Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Kevin Trauth papers

Abstract

The Kevin Trauth papers (dated 1949, 1972-1985, undated; 0.17 cubic feet; 8 folders, 50 photographs) comprises letters and photographs documenting the life of Kevin Trauth in Louisville, Kentucky during the latter part of the twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Kevin Trauth papers
Date
1949, 1972-1985, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Trauth, Kevin, 1960-1994
Extent
0.17 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Friendship.
Gay community -- Kentucky.
Gays -- Social life and customs
Gay pride celebrations.
Gay community
Drag shows.
Families.
Divorce -- Kentucky.
Drug abuse
Sex
Violence
Death
Art.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Hanna Rumbarger
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0892: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Kevin Trauth papers, 1949, 1972-1985, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Kevin Trauth (1960-1994) was born in Louisville, Kentucky to John Stanley Trauth (1935-1982) and Karen Trauth (b.1936). Kevin Trauth had three siblings, Kim Trauth Ettel (b. 1959), Michelle Trauth Forbes (b.1962) and Michael Trauth (b.1965). Kevin attended Seneca High School, a public school in Louisville. Kevin Trauth passed away at thirty four years old and is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
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 Kevin Trauth papers (dated 1949, 1972-1985, undated; 0.17 cubic feet; 8 folders, 50 photographs) comprises letters and photographs documenting the life of Kevin Trauth in Louisville, Kentucky during the latter part of the twentieth century. The letters in this collection are from friends and family member. Letters from Kevin's mother, Karen Trauth, provide insight into Kevin's bad relationship with his father, and Karen's new dating life. In one letter sent to Kevin from his father, he discusses topics such as sex and his love of drinking. Kevin and his sister, Kim, are very close and she writes frequently from Florida where she meets her husband and has her first child. Kevin's paternal grandmother and aunt write to Kevin and his siblings, offering them condolences after the passing of their father. Kevin also receives many letters from male and female friends. They discuss various prevalent topics from the eighties; drugs, sex, music and the gay community. Kevin is openly gay and receives letters from other friends who are also gay. His wide friend group writes to him about their daily lives, painting, school, relationships problems and other gossip.
The photos in this collection feature Kevin Trauth and various friends. Many of the pictures are from a pride parade and showcase many different drag queens. Other photographs depict various house and costume parties. There are also pictures from Kevin's trip to Florida to visit his sisters and their partners.
The Kevin Trauth papers collection is 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

John Trauth to Kevin Trauth, 1972

  • Box WH-102, folder 16
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Kim Trauth to Kevin Trauth, 1981-1983, undated

  • Box WH-102, folder 17
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Karen Trauth to Kevin Trauth, 1982

  • Box WH-102, folder 19
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Letters to Mary Trauth, 1949, 1981-1983, undated

  • Box WH-102, folder 20
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Aunt Barbara to Trauth family, 1982

  • Box WH-102, folder 21
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Convent of Our Lady of Michelob to Kevin Trauth, undated

  • Box WH-102, folder 22
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Mary Trauth to Kevin Trauth, undated

  • Box WH-102, folder 23
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Photographs, 1981-1985, undated

Schrodt art studio student sale, 1981

  • Box WH-95, item 1
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Unidentified young girl dressed as a hula dancer and a young man dressed as a Star War Character, note on back reads "Lois, Halloween at V.8.", 1981

  • Box WH-95, item 2
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"Alonzo, Celine, Kenny, Clark and Clark's girlfriend Halloween at V.8.", 1981

  • Box WH-95, item 3
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Kevin Trauth posing next to steel beam, 1984 September

  • Box WH-95, item 4
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Four unidentified individuals on a couch, 1984

  • Box WH-95, item 5
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Unidentified young man in a teal shirt on a bed, 1984

  • Box WH-95, item 6
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Three unidentified men dressed in dresses and wigs, smoking, 1984

  • Box WH-95, item 7
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Unidentified shirtless man in front of an open refrigerator, 1984

  • Box WH-95, item 8
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Two unidentified men in a doorway dressed in tropical fruit outfits, 1984

  • Box WH-95, item 9
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Unidentified woman in a white and pink polka dot shirt, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 10
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Three unidentified men at a house party, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 11
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Unidentified man sleeping on a couch, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 12
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Eight unidentified men sitting on the floor, laughing, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 13
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Unidentified man and woman drinking and lying on the beach, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 14
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Unidentified man and woman posed in front of the water, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 15
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Unidentified man and woman sun tanning on the beach, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 16
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Kevin Trauth [center] with two unidentified men sitting on a couch, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 17
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Kevin Trauth [Left] sitting on a couch with an unidentified man, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 18
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Unidentified group at a house party, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 19
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Unidentified man and woman inside a house, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 20
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Three unidentified men and a blonde woman talking at a party, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 21
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Three unidentified shirtless men on a beach themed parade float, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 22
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Unidentified blonde drag queen wearing an orange dress at a parade, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 23
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Unidentified crowd at unknown event in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 24
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Two unidentified Black men riding on a car in a parade, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 25
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Unidentified drag queens and men on a parade float, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 26
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Unidentified man wearing black leather harness and a hat, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 27
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Unidentified shirtless man on a parade float with a golden statue of liberty, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 28
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Unidentified men on a parade float, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 29
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Two unidentified drag queens dressed as geishas walking in a parade, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 30
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Unidentified drag queen wearing a red dress with feathers in their hair at a parade, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 31
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Unidentified person wearing a white cat costume sitting on a car driving in a parade, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 32
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Three unidentified men in speedos wearing medals on a parade float, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 33
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Three unidentified shirtless men on a parade float, 1985

  • Box WH-95, item 34
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David, holding a jar of cheez balls, next to his painting "Nymphs in Space", undated

  • Box WH-95, item 35
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Three unidentified persons dressed as clowns, note on back reads "Clowning around in Louisville. I may start a new fashion craz. The Bag Head. We were doing valium too.", undated

  • Box WH-95, item 36
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Scotty [bottom] sitting on couch holding the arms of an unidentified person standing behind the couch, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 37
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Unidentified man in a white button up shirt, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 38
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Two unidentified men and a woman at the beach, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 39
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Kenny Williams and Mark Peak in a cemetery, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 40
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Two unidentified men in drag, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 41
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Nine unidentified men and Kevin Trauth [second from left, bottom row] forming a human pyramid, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 42
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Human pyramid collapsing made up of nine unidentified men and Kevin Trauth [on floor, with man in white long sleeve shirt above him], undated

  • Box WH-95, item 43
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Three unidentified men drinking while wearing beach apparel, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 44
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Kevin Trauth [shirtless, far left] and four unidentified men attempting to form a human pyramid, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 45
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Kevin trauth [second from right], two unidentified men, and one woman at a beach themed party, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 46
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Kevin Trauth [second from right] with three unidentified men and one woman at a beach themed party, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 47
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Three unidentified men in beach themed outfits, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 48
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Kevin trauth [second from left] with three unidentified men posing in front of a beach themed backdrop, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 49
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View of John B. Castleman monument in Louisville, Kentucky, undated

  • Box WH-95, item 50
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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.

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Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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.