Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Henry B. Peterson letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Henry B. Peterson letters
- Date
- 1861-1870, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Peterson, Henry B.
- Extent
- 0.15 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Correspondence.
- Family.
- Friendship.
- Travel.
- Gossip.
- Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 19th century
- Dentists
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0925: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Henry B. Peterson letters, 1861-1870, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Henry B. Peterson (1844-1908) was born in New York to Peter Peterson (b. 1803) and Elizabeth Young (b. 1810). In 1869, he married Jennie LeValley (1844-1927) and together they had two daughters, Florence (b. 1872) and Ida (b. 1877). Henry worked as a dentist and Jennie taught music lessons. By 1900, the family was living in Owosso, Michigan 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 Henry B. Peterson letters (dated 1861-1870, undated; 0.15 cubic feet; 6 folders) comprises letters between Henry B. Peterson and his family and friends that document life in New York during and just after the Civil War. Letters from his family discuss personal health, local gossip, thoughts on marriage, spending time with relatives and friends, traveling across New York, updates on the war effort, suggestions for remedies for illness, and well wishes in his efforts to open a dental practice. Letters from friends discuss social outings, local gossip, updates on those enlisting in the military, personal health, and their hopes to have Henry visit them soon.
- The Henry B. Peterson letters 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
Family to Henry B. Peterson, 1861-1864, undated
Millie Peterson to Henry B. Peterson, 1862-1864, undated
Jennie LeValley to Henry B. Peterson, 1864-1868, undated
Henry B. Peterson to Jennie LeValley, 1864-1865
Letters to Jennie LeValley, 1863-1870, undated
General letters, 1861-1862, undated
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Table of Contents
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.
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.