Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Loretta Binkley letters

Abstract

The Loretta Binkley letters (dated 1918-1919, undated; 0.04 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise letters sent to Loretta from her fiancé Keith Clarke while he served in the US military during World War I in Michigan and New Jersey.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Loretta Binkley letters
Date
1918-1919, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Binkley, Loretta, 1894-
Extent
0.04 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Correspondence.
Long-distance relationships.
Love-letters
Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 20th century
Marriage
Military correspondence.
Military life.
Weddings
World War, 1914-1918.
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
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0479: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Loretta Binkley letters, 1918-1919, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Loretta Binkley (b. 1894) was born in Indiana to Benjamin Binkley (1852-1928) and Henrietta Weyright (1853-1934). In 1919, she married C. Keith Clarke (1889-1959), and together the couple had two children, Caryl Lee and Charles Keith. Loretta's husband, Keith, served in the US Army during World War I from 1917 to 1919. After the war and getting married, the couple moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they spent the remainder of their lives.
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 Loretta Binkley letters (dated 1918-1919, undated; 0.04 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise letters sent to Loretta from her fiancé Keith Clarke while he served in the US military during World War I in Michigan and New Jersey. In the letters Clarke wrote about his duties in the camp, sending and receiving gifts from Loretta, discussions on what married life would be like, opinions on a home together, and preparations for their wedding.
The Loretta Binkley 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

C. Keith Clarke letters to Loretta Binkley, 1918-1919, undated

  • Box WH-31, folder 14
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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.