Mabel Henderson Reed papers

Abstract

The Mabel Henderson Reed papers (dated 1942-1962; 0.95 cubic feet; 2 boxes) consist of scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, correspondence, and short essays, concerning World War II and the Japanese people.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Mabel Henderson Reed papers
Date
1942-1962 (inclusive)
Creator
Reed, Mabel Henderson
Extent
0.95 Cubic Feet
Subjects
United States -- History -- World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945 -- Kentucky.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format.
Finding Aid Author
Greg Seltzer
Preferred Citation
63m284: [identification of item], Mabel Henderson Reed papers, 1942-1962, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Born in Ohio in 1900, Mabel Henderson Reed was married to Minor Reed and lived in Russell and Raceland, Kentucky. During World War II she wrote a series of general letters to U.S. servicemen. The letters were published in the Russell Times and were addressed to "Johnny" and signed "Mom". In the years after the war, Mabel Henderson Reed corresponded with various Japanese individuals; many of the recipients seem to have been young Japanese adults teaching or learning English in Japan.
Scope and Content
The Mabel Henderson Reed papers (dated 1942-1962; 0.95 cubic feet; 2 boxes) consist of scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, correspondence, and short essays, concerning World War II and the Japanese people. The newspaper clippings from the Russell Times document Reed's letter writing to U.S. servicemen during World War II. These popular letters were written to "Johnny" by "Mom" and contained general words of encouragement and her opinions on certain war-related issues. Letters addressed to Mrs. Minor Reed, Mabel Henderson Reed's married name, in Raceland, Kentucky, make up the majority of the dated correspondence. Many of these letters are written from Japan. Correspondence that either lacks a clear recipient or is sent to someone other than Mrs. Reed is placed in the unidentified correspondence folder. Some of the letters in the collection are missing portions of text. Two of the essays in this collection are written by Japanese individuals. The other essay is an autobiographical text that Mabel Henderson Reed composed in 1962.

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

"Mom" letters, 1942

  • Box 1, folder 1
To top

Scrapbooks, 1943-1944

  • Box 2, folder 1
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Letters to Mrs. Minor Reed, 1949-1950

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Letters to Mrs. Minor Reed, 1951 January-June

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Letters to Mrs. Minor Reed, 1951 July-September

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Letters to Mrs. Minor Reed, 1951 October-December

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Letters to Mrs. Minor Reed, 1952

  • Box 1, folder 6
To top

Letters to Mrs. Minor Reed, 1953

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Letters to Mrs. Minor Reed, 1954-1958

  • Box 1, folder 8
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Letters to Mrs. Minor Reed, undated

  • Box 1, folder 12
To top

Unidentified correspondence, 1951

  • Box 1, folder 11
To top

Newsletter, essays, 1951

  • Box 1, folder 9
To top

Mabel Henderson Reed (Mrs. Minor Reed) autobiographical essay, 1962

  • Box 1, folder 10
To top

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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.

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.