Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: West family papers

Abstract

The West family papers (dated 1904-1989, undated; 5.02 cubic feet; 11 boxes, 1 photograph box) comprise letters, journals, and pamphlets that document the West and Cox families in Kentucky and Tennessee throughout the twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: West family papers
Date
1904-1989, undated (inclusive)
Creator
West, Frances, 1892-1974
Extent
5.02 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Depressions -- 1929
Diseases.
Family.
Letters.
Medical care
Motherhood -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Pamphlets.
Photographs -- Negatives.
Travel -- Personal narratives.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by subject, the correspondence series is broken down into sub-series by family member. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz, Andrew Biggs
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0143: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: West family papers, 1904-1989, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Frances Cox West (1892-1974) was born in Tennessee to Dr. James B. Cox (1857-1933) and Ella Frances McCall (1868-1956). She was the oldest of three children, Henry McCall Cox (1894-1953) and Mary Priestly Cox (1905-1993). Both Frances's father and brother were practicing physicians in Tennessee. In October of 1919, Frances married Augustus S. West (1893-1961). Together they had one child, a daughter, Frances Cox West (1931-1995). Between 1920 and 1930, the couple moved from Tennessee to Louisville, Kentucky where Augustus began working as vice president of the Southern Trust Company.
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 West family papers (dated 1904-1989, undated; 5.02 cubic feet; 11 boxes, 1 photograph box) comprise letters, journals, and pamphlets that document the West and Cox families in Kentucky and Tennessee throughout the twentieth century. The letters are primarily from Frances's mother, Ella Cox, and discuss the failing health of Frances's father, the lives of Frances's siblings, issues with cooks and housekeepers, the outbreak of sickness, and the effects of the Great Depression on their lives and town. There are also letters from her sister Mary Priestly that discuss her three children and their health and how the Depression did not affect them greatly. Henry, Frances' brother, writes of life at medical school and taking care of their mother Ella Cox towards the end of her life. Frances' husband, Augustus, writes her often and discusses his job, the health of family members, and the people he encounters during his trips for work as Vice President of the Southern Trust Company. Frances and Augustus had one daughter also named Frances who writes about her time at the University of Kentucky. In 1948, Frances and her daughter go on a trip to the West Coast and received many letters from Augustus and friends. There is a significant amount of professional correspondence, receipts, and an account book of Augustus West. Additionally, there are a few newspaper clippings about extended relatives, pamphlets on various topics, and a ticket from a 1948 University of Kentucky basketball game versus Tulane.
The West family papers 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

Correspondence, 1919-1964, undated

Frances C. West, 1919-1964, undated

Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1919

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1920-1922

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1920-1922

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1920-1922

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1920-1922

  • Box 2, folder 2
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1920-1922

  • Box 2, folder 3
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1923

  • Box 1, folder 6
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1923

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1923

  • Box 2, folder 6
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1924-1925

  • Box 3, folder 5
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1924-1925

  • Box 3, folder 6
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Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1928

  • Box 12, folder 1
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Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1929

  • Box 12, folder 2
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Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1930

  • Box 12, folder 3
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Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1931

  • Box 12, folder 4
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Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1932

  • Box 12, folder 5
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Ella Cox to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 12, folder 6
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1931; 1934-1935

  • Box 3, folder 7
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1935

  • Box 3, folder 8
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1936

  • Box 4, folder 1
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1937; 1939

  • Box 4, folder 2
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1941-1945

  • Box 4, folder 3
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1946-1948

  • Box 4, folder 4
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1949-1951

  • Box 4, folder 5
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, 1952-1954

  • Box 4, folder 6
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 4, folder 8
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Letters from Ella Cox to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 4, folder 9
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Letters from Eula "Aunt Eula" McCall to Frances C. West, 1923

  • Box 4, folder 12
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Unopened Letters to Frances C. West, 1935

  • Box 7, folder 2
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Letters from Eugenia to Frances C. West, 1953

  • Box 7, folder 5
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Letters from Jimmy Beasly to Frances C. West, 1943, 1953

  • Box 7, folder 6
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Letters to Frances C. West from Friends, 1964

  • Box 7, folder 7
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Letter from Ruth Craig to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 7, folder 9
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Letter from Roger Whoster to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 7, folder 10
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Letters from Henry Cox to Frances Cox, 1919

