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.
- 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
Kim Trauth to Kevin Trauth, 1981-1983, undated
Karen Trauth to Kevin Trauth, 1982
Letters to Mary Trauth, 1949, 1981-1983, undated
Aunt Barbara to Trauth family, 1982
Convent of Our Lady of Michelob to Kevin Trauth, undated
Mary Trauth to Kevin Trauth, undated
Photographs, 1981-1985, undated
Schrodt art studio student sale, 1981
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
"Alonzo, Celine, Kenny, Clark and Clark's girlfriend Halloween at V.8.", 1981
Kevin Trauth posing next to steel beam, 1984 September
Four unidentified individuals on a couch, 1984
Unidentified young man in a teal shirt on a bed, 1984
Three unidentified men dressed in dresses and wigs, smoking, 1984
Unidentified shirtless man in front of an open refrigerator, 1984
Two unidentified men in a doorway dressed in tropical fruit outfits, 1984
Unidentified woman in a white and pink polka dot shirt, 1985
Three unidentified men at a house party, 1985
Unidentified man sleeping on a couch, 1985
Eight unidentified men sitting on the floor, laughing, 1985
Unidentified man and woman drinking and lying on the beach, 1985
Unidentified man and woman posed in front of the water, 1985
Unidentified man and woman sun tanning on the beach, 1985
Kevin Trauth [center] with two unidentified men sitting on a couch, 1985
Kevin Trauth [Left] sitting on a couch with an unidentified man, 1985
Unidentified group at a house party, 1985
Unidentified man and woman inside a house, 1985
Three unidentified men and a blonde woman talking at a party, 1985
Three unidentified shirtless men on a beach themed parade float, 1985
Unidentified blonde drag queen wearing an orange dress at a parade, 1985
Unidentified crowd at unknown event in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, 1985
Two unidentified Black men riding on a car in a parade, 1985
Unidentified drag queens and men on a parade float, 1985
Unidentified man wearing black leather harness and a hat, 1985
Unidentified shirtless man on a parade float with a golden statue of liberty, 1985
Unidentified men on a parade float, 1985
Two unidentified drag queens dressed as geishas walking in a parade, 1985
Unidentified drag queen wearing a red dress with feathers in their hair at a parade, 1985
Unidentified person wearing a white cat costume sitting on a car driving in a parade, 1985
Three unidentified men in speedos wearing medals on a parade float, 1985
Three unidentified shirtless men on a parade float, 1985
David, holding a jar of cheez balls, next to his painting "Nymphs in Space", undated
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
Scotty [bottom] sitting on couch holding the arms of an unidentified person standing behind the couch, undated
Unidentified man in a white button up shirt, undated
Two unidentified men and a woman at the beach, undated
Kenny Williams and Mark Peak in a cemetery, undated
Two unidentified men in drag, undated
Nine unidentified men and Kevin Trauth [second from left, bottom row] forming a human pyramid, undated
Human pyramid collapsing made up of nine unidentified men and Kevin Trauth [on floor, with man in white long sleeve shirt above him], undated
Three unidentified men drinking while wearing beach apparel, undated
Kevin Trauth [shirtless, far left] and four unidentified men attempting to form a human pyramid, undated
Kevin trauth [second from right], two unidentified men, and one woman at a beach themed party, undated
Kevin Trauth [second from right] with three unidentified men and one woman at a beach themed party, undated
Three unidentified men in beach themed outfits, undated
Kevin trauth [second from left] with three unidentified men posing in front of a beach themed backdrop, undated
View of John B. Castleman monument in Louisville, Kentucky, undated
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.
