Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Narestad family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Narestad family letters
- Date
- 1916-1951, 1974 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.90 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Family.
- Illinois
- Brothers and sisters.
- Fishing
- Sports.
- Painting
- Gardening.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0670: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Narestad family letters, 1916-1951, 1974, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The Narestad family of Iola, Wisconsin consisted of parents Kittel E. Narestad (1868-1942) and Anna Narestad (1885-1952). According to a United States Federal Census in 1910, Kittel had immigrated to the United States from Norway in 1898, and Anna immigrated in 1904. The couple married in 1907 and went on to have two sons, Even "Red" Narestad (1910-1990) and Thomas Narestad (1920-2003). Kittel worked as a tailor according to a 1920 census. Even Narested moved to Belvidere, Illinois and married a young woman named Iona Hayes (1917-2016).
- 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 Narestad family letters (dated 1916-1951, 1974; 0.90 cubic feet; 2 boxes) comprises letters that document the Narestad family of Iola, Wisconsin throughout the twentieth century. This collection features letters to parents Kittel E. Narestad and Anna Narestad from both of their sons, Even "Red" Narestad and Thomas Narestad. These letters are written in English and Norwegian. The letters in English are mainly between Thomas and Even. Even lives in Belvidere, Illinois, is married and working as a painter. He writes to his younger brother about his work, sports, fishing and hunting. Thomas is still living in Wisconsin with his parents. But at the age of 19, he joins the Civilian Conservation Corps. Kittel Narestad wrote mainly in English to his children, and would send them money, updates on his garden and his health. Anna Narestad favored sending letters to her family in Norwegian.
- The Narestad family 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 Kittel E. Narestad, 1916-1940
Letters to J.G. Narestad, 1938
Letters to Margiet Hagaas, 1922-1925
Letters to Anna Narestad, 1934-1951
Letters to Thomas Narestad, 1925-1938
Letters to Thomas Narestad, 1939-1948
Letters to Even Narestad, 1925-1937
Letters to Even Narestad, 1938
Letters to Even Narestad, 1939-1943
Letters to Even Narestad, 1944-1950, 1974
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.
