Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters

Abstract

The Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters (dated 1872-1926, bulk 1899; 0.25 cubic feet; 11 folders) comprise letters that document the relationship of Harry Hope and Clara Puls in Missouri at the change from the nineteenth to the twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters
Date
1872-1926 (inclusive)
1899 (bulk)
Creator
Hope, Clara Puls, 1877-1956
Extent
0.25 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Businessmen.
Letters.
Marriage -- United States
Railroads -- Design and construction
Spanish-American War, 1898.
Women -- United States -- History.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0136: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters, 1872-1926, bulk 1899, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Harry S. Hope (1877-1952) was born in Missouri. Clara L. Puls (1877-1956) was born in Pilot Knob, Missouri to Adrianus Job Puls (1840-1879) and Annie Louise Behrens (1851-1949). Harry worked as a salesman with the T.J. Moss Tie Company in Chaonia, Missouri; the company sold railroad ties to railways and was the largest tie company during the nineteenth century. On December 12, 1899, Harry and Clara married; together the couple had one daughter, Louise Hope (1902-1972).
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 Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters (dated 1872-1926, bulk 1899; 0.25 cubic feet; 11 folders) comprise letters that document the relationship of Harry Hope and Clara Puls in Missouri at the change from the nineteenth to the twentieth century. The letters are primarily from Harry to Clara, yet there are some letters from Clara to Harry. The letters from Harry discuss his travels for work, enlistment in the military during the Spanish-American War, and his yearning to be married to Clara. Clara's letters discuss her daily life, assisting customers at work, her displeasure at Harry's enlistment, and her constant postponement of their wedding. The letters illustrate changing attitudes among women concerning marriage and what could be gained from such a relationship.
The Harry and Clara Puls-Hope 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 collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters, 1872

  • Box 29, folder 6
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Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters, 1899

  • Box 29, folder 7-13
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Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters, 1900-1901

  • Box 29, folder 14
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Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters, 1902-1903

  • Box 29, folder 15
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Harry and Clara Puls-Hope letters, 1904-1906, 1925-1926

  • Box 29, folder 16
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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.

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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.