Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William A. June Richardson letters

Abstract

The William A. June Richardson letters (dated 1941-1955; 0.22 cubic feet; 1 box, 1 flat box) comprise letters and photographs that document the duties and activities of Richardson while enlisted in the Navy and Army in World War II.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William A. June Richardson letters

Date: 1941-1955 (inclusive)

Creator: Richardson, William A. (William Alonzo), 1924-2001

Extent: 0.22 Cubic Feet

Subjects: Military service, Voluntary -- Kentucky.; Soldiers -- Correspondence; World War, 1939-1945.

Arrangement: Collection is arranged chronologically and by format. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.

Finding Aid Author: Sarah Coblentz

Preferred Citation: 2009ms132.0059: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William A. June Richardson letters, 1941-1955, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Repository: University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History: William Alonzo "June" Richardson (1924-2001) was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky by his parents William A. Richardson (1894-1971) and Catherine Richardson (1894-1975). He was the third of four children, having two older brothers and one younger sister. He enlisted in the United States Navy on May 20, 1943 and was discharged in 1945. Then, on April 19, 1946, he enlisted in the United States Army for a three-year period of service. Richardson later met and married Jane Wade Vermillion (1940-2000) with whom he had two daughters – Patricia Jane (1960-2007) and Catherine Marie (1961-2007). William passed away in 2001.; 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 A. "June" Richardson letters (dated 1941-1955; 0.22 cubic feet; 1 box, 1 flat box) comprise letters and photographs that document the duties and activities of Richardson while enlisted in the Navy and Army in World War II. The letters are primarily written to Richardson's mother, describing how he is getting along at the various camps and when he hopes to be returning home. Some letters include descriptions of previous family spats. The photos show family life in Kentucky.; The William A. June Richardson 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: The 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, 1941-1955

Box 143, folder 7-9

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Photographs, undated

Box 144

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Abstract
Descriptive Summary
Collection Overview
Preferred Citation
Restrictions on Access and Use
Contents of the Collection

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