Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wiseheart family letters

Abstract

The Wiseheart family letters (dated 1853-1919, undated; 0.45 cubic feet; 1 box) comprise letters that document the lives of the Wiseheart family of Jeffersontown, Kentucky, namely Samuel Wiseheart, Henry Wiseheart, Mary Emmie Wiseheart, John S. Wiseheart, and Katie Wiseheart; from post-Civil War to post-World War I.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wiseheart family letters
Date
1853-1919, undated (inclusive)
Extent
0.45 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Agriculture -- Economic conditions -- 19th century.
Agriculture -- Economic conditions -- 20th century
Agriculture -- Farming
Church -- Social aspects.
Family farms
Letters.
Women and religion.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged alphabetically first by sender, and then by recipient. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0142: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wiseheart family letters, 1853-1919, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Samuel Wiseheart (1799-1884) was born in Jeffersontown, Kentucky and spent his life working on his farm. In 1827, he married Catherine Streit (1803-1835) and together the couple had two sons, David H. Wiseheart (1828-1887) and Henry Samuel Wiseheart (1830-1926). Both sons followed their father's example and became farmers in Jeffersontown too. David married Margaret Hummel (1835-1887) in 1853, and together they had four children, Mary Elizabeth Wiseheart (1855-1906), Mahala Catherine Wiseheart (1857-1929), Sarah Wiseheart (1864-1917), and William Wiseheart (1866-1929). Henry married Sarah Jane Pound (1834-1918) in 1859 and they had three children together, John S. Wiseheart (1860-1949), Mary Emmie Wiseheart (1866-1916), and Julia F. Wiseheart (1869-1973). John continued the family tradition of being a farmer, and in 1886, he married Katie Diehl (1860-1916). The couple had four children together, Henry Wiseheart (1886-1951), Alexander Wiseheart (1890-1972), Nellie Wiseheart (b. 1891), and Katie Wiseheart (b. 1897). The Wiseheart family lived predominantly in Jeffersontown, Kentucky and Bardstown, Kentucky, however, there was extended family living in Ohio and California.
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 Wiseheart family letters (dated 1853-1919, undated; 0.45 cubic feet; 1 box) comprise letters that document the lives of the Wiseheart family of Jeffersontown, Kentucky, namely Samuel Wiseheart, Henry Wiseheart, Mary Emmie Wiseheart, John S. Wiseheart, and Katie Wiseheart; from post-Civil War to post-World War I. The majority of the letters are to Emmie Wiseheart from her female cousins; however, there are letters from relatives to other parts of the Wiseheart family, including in-laws. The letters between Emmie and her cousins mainly discuss finding husbands and attending church socials. Other letters discuss falling crop prices, the spread of consumption and "new disease", pellagra, political fundraising, and farming techniques. These letters offer a glimpse into social and economic life after the Civil War and in the early twentieth century.
The Wiseheart 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
The 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

From the Harley family, 1869-1872

  • Box 34, folder 1
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From Hecker, Barbara, 1890-1912

  • Box 34, folder 2
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From the Hefley family, 1889-1906

  • Box 34, folder 3
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From the Hummel family, 1871-1894, undated

  • Box 34, folder 4
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From Myers, David and Lucy, 1868-1888

  • Box 34, folder 5
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From the Owen family, 1902-1906

  • Box 34, folder 6
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From Pound, Lulie Irene, 1891-1904, undated

  • Box 34, folder 7
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From the Sell family, 1910-1913

  • Box 34, folder 8
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From Streit, Julia A., 1874-1880, undated

  • Box 34, folder 9
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From Wiseheart, Alex, 1886-1898

  • Box 34, folder 10
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From Wiseheart, "Emmie" [Mary], 1893-1902, undated

  • Box 34, folder 11
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To Wiseheart, Emma, 1890-1901

  • Box 34, folder 12
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To Wiseheart, Henry, 1894, 1898

  • Box 34, folder 13
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To Wiseheart, John S., 1910, 1919

  • Box 34, folder 14
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To Wiseheart, Katie, 1892-1911

  • Box 34, folder 15
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To Wiseheart, Samuel, 1853-1882

  • Box 34, folder 16
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Letters, 1865-1911, undated

  • Box 34, folder 17
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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.