  • Box 7, folder 11
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Letters from Henry Cox to Frances C. West, 1920

  • Box 7, folder 12
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Letters from Henry Cox to Frances C. West, 1924-1925

  • Box 7, folder 14
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Letters from Henry Cox to Frances C. West, 1945-1953

  • Box 7, folder 15
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Note from Henry Cox to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 7, folder 16
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Letters from Mrs. Henry Cox ("Tellie") to Frances C. West, 1952-1953

  • Box 7, folder 19
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Letter from J.B. Cox to Frances C. West, 1935

  • Box 7, folder 22
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Letter from J.B. Cox to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 7, folder 23
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Letters from Mary "Pete" Priestly Cox to Frances C. West, 1924-1925

  • Box 7, folder 26
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Letter from Mary Priestly Cox to Frances C. West, 1931

  • Box 7, folder 28
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Letter from Mary Priestly Cox to Frances C. West, 1953

  • Box 7, folder 29
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Letters from Augustus West to Frances C. West, 1920-1923

  • Box 8, folder 1
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Letters from Augustus West to Frances C. West, 1923

  • Box 8, folder 2
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Letters from Augustus West to Frances C. West, 1924-1925

  • Box 8, folder 3
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Augustus West to Frances C. West, 1928-1932

  • Box 12, folder 8
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Letters from Augustus West to Frances C. West, 1935-1936

  • Box 8, folder 7
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Letters from Augustus West to Frances C. West, 1937;1939

  • Box 8, folder 8
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Letters from Augustus West to Frances C. West, 1948

  • Box 8, folder 9
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Augustus West to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 12, folder 9
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Letters from daughter Frances West to Frances C. West, 1952-1953

  • Box 9, folder 10
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Letters from Patti West to Frances C. West, 1924-1925

  • Box 9, folder 14
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Letters from Patti West to Frances C. West, undated

  • Box 9, folder 16
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Letters to Frances C. West, 1927-1930

  • Box 12, folder 10
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Augustus West, 1919-1958, undated

Letters from Ella Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Letters from Ella Cox to Augustus West, 1920-1922

  • Box 2, folder 1
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Letters from Ella Cox to Augustus West, 1923

  • Box 2, folder 7
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Letters from Ella Cox to Augustus West, 1924

  • Box 3, folder 4
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Ella Cox to Augustus West, 1931-1932

  • Box 12, folder 7
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 5, folder 4
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 5, folder 5
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 5, folder 6
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 5, folder 7
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 6, folder 1
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 6, folder 2
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 6, folder 3
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 6, folder 4
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 6, folder 5
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Letters from Frances Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 6, folder 6
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Letters from Frances C. West to Augustus West, 1920

  • Box 7, folder 1
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Letters from Frances C. West to Augustus West, 1948

  • Box 7, folder 3
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Letters from Frances C. West to Augustus West, undated

  • Box 7, folder 8
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Letters from J.B. Cox to Augustus West, 1919

  • Box 7, folder 20
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Letters from J.B. Cox to Augustus West, undated

  • Box 7, folder 24
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Letters from Joseph R West to Augustus West, 1923-1924

  • Box 9, folder 11
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Letter from Patti West to Augustus West, undated

  • Box 9, folder 15
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Letters to Augustus West from friends, 1958

  • Box 9, folder 3
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Letters to Augustus West, 1924-1932

  • Box 8, folder 6
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Professional letters to Augustus West, 1919-1953

  • Box 9, folder 5
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Letters from Augustus West, 1929-1932, undated

  • Box 8, folder 5
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Augustus and Frances C. West, 1919-1953

Letters from Mary Priestly Cox to Augustus and Frances C. West, 1919

  • Box 7, folder 25
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Letters to Augustus and Frances C. West from friends, 1919

  • Box 8, folder 10
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Letters from Patti West to Augustus and Frances C. West, 1919

  • Box 9, folder 12
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Letters from Patti West to Augustus and Frances C. West, 1920-1923

  • Box 9, folder 13
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Letters from J.B. Cox to Augustus and Frances C. West, 1920-1923

  • Box 7, folder 21
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Letters to Augustus and Frances C. West from friends, 1920-1922

  • Box 8, folder 11
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Letters to Augustus and Frances C. West from friends, 1923

