Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Ashby family letters

Abstract

The Ashby family letters (dated 1890-1957, undated; 1.36 cubic feet; 3 boxes, 12 items) comprise letters to the members of the Ashby family in Henderson, Kentucky from relatives and friends in Kentucky, Washington, Indiana, Florida and Germany in the first half of the twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Ashby family letters
Date
1890-1957, undated (inclusive)
Extent
1.36 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence.
Love-letters
Employment -- Indiana.
Employment -- Kentucky
Families.
Gossip.
Marriage
Motherhood.
Photographs
Travel.
German language
Ashby, Florence Kiefer, 1880-1971
Ashby, George A., 1901-1983
Ashby, George R., 1875-1926
Oman, Lena Kiefer, 1870-1948
Arrangement
Collection is arranged into three series: Florence Ashby letters, George A. Ashby letters, and Lena Oman letters; and by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz, Hanna Rumbarger
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0474: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Ashby family letters, 1890-1957, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
The Ashby family of Henderson, Kentucky included George R. Ashby (1875-1926), his wife Florence Kiefer (1880-1971), and their two children: George Albert (1901-1983) and Ruth (1903-1917). George R. worked as a merchant, and George A. worked as a bookkeeper in an office. Lena Oman (1870-1948) was the sister of Florence. No other biographical information available.
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 Ashby family letters (dated 1890-1946, undated; 1.36 cubic feet; 3 boxes, 12 items) comprise letters to the members of the Ashby family in Henderson, Kentucky from relatives and friends in Kentucky, Washington, Indiana, Florida and Germany in the first half of the twentieth century. The majority of the letters were sent to George A. Ashby, from his long-term sweetheart Esther. In her letters, she wrote about her daily life, personal health, attending beauty school, moving from Henderson to Evansville, traveling to visit with friends, living with her mother and sister, disagreements with friends, and spats between her and George concerning other men. Florence received letters from friends and family, discussing George Albert's trip to Florida, daily life, personal health, wedding and birth announcements, thanks for gifts sent, and updates on relatives. The letters from German relatives are mainly written to George A. Ashby and are from multiple relatives. The letters are in German as well as English. They discuss the poverty and poor life conditions going on at the time. They include their many thanks for the packages that Ashby sends them from America. Included in the packages; sugar, lard, powdered milk, socks, stockings, coffee and fabric for clothing. Some of the relatives give great detail about their suffering and how Ashby's gifts have changed their lives. George R. received mainly business letters, discussing the purchase and selling of goods to companies and persons. Other items include drawings of maps by George R., a marriage certificate for Lena Kiefer, tributes to a deceased relative, newspaper clippings, and a photograph of George Albert.
The Ashby 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

Florence Ashby letters, 1913-1947, undated

Margaret Cutsinger to Florence Ashby, 1931-1938

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Bertha Kendall to Florence Ashby, 1922-1932

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Lee London to Florence Ashby, 1923-1936

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Martha Mugge to Florence Ashby, 1923-1937, undated

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Hermina Ohne to Florence Ashby, 1921-1937

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Lena Oman to Florence Ashby, 1913-1938

  • Box 1, folder 6
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Nellie Petri to Florence Ashby, 1921-1927

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Louise Regener to Florence Ashby, 1921-1929, undated

  • Box 1, folder 8
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Letters to Florence Ashby, 1917-1930

  • Box 1, folder 9
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Letters to Florence Ashby, 1935-1947, undated

  • Box 1, folder 10
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George A. Ashby letters, 1918-1957, undated

Florence Ashby to George A. Ashby, 1918-1919, undated

  • Box 2, folder 1
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Raphael Blessinger to George A. Ashby, 1925-1927

  • Box 2, folder 2
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Heinrich Friedmann to George A. Ashby, 1947-1950, undated

  • Box 2, folder 3
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Charlotte Greulich to George A. Ashby, 1947-1948, undated

  • Box 2, folder 4
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August Messing to George A. Ashby, 1948-1950, undated

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Martha and Nellie Mugge to George A. Ashby, 1921-1922

  • Box 2, folder 6
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Esther Wiesehan to George A. Ashby, 1927-1931

  • Box 2, folder 7
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Esther Wiesehan to George A. Ashby, 1939

  • Box 2, folder 8
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Esther Wiesehan to George A. Ashby, 1940, undated

  • Box 2, folder 9
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Johanna Zeller to George A. Ashby, 1948-1957, undated

  • Box 3, folder 1
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Letters to George A. Ashby, 1918-1957, undated

  • Box 3, folder 2
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Lena Oman letters, 1907, 1932-1947, undated

Florence Ashby to Lena Oman, 1932-1945, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Bertha Hartung to Lena Oman, 1934-1943

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Annie Kiefer to Lena Oman, 1935-1947

  • Box 3, folder 9
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Letters to Lena Oman, 1907, 1933-1947

  • Box 3, folder 10
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Letters to George R. Ashby, 1892-1924, undated

  • Box 3, folder 3
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Letters to George R. and Florence Ashby, 1918-1924

  • Box 3, folder 4
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Ashby family letters, 1891-1895, 1913-1915, 1935, undated

  • Box 3, folder 5
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Letters to Bertha K. Hartung, 1934-1935

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Ashby family papers, 1890-1897, 1917, 1926, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Photographs, undated

  • Box WH-155, item 1-4
  • Box WH-156, item 5-12
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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.

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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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.