Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: York family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: York family letters
- Date
- 1878-1886, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.14 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Agriculture.
- Correspondence.
- Crops
- Death
- Family.
- Farm life
- Health
- Letters.
- Travel.
- Typhoid fever.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0449: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: York family letters, 1878-1886, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The York family of Kirkstall, Anderson County, Tennessee consisted of parents Uriah M. York (1832-1905) and Alley M. Coward York (1830-1894). The couple had five children, William T. York (1856-1917), Sarah Jane York Gunter (1857-1948), John H. York (b. 1861), Mary Frances York Duncum (1863-1908) and Amy Elizabeth "Betty" York Duncum (1867-1928). Mary was the first wife of William Phillip Duncum (1860-1926), but when Mary passed, Amy married William. Uriah York and his two sons worked in the farming industry.
- 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 York family letters (dated 1878-1886, undated; 0.14 cubic feet; 12 folders) comprise letters that document the daily lives of the York family while they resided in Kirkstall, Anderson County, Tennessee during the latter part of the 19th century. the bulk of the letters were written by John H. York and sent to his "dear cousins". The letters discuss the success of crops, different family member's well-being, the weather, and his schooling. A large theme across this whole collection are letters discussing plans to visit one another from different counties in Tennessee and deaths of family members from either pneumonia or typhoid fever. This collection also includes one photograph of an unidentified man, two name cards, and one receipt from a photography shop.
- The York 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 from William T. York, 1878-1883, undated
John N. York letters, 1879, undated
Letters from Uriah M. York, 1879, 1881, 1886
George W. Watlington letters, 1881-1882, 1886, undated
Letters from Mary Frances York Duncum, 1880, 1883, undated
York family papers, 1881-1883, undated
John H. York letters, 1881-1884, undated
Letters from Sarah Jane York Gunter, 1881-1884, undated
Letters from Lizzie York, 1882-1884, undated
W.A. Vineyard letter, 1882
Letters from Amy Elizabeth "Betty" York, 1882-1885, undated
Elbert L. Watlington letter, undated
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.
