Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Berniece Kiper letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Berniece Kiper letters
- Date
- 1942-1945, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Kiper, Berniece
- Extent
- 0.17 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Families.
- World War, 1939-1945.
- Military life.
- Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 20th century
- Gossip.
- Education
- Death
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.1057: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Berniece Kiper letters, 1942-1945, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Berniece Kiper (1928-1998) was born in Kentucky to Nelson Kiper (b. 1909) and Mary A. Lewis (1907-1984). In 1946, she married Frank Abbott Jr. (1922-1997). Frank worked as a pharmacist in a drug store and Berniece worked as a manager in a clothing retail store.
- 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 Berniece Kiper letters (dated 1942-1945, undated; 0.17 cubic feet; 3 folders, 1 box) comprises letters and one wallet that document the relationships help by Berniece Kiper in Kentucky during World War II. The letters are sent to Berniece from relatives and boyfriends, many who are in the military, discussing life overseas, sailing, daily duties, hearing from other relatives, asking her about school, inquiries about her love life, breakups, the death of her uncle, thoughts on making long-distance relationships last, personal health, and Christmas wishes. There are letters in the collection to Berniece's uncle from her grandmother, discussing daily life at home, local gossip and deaths, how the farm is faring, and updates on friends and relatives. Additionally, there is a letter to Berniece's grandmother informing her of the death of her son in France and a US Navy wallet in the collection.
- The Berniece Kiper letters 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.
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.
