correspondents, family, and various individuals and groups, both identified and unidentified. Identified soldiers pictured include Grady Banks; Warren Blackmon; Kirby Callaway; John Cash; Jack Cason; John Clark; Frank Cloudt; Neil Crawford; Cliff Darby; Jack Driskell; John Ell; John Ellis; Jack Farr; Hugo Franz; Bubba Hill; Johnny Hill; Bill Jacobs; Jean Johnson; Jan Keller; Bob Lowe, Louis J. Lucas; Jimmy Mason; Millard Poesy; Caroline Reid; Robert T. Solenstein; Edward H. Still; Bill Thomas; Julian J. Thomas; and Peyton Turner. Many of the photographs in the collection are undated or the subjects are unidentified. In addition, the collection contains pictures of Emory University, Lauren's alma mater. Also included in the collection are two of Lois' scrapbooks with photographs of family, friends, and World War II correspondents.
The boxes containing photographs are noted as 'VM' (visual materials) in the collection inventory.
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Artifacts were separated and cataloged with the Georgia Historical Society Artifacts Collection.
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Negatives are restricted from patron use.
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Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
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GHS 1690, Lois Dozier Norvell papers, 1917-1994. Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
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