Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Long family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Long family letters
- Date
- 1929-1970 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.45 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Correspondence.
- Drawing.
- Family.
- Friendship.
- Love-letters
- Long-distance relationships.
- Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 20th century
- Marriage
- Sketches.
- Travel.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0389: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Long family letters, 1929-1970, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The Long family of Horse Cave, Kentucky consisted of parents Ed Long (1869-1949), Maude Long (1881-1952), and children Harry Long (1905-1983) and Christine Long (1914-1994). Christine dated a young man named Orgett Higginbotham (1910-2003) during the early 1930s, while Orgett was stationed in Alabama. Christine went on to marry Floyd Grigsby (1889-1986) in 1934. Later marrying Louis Wininger (1914-1981). Harry Long married Earline Brown, and they had a daughter named Sylvia. Harry, Floyd, and Louis were all drafted into WWII, and Christine worked as a nurses aid.
- 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 Long family letters (dated 1929-1970; 0.45 cubic feet; 1 box) comprise letters that document the Long family members and their day-to-day lives in the second half of the 20th century while residing in Horse Cave, Kentucky. The majority of this collection consists of letters sent to Christine Long from multiple boyfriends, including Orgett Higginbotham, and her first husband, Floyd Grigsby. Orgett frequently wrote her letters stating how much he loved and missed her. Christine also received many letters from friends, cousins, aunts, brother and his wife. These letters discuss daily activities, weather, making plans to see one another, and little sketches of clothes and one another. Christine and Floyd plan their wedding through their many letters.
- The collection also includes letters to Harry Long, Maude Long, and Ed Long. Maude received letters from both of her children, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. Harry wrote consistently to his sister and mother while he was living in Nashville with his family. These letters include updates on the family, arrangements to send money, and family gossip.
- The Long family letters are part of the Wade Hall Collection of American Letter, 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 Christine Long, 1929-1930, 1933-1939, 1961-1964
Orgett Higginbotham to Christine Long, 1931-1934
Floyd Grigsby to Christine Long, 1933-1934
Floyd Grigsby to Christine Long, 1934
Floyd Grigsby to Christine Long, 1934
Floyd Grigsby to Christine Long, 1935
Floyd Grigsby to Christine Long, 1935-1936
Harry Long to Christine Long, 1939, 1955-1959, 1961-1965, 1970
Letters to Maude Long, 1929, 1933-1934
Earline Brown to Christine Long, 1933-1938
Mrs. Katherine to Christine Long, 1934-1937
Harry Long letters, 1934
Letter to Ed Long, 1934
Letter to Mrs. Eleanor Blake, 1962
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.
