Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edith Bodley memory book

Abstract

The Edith Bodley memory book (dated 1893-1949, undated; 0.09 cubic feet; 3 folders) comprises a memory book and interleaving material that document the life of Edith Bodley and her family in Kentucky during the first half of the twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edith Bodley memory book

Date: 1893-1949, undated (inclusive)

Creator: Bodley, Edith Fosdick, 1866-1950

Extent: 0.09 Cubic Feet

Subjects: Letters.

Arrangement: Collection is arranged by format. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.

Finding Aid Author: Sarah Coblentz

Preferred Citation: 2009ms132.0305: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edith Bodley memory book, 1893-1949, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Repository: University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History: Edith Bodley (1866-1950) was born Jane Edith Fosdick to William Henry Fosdick (1842-1883) and Kate Kaye (1841-1877) in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1892, Jane married lawyer Temple O. Bodley (1852-1940). Together the couple had four children: William Fosdick Bodley (1893-1894), Ellen Pearce Bodley (1897-1969), Edith Fosdick Bodley (1900-1957), and Temple Bodley Jr. (1905-1968).; 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 Edith Bodley memory book (dated 1893-1949, undated; 0.09 cubic feet; 3 folders) comprises a memory book and interleaving material that document the life of Edith Bodley and her family in Kentucky during the first half of the twentieth century. The memory book is a daily scripture and prose book that Edith repurposed to save small materials such as letters, fabric strips, clippings, drawings, pressed flowers, photographs, and locks of hair. Throughout the book she writes down short notes of events that occurred or trips taken, however those do not always correlate with the days of the pages that they are written on. The few letters stored are from her husband, Temple Sr., and young son, Temple Jr. These letters wish her a happy birthday, tell her about trips to a cabin, and how they miss her. The clippings are of local events, recipes, wedding and death announcements, poems, jokes, and advertisements. The photographs are of her Edith's children and relatives, and the locks of hair come from her son Temple Jr.; The Edith Bodley memory book 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

Edith Bodley memory book, 1893-1949, undated

Box WH-9, folder 7

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Memory book interleaving materials, 1893-1949, undated

Box WH-9, folder 8-9

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Abstract
Descriptive Summary
Collection Overview
Preferred Citation
Restrictions on Access and Use
Contents of the Collection

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