Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lowry-Palmer family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lowry-Palmer family letters
- Date
- 1881-1902, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.27 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Childbirth
- Family.
- Farm life
- Letters.
- Marriage
- Moving, Household
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0280: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lowry-Palmer family letters, 1881-1902, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The Lowry-Palmer family lived in Kentucky throughout Bowling Green and Gainesville between 1880 and 1892. S.W. Lowry and Alf were brothers. S.W. was married to Alexandria. In the mid-1880s, S.W. and Alexandria move to Butte City, California, leaving their families in Kentucky. 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 Lowry-Palmer family letters (dated 1881-1902, undated; 0.27 cubic feet; 9 folders) comprise letters sent between family members that document family growth, moving/traveling, crop growth, and missing one another in Kentucky and California in the late nineteenth century. The collection is mainly family letters going back and forth trying to catch one another up on new events. Nannie, of the Lowry-Palmer family, received most of the letters from the family, especially from Blanche. S. W. Lowry and Alexandria Lowry wrote to their siblings and in-laws—one of which was Alfred "Alf / Alph" Lowry. Family politics such as the secret marriage of cousin, Addie Burton, were discussed in 1883. Alexandria and S.W. Lowry moved to Butte City, California during these letters; after the move, S. W. Lowry states Alexandria couldn't quite warm up to the Sacramento River and has "KY fever". In 1884, Alexandria writes to Nannie about their new child being born. In later years of 1886, Alexandria continues to write to her brother and sister wondering why they haven't written back in a few months. Then, by 1888, Alexandria and S. W. Lowry have another child; however, they say it is extremely expensive to have children out in California. The collection also includes advertisements, newspaper clippings, calling cards, and an account book and journal.
- The Lowry-Palmer 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
Blanche letters to Nannie, 1881-1890
Letters to Nannie, 1881-1887
Letters from Alexandria, 1889-1893
Letters from S.W. Lowry, 1889-1894
Letters to Alf/Alph, 1886, 1890, 1894
Lowry-Palmer family letters, 1882-1902
Advertisements, newspaper clippings, 1890, undated
Cards, envelopes, personal letters, 1888, undated
Journal and account book, 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.
