Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Kenyon Fink papers

Abstract

The Kenyon Fink papers (dated 1945-1954; 0.1 cubic feet; 5 folders) comprise documents relating to the World War II draft board and Fink's job as a telegraph messenger with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Kenyon Fink papers
Date
1945-1954 (inclusive)
Creator
Fink, Kenyon, 1919-2009
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Labor disputes -- Kentucky.
Labor unions -- Kentucky.
Railroads -- Kentucky.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Kentucky.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by subject.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0017: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Kenyon Fink papers, 1945-1954, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Kenyon Fink (1919-2009) was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He worked as a telegraph messenger with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to support his mother, a widow working for the Works Progress Administration.
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 Kenyon Fink papers (dated 1945-1954; 0.1 cubic feet; 5 folders) comprise documents relating to the World War II draft board and Fink's job as a telegraph messenger with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. A number of the documents are in reference to his retirement plan with the railroad. There are also termination notices for his position, one relating to an engineer and railroad strike at the L & N and the other relating to a coal strike that reduced the railroad's traffic. Documents from the Selective Service include a questionnaire completed by Fink related to his physical health and employment alongside correspondence with the Louisville Draft Board.
The Kenyon Fink papers 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
The 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

Selective Service, 1941-1945

  • Box 120, folder 1
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Railroad retirement, 1938-1944

  • Box 120, folder 2
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Employment and labor strike notices, 1948

  • Box 120, folder 3
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Louisville & Nashville Railroad seniority rosters, 1945-1954

  • Box 120, folder 4
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Notes, 1941-1943

  • Box 120, folder 5
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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.