Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William W. Martin family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William W. Martin family letters
- Date
- 1909-1921, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Martin, William W., 1880-1952
- Extent
- 0.24 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Correspondence.
- Travel.
- Traveling sales personnel.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0513: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William W. Martin family letters, 1909-1921, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- William W. Martin (1880-1952) was born in Indiana to Moultri Martin (1847-1887) and Melissa Ellis (1854-1931). In 1899, Martin married Maude Moffet (b. 1881) and together the couple had one child, Malcolm (1913-1963). Martin worked as a commercial salesman, traveling around nearby states.
- 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 William W. Martin family letters (dated 1909-1921, undated; 0.24 cubic feet; 8 folders) comprise letters that document the relationships between William, Maude, and their families and friends in Indiana in the early twentieth century. The majority of the letters are from William, sent to Maude and their young son, in them he writes about sales he made in various towns, the welcomes he received in different locations, the weather, running into friends, requests for Maude to write to their families, and updates on when he will be able to come home for a visit. Maude also received letters from relatives and friends that discuss the new baby, personal health, social activities, daily life, local gossip, and requests to visit when they can. Additionally, there is a letter addressed to Maude, but intended for William's mother, which details the author's anger at her, along with three photographs.
- The William W. Martin family letters 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
W.W. Martin letters to Maude Martin, 1912-1921, undated
Relatives letters to Maude Martin, 1909-1920, undated
Friends letters to Maude Martin, 1912-1920
Maude Martin letters to W.W. Martin, 1916-1920
Letters to W.W. Martin, 1916, undated
Martin family letters, 1915-1920, undated
Photographs, 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.
