Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Averitt family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Averitt family letters
- Date
- 1911
- Creator
- Averitt, Erwin, 1884-1974
- Extent
- 0.04 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Baptists -- Kentucky.
- Baptists -- Clergy.
- Family.
- Church -- Social aspects.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0159: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Averitt family letters, 1911, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Erwin Averitt (1884-1974) was born in Bedford, Kentucky to Luther Averitt (1852-1912) and Martha Averitt (1854-1930). He was an evangelical minister and preacher at Oakdale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1910, Erwin married Blanche Wyatt (1884-1975). During World War I Erwin served as a first lieutenant and chaplain for the American Expeditionary Force from August 1918 to April 1919. Upon his discharge form the army, Erwin and his wife moved to Columbus, Ohio where he continued his occupation as a preacher. They later returned to Louisville for Erwin to preach in 1930, and remained in Jefferson County for the remainder of their lives.
- American Letters collector Wade Hall (1934-2015) was a native of Union Springs, Alabama. Starting in 1962, he lived in Louisville, where he taught English and chaired the English and Humanities/Arts programs at Kentucky Southern College and Bellarmine University. He also taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida. He held degrees from Troy State University (B.S.), the University of Alabama (M.A.), and the University of Illinois (Ph.D.). He served for two years in the U.S. Army in the mid-fifties. Dr. Hall was the author of books, monographs, articles, plays, and reviews relating to Kentucky, Alabama, and Southern history and literature. His most recent books include A Visit with Harlan Hubbard; High Upon a Hill: A History of Bellarmine College; A Song in Native Pastures: Randy Atcher's Life in Country Music; and Waters of Life from Conecuh Ridge.
- Scope and Content
- The Averitt family letters (dated 1911; 0.04 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise nine letters that document the relationship between Erwin and his parents in Kentucky in the beginning of the twentieth century. The letters are from Erwin to his parents in Bedford, Kentucky, and he discusses his interest in moving to the south to be a minister, the finances of the church, his attempts to help his parents with their bills, and events he attended through the church.
- The Averitt family letters are part of the Wade Hall Collection of American letters, which includes correspondence and diaries from all over North America covering the time period of the Civil to Korean Wars. The materials were collected by Wade Hall and document everyday men and women.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Use Restrictions
- The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
