Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Carrie Shoemaker letters

Abstract

The Carrie Shoemaker letters (dated 1918-1928, undated; 0.20 cubic feet; 6 folders) comprises letters sent to Carrie Shoemaker from family and friends that document military and daily life in West Virginia in the early twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Carrie Shoemaker letters
Date
1918-1928, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Shoemaker, Carrie
Extent
0.20 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Correspondence.
Family.
Friendship.
Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 20th century
Gossip.
Military life.
World War, 1914-1918.
Health
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
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0878: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Carrie Shoemaker letters, 1918-1928, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Carrie Shoemaker (1906-1983) was born in West Virginia to Hezekiah Shoemaker (1852-1907) and Mary Hinkle (1860-1929). In 1924, she married Rosser Whiteman (1895-1943) and together the couple had six children, Charles Philip (1925-1945), Irene Genevieve (1927-2019), Marvin Randolph (1928-2012), Earl Eugene (1929-1950), Orville Glenn (b. 1931), and Norma R. (b. 1937). No other biographical information available.
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 Carrie Shoemaker letters (dated 1918-1928, undated; 0.20 cubic feet; 6 folders) comprises letters sent to Carrie Shoemaker from family and friends that document military and daily life in West Virginia in the early twentieth century. The letters from friends discuss dating, social outings, visiting with friends and family, and travel. Letters from family members discuss personal health, visiting other relatives, and family fights. Carrie also receives letters from soldiers serving with her brother, describing life in Panama, daily duties, and when they last saw her brother. Included in the collection are letters from Rosser Whiteman, Carrie's future husband, to his family members. He writes to them while serving in the army during World War I, discussing life at Camp Meade, his personal health, the influenza outbreak, going on guard duty, participating in hikes, and his thoughts on when he will be able to return home.
The Carrie Shoemaker letters 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

Family to Carrie Shoemaker, 1923-1928

  • Box WH-106, folder 2
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Friends to Carrie Shoemaker, 1923-1924, undated

  • Box WH-106, folder 3
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Charles Bowman to Carrie Shoemaker, 1924

  • Box WH-106, folder 4
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Eleanor Whiteman to Carrie Shoemaker, 1923-1924

  • Box WH-106, folder 5
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Rosser Whiteman to Carrie Shoemaker, 1924

  • Box WH-106, folder 6
To top

Rosser Whiteman to family, 1918, undated

  • Box WH-106, folder 7
To top

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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.

Requests

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Submit a request for SCRC materials.




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.