Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Richard Clark family letters

Abstract

The Richard Clark family letters (dated 1929-1992; 0.52 cubic feet; 2 folders, 2 boxes) comprise letters to the Clark family from relatives and friends that document life in New York, New Jersey, and other states during the 1900s.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Richard Clark family letters
Date
1929-1992 (inclusive)
Extent
0.52 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Correspondence.
Traveling sales personnel.
World War, 1939-1945.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz, Hanna Rumbarger
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0536: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Richard Clark family letters, 1941-1949, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Richard Clark (1911-1980) was born in Canton, New York to Cyrus Clark (1859-1950) and Alice Eggleston (1878-1967). In 1935, Clark married Jeanne Loder (1912-2000) and together the couple had a daughter, Natalie (b. 1941). Clark worked as a fire insurance agent and adjuster, but served in the US Army during World War II.
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 Richard Clark family letters (dated 1929-1992; 0.52 cubic feet; 2 folders, 2 boxes) comprise letters to the Clark family from relatives and friends that document life in New York, New Jersey, and other states during the 1900s. The majority of this collection consists of letters sent to Jeanne Loder from Richard Clark while she attended college at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York and while Richard traveled throughout New York as an insurance agent. These letters continue up until their marriage in 1935, with a few letters written to her while away on business and during army basic training in 1945. Jeanne Clark also received letters from her parents, sister Loraine, and friends, which congratulate her on their birth of her daughter Natalie and discuss personal health, daily life, employment, and education. Richard and Jeanne also received letters from friends and Jeanne's parents, mainly discussing daily life. Jeanne's granddaughters Amy and Rosemary also write to her while they are in college and make plans to visit her in Canton.
The Richard Clark 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

Letters to Richard and Jeanne Clark, 1943-1949

  • Box WH-43, folder 2
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Letters to Jeanne Clark, 1941-1948

  • Box WH-43, folder 3
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John letters to Jeanne Loder, 1929-1932

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Richard Clark letters to Jeanne Loder, 1930-1932

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Richard Clark letters to Jeanne Loder, 1932-1933

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Richard Clark letters to Jeanne Loder, 1933

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Richard Clark letters to Jeanne Clark, 1934, 1942, 1945

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Jeanne Clark letters to Richard Clark, 1945-1946

  • Box 1, folder 6
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Richard Clark letters to Jeanne Clark, 1950

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Loraine Loder letters to Jeanne Clark, 1941-1943, 1975

  • Box 2, folder 1
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Clara Loder letters to Jeanne Clark, 1935, 1940-1948

  • Box 2, folder 2
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Irving Loder letters to Jeanne Clark, 1936-1948

  • Box 2, folder 3
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Natalie Clark letters to Jeanne Clark, 1947-1986

  • Box 2, folder 4
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Letters from granddaughters Amy and Rosemary, 1981-1983

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Letters from friends and family, 1935-1949

  • Box 2, folder 6
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Letters from friends and family, 1958, 1964-1966, 1973-1979

  • Box 2, folder 7
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Letters from friends and family, 1981-1986, 1992

  • Box 2, folder 8
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Jeanne Loder's Book of Optimism, 1930

  • Box 2, folder 9
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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.

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.