Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: David Burns papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: David Burns papers
- Date
- 1835-1884, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Burns, David
- Extent
- 0.15 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Correspondence.
- Methodist Church -- Clergy
- Clergy.
- Family.
- Religion
- Church work
- Missionaries
- Travel.
- Health
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject and format. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0926: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: David Burns papers, 1835-1884, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- David Burns was born in Vermont in 1812. He became a licensed preacher in 1833 in Dayton, Ohio. In 1837, he married Emilie G. In 1853, he married a second time to Lavinia H. White (b. 1826) and together they had three children, Helena (b. 1854), William (b. 1858), and David E. (b. 1859). David was sent across Michigan and Ohio to preach, moving the family around often. 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 David Burns papers (dated 1835-1884, undated; 0.15 cubic feet; 6 folders) comprises letters, a diary excerpt, and biographical information that documents the life and missionary work of Reverend David Burns in Michigan and Ohio in the nineteenth century. Letters to David are written from colleagues and his wife, discussing the communities they are working in, receiving and losing members, visiting nearby preachers, attending conference meetings, personal health, the health of his children, and moving to new places. Letters from David are sent to his wife, family, and friends; discussing personal and mental health, witnessing surgical procedures, working with his congregations, the death of his first wife, attending meetings and being active in his regional conference, estate concerns, financial matters, and blessings for safe travels. There are two letters written to David's wife from friends, discussing personal health, abilities to travel, suggestions for being able to help her, and religious beliefs. The diary documents two months of David's life working as a Methodist missionary in Indiana, helping to build communities in the state. The biographical information details David's birth and work as a preacher, listing when he became licensed to preach, by whom, and where he has subsequently preached since.
- The David Burns papers 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
Letters to David Burns, 1835-1877, undated
Letters from David Burns, 1839-1863, 1884, undated
David Burns to Lavinia Burns, 1853-1862
Letters to Lavinia Burns, 1848-1852
David Burns diary, 1852
David Burns papers, circa 1875
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.
