Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lincoln B. Irwin letters

Abstract

The Lincoln B. Irwin letters (dated 1895-1899; 0.06 cubic feet, 2 folders) comprise letters that document the relationship of Lincoln B. Irwin to his mother, sister, and girlfriend in New York at the end of the nineteenth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lincoln B. Irwin letters

Date: 1895-1899 (inclusive)

Creator: Irwin, Lincoln B., 1866-1955

Extent: 0.06 Cubic Feet

Subjects: Courtship -- 1890-1930; Love-letters; Women in church work.; Women -- employment

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: 2009ms132.0269: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lincoln B. Irwin letters, 1895-1899, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Repository: University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History: Lincoln B. Irwin (1866-1955) was born in New York to William B. Irwin (1822-1892) and Lovilla M. Seeber (1828-1920). In 1902, Irwin married Nellie C. Brown (1866-1948). According to the 1930 US Census he worked as a pattern maker.; 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 Lincoln B. Irwin letters (dated 1895-1899; 0.06 cubic feet, 2 folders) comprise letters that document the relationship of Lincoln B. Irwin to his mother, sister, and girlfriend in New York at the end of the nineteenth century. The letters are primarily from Irwin's girlfriend, identified only as Helen, and she discusses attending church, visiting friends, news of marriages of friends, the weather, and how much she misses him. Letters from Irwin's mother discuss working at "the store", visits from friends and family, updates on family members, and her personal wealth. Letters from Irwin's sister are similar to the letters from his mother, with her writing about work, their family, trips she took, and gossip on neighbors and friends from home.; The Lincoln B. Irwin letters ares 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: 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

Letters to Lincoln B. Irwin, 1895-1896

Box WH-3, folder 4

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Letters to Lincoln B. Irwin, 1896-1899

Box WH-3, folder 5

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Abstract
Descriptive Summary
Collection Overview
Preferred Citation
Restrictions on Access and Use
Contents of the Collection

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