  • Box 8, folder 12
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Letters to Augustus and Frances C. West from friends, 1924-1925

  • Box 8, folder 13
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Patti West to Augustus and Frances C. West, 1930-1931

  • Box 12, folder 11
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Letters to Augustus and Frances C. West from friends, 1931

  • Box 8, folder 14
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Letters to Augustus and Frances C. West, 1932

  • Box 12, folder 12
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Letters to Augustus and Frances C. West from friends, 1936-1937

  • Box 8, folder 15
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Letters from Frances West to parents (Augustus and Frances C. West), 1948-1951

  • Box 9, folder 9
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Letters to Augustus and Frances C. West from friends, 1951-1953

  • Box 9, folder 2
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Frances West, 1920-1955, undated

Letters from Frances West, 1920-1932, undated

  • Box 6, folder 7
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Letter from Tommy Thompson to Frances West, 1935

  • Box 9, folder 7
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Letter from Joan Grissow to Frances West, 1942

  • Box 9, folder 8
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Letter from Frances C. West to daughter Frances West, 1953

  • Box 7, folder 4
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Letters from Ella Cox to granddaughter Frances West, 1954-1955

  • Box 4, folder 7
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Letter from Augustus West to Frances West, undated

  • Box 9, folder 4
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Ella Cox, 1920-1933, undated

Letters from Mrs. Henry Cox ("Tellie") to Ella Cox, 1920-1925

  • Box 7, folder 18
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Letters from Ella Cox, 1923-1933, undated

  • Box 2, folder 8
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Letters from Ella Cox, 1923-1933, undated

  • Box 2, folder 9
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Letters from Ella Cox, 1923-1933, undated

  • Box 2, folder 10
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Letters from Ella Cox, 1923-1933, undated

  • Box 2, folder 11
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Letters from Ella Cox, 1923-1933, undated

  • Box 3, folder 1
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Letters from Ella Cox, 1923-1933, undated

  • Box 3, folder 2
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Letters from Augustus West to Ella Cox, 1925

  • Box 8, folder 4
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Letters from Henry Cox to Ella Cox, undated

  • Box 7, folder 17
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Henry Cox, 1920-1925, undated

Letters from Ella Cox to Henry Cox, 1920-1925

  • Box 2, folder 4
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Letters from Ella Cox to Henry Cox, undated

  • Box 4, folder 10
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Mary Priestly Cox, 1924-1932, undated

Letter from Ella Cox to Mary Priestly Cox, 1924

  • Box 3, folder 3
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Letter from Henry Cox to Mary Priestly Cox, 1924

  • Box 7, folder 13
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Letters from Mary Priestly, 1929-1932

  • Box 7, folder 27
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Letters from Ella Cox to Mary Priestly Cox ("Pete"), undated

  • Box 4, folder 11
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Assorted, 1929-1949

Letters to West family from friends, 1945-1949

  • Box 9, folder 1
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General letters, 1929, undated

  • Box 9, folder 17
  • Box 12, folder 13
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Letters, undated

  • Box 9, folder 18
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Letters to Marion, 1943, 1945

  • Box 9, folder 19
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Letter from Bob to Doris, 1945

  • Box 9, folder 20
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Diaries, 1904-1907

Diary of Frances Cox from Huntingdon, TN, 1904-1905

  • Box 5, folder 1
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Diary of Frances Cox from Huntingdon, TN, 1905-1906

  • Box 5, folder 2
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Diary of Frances Cox from Huntingdon, TN, 1906-1907

  • Box 5, folder 3
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Assorted ephemera and photographs, 1921-1989, undated

Professional cards, receipts, and account book of Augustus West, undated

  • Box 9, folder 6
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West family papers, 1921-1930, undated

  • Box 10, folder 1
  • Box 12, folder 14
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Tickets, notes, and matchbook, undated

  • Box 10, folder 2
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Portrait of unidentified man, 1989

  • Box 10, folder 3
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Cards, invitations, and notices, undated

  • Box 10, folder 4
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Pamphlets, undated

  • Box 10, folder 5
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Newspaper clippings, 1922, undated

  • Box 10, folder 6
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Newspaper clippings, circa 1953

  • Box 10, folder 7
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Photo negatives of unidentified family, 1922, undated

  • Box 11, item 1
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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.