Martha Hume diary

Abstract

The Martha Hume diary (dated 1895-1896; 0.02 cubic feet; 1 folder) consists of one notebook in which Martha discusses her daily life as a young woman in Lexington at the end of the 19th century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Martha Hume diary
Date
1895-1896 (inclusive)
Extent
0.02 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Education -- Kentucky -- Lexington.
Women -- Kentucky -- Social life and customs.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically.
Finding Aid Author
Elizaveta Khenner
Preferred Citation
2103ms0073: [identification of item], Martha Hume diary, 1895-1896, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Martha Hume (1879–1956) was born in Lexington, Kentucky, to Benjamin T. Hume and Susie McCann Hume. Her father was a farmer who owned a farm outside of Lexington, though the family lived in town on Maxwelton Place at the time she wrote the diary. As a schoolgirl, Martha attended the Sayre Female Institute, now the Sayre School, an independent school in Lexington. Before her 1921 marriage to William C. Lawwill, a Lexington real estate broker, she lived with her family, including her two sisters who also remained at home until later in life. Following their marriage, the Lawwills continued to live in Lexington, and Martha was a homemaker, though she may have also owned and worked their farm. The couple had no children, though Martha's two younger sisters, Daisy and Maria Dudley began to live with the Lawwills sometime after 1930. Following William's death in 1946, Martha continued to live with her sister Maria Dudley. Martha died in Lexington in 1956 from complications of cancer.
Through her mother, Martha was a descendant of Captain Ambrose Dudley, (1750–1826), who commanded a company of regulars in the Virginia Line during the American Revolution. He moved to Lexington, Kentucky, in 1776 and was a Baptist preacher.
Scope and Content
The Martha Hume diary (dated 1895-1896; 0.02 cubic feet; 1 folder) consists of one notebook in which Martha discusses her daily life as a young woman in Lexington at the end of the 19th century. She writes about her education at the Sayre Female Institute, her family life, and social life. She mentions many locations in Lexington, including Mill Street, Main Street, Broadway Avenue, and the Macedonian Church on Winchester Road. She also mentions many contemporary local residents of Lexington.
People mentioned in the diary are B.J., Maria Dudley (her siblings), Uncle Jim McCann, Grandma McCann, Mame Roberts, Grezilda Scott, Ruth Clark, Anne Davidson William Sweeny, Mary Sweeny, Ernest Bradley, and John Stoll. Prominent Bluegrass families mentioned include the Estills, Farras, Van Meters, and Tebbs families.

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

Martha Hume diary, 1895-1896

  • Box MS-13, folder 1
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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.

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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.