A Guide to the Louita Dodson Wilson Papers, 1974, 1986-1992

Historical Note

Louita Wilson Dodson (1917-1992) was a petroleum geologist, anthropologist, author, and community leader in Texas. She was born April 3, 1917, in Dallas, Texas, and received her BA in Geology from The University of Texas at Austin in 1940. During WWII she was one of a few women employed in the field of geology and worked for such companies as West Texas Range Improvement Co, Midland (1940-1943); Geophysical Services, Inc., Dallas (1943-1945); Sun Oil Co., Dallas (1945-1946); and Atlantic Refining Co., Caracas, Venezuela (1946-1948).

In 1948 she married Thomas Carroll Wilson with whom she had three children: Thomas Texas, Allison Carroll, and Katherine. She wrote a how-to book, Making the Most of Every Move, under the name Garner Dodson. The book was published by Putnum in 1958. In 1961 she earned her MA in Anthropology from The University of Colorado, and from 1965-1966 she was an anthropology researcher at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

Ms. Wilson spent the latter years of her life in San Antonio, Texas, where she was committed to women's and community issues. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, from 1944 to 1985, for which she held several positions including President. She was membership chairperson for the Bexar County Woman's Political Caucus, 1988-1990, a member of the National Organization for Women, and co-founder of the Doté Foundation, a local not-for-profit organization that provides funding and support for activities that empower women in San Antonio.

Ms. Wilson died in 1992.

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Scope and Content Note

The Louita Dodson Wilson Papers, 1974, 1986-1992, consists of works, notes, letters, legal documents, printed material, and artwork created during the latter part of her life. The collection includes computer printouts, handwritten and typed manscripts, and computer disks. The material is arranged into series primarily by form with Unpublished Works and Writing Class comprising the bulk of the collection. Both offer autobiographical perspectives into her life and provide insight into her experiences as a female geologist.

The Unpublished Works were obtained from her computer disks posthumously and include short stories and fragments of an autobiography. The Writing Class series is divided into three subseries arranged by form: Journal Entries, Notes, and Printed Material. Each of these subseries was either created or collected by Ms. Wilson for a writing class held at the Bexar County Women's Center. The smaller series' of Letters, Legal Documents, and Artwork offer supplemental insight into the her life and activities. The final series, Works by Other Authors, consists of a manuscript written by Shirley Ann Mackeller and printed from Ms. Wilson's computer disk.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the collection must be obtained from the Archives and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Louita Dodson Wilson Papers, 1974, 1986-1992, Archives and Special Collections, Library, University of Texas at San Antonio.

Acquisition Information

Papers were donated by Katharine Sheldon in 1995 (Acc. 1995-006).

Processing Information

Processed by Katie Salzmann, Processing Archivist, June 1996.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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