Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: George B. Eckert letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: George B. Eckert letters
- Date
- 1912-1946 (inclusive)
- Creator
- Eckert, George B.
- Extent
- 0.23 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Actors.
- Adoption
- Correspondence.
- Family.
- Lesbians -- Correspondence
- Letters.
- Theater -- 20th century
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0182: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: George B. Eckart letters, 1912-1939, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- George B. Eckert (1851-1924) was born in Indiana. By 1880, George lived in Des Moines, Iowa and worked as a confectioner. By 1900, he was married to Marie M. Eckert (1877-1966) and had two children, Leo Ross (b. 1885) and Hazel M. (b. 1890); due to the age of Marie and the children, it is assumed that Marie is George's second wife. According to the same 1900 census, George worked then as a painter. In 1910, the family had moved to Paola, Kansas, rooming in a home with three other individuals. At this time, George worked as a manager for a musical troupe that comprised of their two children. Leo played the piano and Hazel was the violinist, Marie was the cashier for the troupe. In 1915, George and Marie planted their roots in Sterling, Illinois.
- At this same time, Leo had married Bertha Lewin (1888-1939), had a son, Leo Carl (1915-1998); and settled in Passaic, New Jersey. Hazel lived in Newport News, Virginia in 1915 and met a woman, Higgie, with whom she was eventually in a relationship with. About 1920, Hazel (calling herself "Dottie") and Higgie adopted a child. After the death of George in 1924, Leo and family moved to Sterling, most likely to be closer to Marie.
- 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 George B. Eckert letters (dated 1912-1946; 0.23 cubic feet; 4 folders) comprise letters that document the members of the Eckert family personal and professional lives during and after World War I. The majority of the letters are addressed to George and Marie, coming from their children, relatives, and friends in different states. There are some letters addressed to Leo from his parents as well. The letters primarily discuss the health of various family members, news of births, weddings, and deaths; the weather, searching for work, children and grandchildren, and personal relationships. There are some letters that highlight a conflict between Leo and Hazel about finances and the care of George and Marie. Additionally, in the letters from Hazel she discusses her relationship with Higgie, a woman, and how happy she is to have Higgie in her life, along with their adoption of a child.
- The George B. Eckert 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
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.
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.
