Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Albert James letters

Abstract

The Albert James letters (dated 1913-1920; 0.03 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise family letters sent to Albert from his mother, Mary James, progressed loved ones throughout the family, and a noted family-friend Earl C. Adams that document the war, hard times for one another, missing Albert while he's away, and sickness and health.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Albert James letters
Date
1913-1920 (inclusive)
Creator
James, Albert, 1895-1981
Extent
0.03 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Education -- Massachusetts
Health
Travel.
Male friendship -- 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
Leslie Saylor
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0315: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Albert James letters, 1913-1920, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Reuben Albert James (1895-1981) traveled and lived in South Egremont, Massachusetts; Camden and Charleston, South Carolina between 1913-1920 due to education and work. Father, Tilman James (b. 1872) and mother, Mary James (b. 1875) lived in Camden, South Carolina with Albert's siblings: Robert James, Louise James, Tillman James, Nora James, Bessie James, Christopher James, Macie James, Willie James, Sammie James, Albert James, and Mattie James.
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 Albert James letters collection (dated 1913-1920; 0.03 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise family letters sent to Albert from his mother, Mary James, progressed loved ones throughout the family, and a noted family-friend Earl C. Adams that document the war, hard times for one another, missing Albert while he's away, and sickness and health. The collection consists of sixteen letters: all of which are to Albert James. In the beginning stages of the letters, Albert seems to be away at college in Massachusetts while his friend Earl C. Adams is away at school in Augusta, GA trying to persuade him to transfer there. Letters from home, Camden, South Carolina, illustrate how much his family misses him and longs for him to come home during his breaks, which seems as if he doesn't do. Along with letters regarding his labor needed elsewhere such as New York and North Carolina, which also seems as something he doesn't move to do. Within one of the last letters in the collection, Alber's mother, Mary James, writes to him that she is feeling much better after being sick for some time, and she can cook and eat again for herself.
The Albert James 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
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

Albert James letters, 1913-1920

  • Box WH-12, folder 3
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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.