  We examine the stellar content of 10 dwarf irregular galaxies of which
broad-band CCD photometry was published in Hopp & Schulte-Ladbeck (1995). We
also present Halpha images for several of these galaxies. The galaxies in the
sample are located outside of the Local Group. Yet, they are still close enough
to be resolved into single stars from the ground but only the brightest stars
(or star clusters) are detected and there is severe crowding. The sample
galaxies were selected to be isolated from massive neighbors; about half of
them are (mostly peripheral) members of groups, the other half is located in
the field. We discuss the vicinity of the sample galaxies to other dwarf
galaxies.
  In order to interpret single-star photometry and draw conclusions about the
stellar content or other distance-dependent quantities, it is crucial that
accurate distances to the galaxies be known. The distances to the sample
galaxies are not well known since all but one have not had a primary distance
indicator measured. We make an attempt to constrain the distances by
identifying the envelope of the brightest supergiants in B, B-R and R, B-R
color-magnitude diagrams, but the results are not very accurate (we estimate
the minimal error on the distance modulus is 1.36 mag). Nevertheless, the fact
that the sample galaxies are resolved with direct ground-based imaging
indicates that they are sufficiently nearby to represent good candidates for
observations with instruments that provide high spatial resolution, e.g.,
adaptive optics systems on large ground-based telescopes, or the Hubble Space
Telescope. ...
