Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Mamie C. Reis letters

Abstract

The Mamie C. Reis letters (dated 1907-1920, 1938, undated; 0.38 cubic feet; 8 folders) comprise letters sent to Mamie that document the experiences of soldiers in World War I and the education needs of public schools in Louisville, Kentucky.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Mamie C. Reis letters
Date
1907-1920, 1938, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Reis, Mamie C., 1888-1976
Extent
0.38 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Teachers.
Women in education -- Kentucky.
World War, 1914-1918.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Public opinion.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged alphabetically by sender. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0141: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Mamie C. Reis letters, 1907-1920, 1938, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Mamie Reis (1888-1976) was born in Louisville, Kentucky to teamster John P. Reis (1853-1916) and Katie Reis (1854-1928); she had three sisters, Lizzie H., Hattie J., and Blanche M.C. Mamie graduated from the Louisville Girls High School in 1907, and then attended the Louisville Normal School from which she graduated in 1909. Following her graduation in 1909, she was employed by the Louisville Public School System at two different schools - the Quigley School and the Public School located at 40th and Garland streets. Mamie never married and remained in Louisville her entire life.
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 Mamie C. Reis letters collection (dated 1907-1920, 1938, undated; 0.38 cubic feet; 8 folders) comprises letters sent to Mamie that document the experiences of soldiers in World War I and the education needs of public schools in Louisville, Kentucky. The majority of letters in the collection are from soldiers stationed both in the United States and overseas in France. These letters discuss daily life in camps waiting for orders, being deployed overseas, and in one particular instance a member of Military Police catching soldiers wearing medals and campaign ribbons they didn't earn. The remainder of the letters discuss pay increases for Mamie at work, her being transferred to a different school, and visiting friends. There are postcards within the collection that have scenes from Camp Sherman, in Chillicothe, Ohio; Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky; Camp Logan in Houston, Texas; Camp Meade, Maryland; ands scenes of a field kitchen and roll call.
The Mamie C. Reis 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
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

Cates, A.M. to Mamie Reis, 1907

  • Box 21, folder 5
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Herrmann, Arthur C. to Mamie Reis, 1918

  • Box 21, folder 6
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Osborn, Lewis to Mamie Reis, 1918-1919, undated

  • Box 21, folder 7
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Roedel, Andrew A. to Mamie Reis, 1918 October

  • Box 21, folder 8
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Slaughter, Walter to Mamie Reis, 1918

  • Box 21, folder 9
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Starment, J. Walker to Mamie Reis, 1918-1920, undated

  • Box 21, folder 10
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Letters from Louisville Public Schools superintendent, 1909

  • Box 21, folder 11
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Letters and postcards, 1907-1919, 1938, undated

  • Box 21, folder 12
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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.

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Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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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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.