Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John Beck scrapbook

Abstract

The John Beck scrapbook (dated 1902-1904, 1928, undated; 0.075 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprises one scrapbook that documents the life of Happy John Beck as a comedian, grocer, and restauranteur in Louisville, Kentucky in the early twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John Beck scrapbook
Date
1902-1904, 1928, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Beck, John
Extent
0.075 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Comedians.
Business enterprises
Business -- Kentucky.
Restaurants
Arrangement
Collection is arranged 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
2009ms132.0600: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John Beck scrapbook, 1902-1904, 1928, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
"Happy" John L. Beck (1879-1955) was born in Kentucky to John W. Beck and Mary Joyce. Happy was married twice, first to Josephine Bausback (1886-1936) and then to Carolyn Wagner. He was a well known comedian, grocer, and restauranteur in Louisville, Kentucky – owning Becks Lunch and sponsoring many sports teams and activities like the turtle derby.
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 John Beck scrapbook (dated 1902-1904, 1928, undated; 0.075 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprises one scrapbook that documents the life of "Happy" John Beck as a comedian, grocer, and restauranteur in Louisville, Kentucky in the early twentieth century. The scrapbook includes programs, newspaper clippings, photographs, and business cards that showcase the performances put on by Beck, his endeavors into the restaurant business, and support he provided to his community.
The John Beck scrapbook collection is 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

John Beck scrapbook, 1902-1904, 1928, undated

  • Box WH-55, folder 2
To top

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.

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.



Submit a request for SCRC materials.




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.