Wyatt donates scrapbook to library

By ROLAND MANN Times Editor

The Piggott Public Library has recently acquired the scrapbook of Willie Underwood Wyatt. The donation, given by Clarence Wyatt, Jr. in memory of his mother, Willie Underwood Wyatt, was initially donated to the Hemingway-Pfeifer Museum and Education Center. Diana Sanders Assistant Director Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum & Educational Center Arkansas State University Heritage Site, took the items that were associated with the Hemingway/Pfeifer families and suggested Wyatt donate the other materials to the Piggott Library.

Wyatt wrote a letter to the Piggott Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and offered the scrapbook and a collection of wood carvings whittled by his grandfather, Frank Underwood, reported Sanders. “The Chamber forwarded his letter to us. We were very interested in the scrapbook, especially the collection of Valentines from his mother’s 1918 grammar class of Piggott Public School. Many of her school friends represent families still living in Piggott and some are noted as friends of the Paul Pfeiffer family.�

Sanders said that the exhibit, “Valentines From Piggott, 1910 to 1918,� was exhibited at Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum in February, 2005 and 2006 was created from Valentines in Willie Underwood Wyatt’s scrapbook. “The balance of the scrapbook includes over 100 clippings, tintype and card photographs,� said Sanders, “and other family mementos of Piggott history. Mr. Wyatt wished to donate the balance of the scrapbook to the Piggott Public Library in memory of his mother. This gift is a treasure of original items of Piggott history. The Piggott Library will serve as a resource center for research of the gift.�

Willie Underwood Wyatt was born and raised in Piggott. She married Clarence Wyatt of Campbell, in 1923 and moved to California. Her parents, Frank Marion Underwood and Lalla Rhook Simpson Underwood lived all of their lives in Piggott. Mr. Underwood served as mayor of Piggott and Justice of the Peace of St. Francis for a number of years.

“Willie Underwood Wyatt’s father helped build the Pfeiffer house,� said Gay Johnson, Library Director at the Piggott Public Library. “Willie was in the 1922 class of PHS.�

“My mother loved the people in Piggott,� said Wyatt, of Morro Bay, California, “and she loved the town. I feel that I can honor her memory the best I can.�

Sanders said The Valentine card collection included cards from Mrs. Josephine Brissenden King, a lifetime resident of Piggott. In preparation for the exhibit, Mrs. King identified most of the names in the scrapbook and provided a 1918 grammar school photograph that included many of the friends. She was 102 years of age at the time.

The scrapbook includes 120 items, including a 1918 print of the grammar class at Piggott Public School. The scrapbook is on reserve at the Piggott Public Library.

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