Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William Cosby papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William Cosby papers
- Date
- 1900-1912 (inclusive)
- 1906-1908 (bulk)
- Creator
- Cosby, William, b. 1855
- Extent
- 0.2 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- African Americans -- Kentucky
- African Americans -- United States
- Freemasonry -- United States
- Letters.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically and by format.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0013: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William Cosby papers, 1900-1912, bulk 1906-1908, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- William Cosby (b. 1855) was a black man who lived and worked as a day laborer in Cynthiana, Kentucky. Cosby was actively involved in the Cynthiana chapter of St. John Lodge, which may have been related to Prince Hall Freemasonry. He had two children - a daughter, Anna (Cosby) Hansen, who lived in Cincinnati, and a son, Vert Cosby, who lived in Lexington.
- 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 William Cosby papers (dated 1900-1912, bulk 1906-1908; 0.2 cubic feet; 7 folders) primarily comprise letters concerning requests and approvals for Lodge membership in Cynthiana and letters between Cosby and his children primarily concerning requests for money. Also included in the collection is a ledger book of business transactions and a photograph of William Cosby that offer a look inside the activities of a black day laborer.
- The William Cosby 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.
Contents of the Collection
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.
