Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Nellie Suydam Cowley papers

Abstract

The Nellie Suydam Cowley papers (dated 1916; 0.17 cubic feet; 5 folders) primarily comprise letters between Nellie and her mother, Lucetta Suydam, discussing national politics, the Mexican Revolution, and everyday life in Douglas, Arizona in 1916.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Nellie Suydam Cowley papers
Date
1916 (inclusive)
Creator
Cowley, Nellie Suydam, 1877-1946
Extent
0.17 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Correspondence.
Suffrage -- United States.
Arrangement
The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2003ms132.0011: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Nellie Suydam Cowley papers, 1916, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Nellie Suydam Cowley (1877-1946) lived in Douglas, Arizona with her husband, Harry Cowley (b. 1868) in the midst of the Mexican Revolution. She and her husband ran a printing shop, Cowley and Cowley Printers, and raised chickens at their home.
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 Nellie Suydam Cowley papers (dated 1916; 0.17 cubic feet; 5 folders) primarily comprise letters between Nellie and her mother, Lucetta Suydam, discussing national politics, the Mexican Revolution, and everyday life in Douglas, Arizona in 1916. Many of the letters details the border wars occurring due to the revolution and German's involvement in encouraging Mexico to seize U.S. territory along the border, as well as how the fighting affected business in the area. Other letters discuss the women's suffrage movement and Nellie's support of Charles Evans Hughes stance on a federal amendment for suffrage rights and her issues with her Mormon neighbors, who she accused of stealing her chickens and abusing their children.
The Nellie Suydam Cowley 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
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

Nellie Suydam letters, 1916 July

  • Box 117, folder 8
To top

Nellie Suydam letters, 1916 August

  • Box 117, folder 9
To top

Nellie Suydam letters, 1916 September

  • Box 117, folder 10
To top

Nellie Suydam letters, 1916 October

  • Box 117, folder 11
To top

Nellie Suydam letters, 1916 November

  • Box 117, folder 12
To top

Nellie Suydam letters, 1916 December

  • Box 117, folder 13
To top

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.

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.



Submit a request for SCRC materials.




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.