Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Perry Vandervoort letters

Abstract

The Perry Vandervoort letters (dated 1893-1901; 0.10 cubic feet; 2 folders) comprises letters sent to Perry Vandervoort that document his family's daily life and efforts to support his military career in Indiana while he is deployed to the Philippines during the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Perry Vandervoort letters
Date
1893-1901 (inclusive)
Creator
Vandervoort, Perry
Extent
0.10 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Family.
Military life.
Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Philippines.
Marriage
Gossip.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0830: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Perry Vandervoort letters, 1893-1901, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Perry W. Vandervoort (1876-1942) was born in Indiana to Albert Vandervoort (1850-1882) and Orpha Bear (1858-1929). He served in the army during the Spanish-American War and was deployed to the Philippines. In 1905, he married Julia Kyle (1888-1962), but the couple quickly separated. In 1911, he married a second time to Olive Behymer Patton (1888-1969) and together the couple had one daughter, June (b. 1918). Perry was a circulation manager for The Madison Courier and later a salesman of the Socony Vacuum Oil company.
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 Perry Vandervoort letters (dated 1893-1901; 0.10 cubic feet; 2 folders) comprises letters sent to Perry Vandervoort that document his family's daily life and efforts to support his military career in Indiana while he is deployed to the Philippines during the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars. The letters come primarily from his relatives, they discuss business dealings, travel, family and local gossip, attempts to get Perry promoted in the military, meeting with politicians, matchmaking efforts, and their anger at him marrying a Spanish woman. The letters mainly focus on Perry's relationship with the Spanish woman, and the consequences he would face from his family if he were to marry her including being cut-off from financial assistance and unwelcome at home. Other letters sent to Perry come from various girlfriends, who write of their feelings for him and how much they miss being with him.
The Perry Vandervoort 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
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

Letters to Perry Vandervoort, 1893-1901

  • Box WH-90, folder 8
To top

Solomon Bear to Perry Vandervoort, 1898-1900

  • Box WH-90, folder 9
To top

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.

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.



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.