Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John P. Roberts letters

Abstract

The John P. Roberts letters (dated 1864-1910, undated; 1.35 cubic feet; 3 boxes) comprise letters to and from Roberts that document his familial, friendly, and romantic relationships while attending Princeton University and going home to Wisconsin in the late nineteenth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John P. Roberts letters
Date
1864-1910, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Roberts, John P., 1850-1932
Extent
1.35 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Education, Higher.
Immigrants
Love-letters
Long-distance relationships.
Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 20th century
Arrangement
Collection is arranged alphabetically by sender name. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0297: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John P. Roberts letters, 1864-1910, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
John P. Roberts (1850-1932) was born in Wisconsin to Welsh immigrants John J. Roberts (1819-1890) and Margaret Jones (1826-1901). He attended Princeton University in the mid-1870s, and after completion of his studies, he became a minister. By 1900 however, he is listed as a farmer in the US Census. In 1880, Roberts married Hannah J. Jones (b. 1857).
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 John P. Roberts letters (dated 1864-1910, undated; 1.35 cubic feet; 3 boxes) comprise letters to and from Roberts that document his familial, friendly, and romantic relationships while attending Princeton University and going home to Wisconsin in the late nineteenth century. A majority of the letters are between Roberts and different girlfriends. Others came from his family and friends. The main woman Roberts wrote to and received letters from was Mary A. Jones. Their letters discuss feelings of longing, the distance between them, his college classes, activities with friends, mutual friends, and family. Some of their letters include lines written in Welsh. In letters from other girlfriends they write about their daily lives, visiting friends, and the occasional mention of their feelings towards Roberts. Letters between John and his family members are written in Welsh. Additionally, there are a few letters in the collection sent to Hannah Jarvie from friends and doctors, inviting her to weddings, expressing their happiness at her visit, and sympathy on the passing of her husband.
The John P. Roberts letters are 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 John P. Roberts, 1864-1869

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Letters to John P. Roberts, 1871-1873

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Letters to John P. Roberts, 1874-1875

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Letters to John P. Roberts, 1876-1877

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Letters to John P. Roberts, 1878-1881

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Letters to John P. Roberts, 1882-1903, undated

  • Box 1, folder 6
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Mamie Caffrey letters to John P. Roberts, 1876-1877

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Hannah Jarvie letters to John P. Roberts, 1873, 1890-1894, undated

  • Box 1, folder 8
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Mary "Mollie" A. Jones letters to John P. Roberts, 1872-1881, undated

  • Box 2, folder 1
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Owen O. Jones letters to John P. Roberts, 1874-1880, undated

  • Box 2, folder 2
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Maria Powell letters to John P. Roberts, 1880-1883, undated

  • Box 2, folder 3
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Maggie Price letters to John P. Roberts, 1876

  • Box 2, folder 4
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"Tad" [translated from Welsh: Father] letters to John P. Roberts, 1869-1877, undated

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Robert J. Roberts letters to John P. Roberts, 1869-1878

  • Box 2, folder 6
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Annie Williams letters to John P. Roberts, 1875-1876

  • Box 2, folder 7
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John P. Roberts letters to Mary A. Jones, 1873

  • Box 2, folder 8
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John P. Roberts letters to Mary A. Jones, 1874

  • Box 3, folder 1
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John P. Roberts letters to Mary A. Jones, 1875

  • Box 3, folder 2
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John P. Roberts letters to Mary A. Jones, 1878

  • Box 3, folder 3
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John P. Roberts letters to Mary A. Jones, 1879

  • Box 3, folder 4
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John P. Roberts letters to Mary A. Jones, 1880, undated

  • Box 3, folder 5
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Letters to Hannah Jarvie, 1884, 1892-1893, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Letters from John P. Roberts, 1874, 1881, undated

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Letterbooks of letters from John P. Roberts, 1874-1875

  • Box 3, folder 8
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General letters, 1864-1876, 1910, undated

  • Box 3, folder 9
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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.