Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wadsworth family papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wadsworth family papers
- Date
- 1922-1930, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.09 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Culver Military Academy.
- Family farms
- Farm life
- Home economics extension work
- Letters.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0192: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wadsworth family papers, 1922-1930, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Alson Wadsworth (1870-1935) was born in Michigan to John Wadsworth (1831-1899) and Althea Wing (1833-1919). In 1895, Alson married Chloe E. Burgett (1874-1935), and together they had two children – Paul J (1900-1902), who died of meningitis, and Esther Marion (1902-1996). The family lived on a farm that Alson ran in Otsego, Michigan. Esther attended the University of Michigan from 1921 to 1924; by 1930, she was living in Culver, Indiana and working as a clerk in a private school. In 1940, Esther married chemist Wayne H. York (1907-1989) and lived in Michigan.
- 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 Wadsworth family papers (dated 1922-1930; 0.09 cubic feet; 4 folders) comprises letters and papers that document the Wadsworth family and their farm in Otsego, Michigan in the 1920s. The letters are primarily sent to Esther from her parents and they discuss the use of home demonstration agents in farm communities, work Chloe did on the farm to help Alson, and comments on Esther's social activities and schoolwork, as well as a few letters to Esther from friends that mostly discuss school and grades, along with social activities. Letters to Alson and Chloe Wadsworth come from family and friends, they discuss work, arrival of new babies, and personal health; there is one letter from Esther to her parents that details her job in Culver, Indiana working at the Culver Military Academy. The papers include a drawing a detailed outline of the operation of an air-cooled engine, a copy of Michigan driving laws from 1930, a history of France, and manuals concerning chicken egg incubation equipment.
- The Wadsworth family 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.
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.
