Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lewis Graves family papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lewis Graves family papers
- Date
- 1878-1933 (inclusive)
- Creator
- Gibson, Hazel Graves, b. 1889
- Extent
- 0.18 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Christians -- Political activity.
- Correspondence.
- Courtship -- 1890-1930
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically.
- Preferred Citation
- 2003ms132.0010: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lewis Graves family papers, 1878-1933, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Lewis Graves (1863-1933) lived in Plainwell, Michigan and worked as a printer. In the mid-1880s, Graves married Florence Wheeler and the couple moved to Ontario, California where Lewis continued to work as a printer. Both were devout Christians who often spoke of following the "Christian path". In 1889 their daughter Hazel Graves was born, who married William Gibson in 1923. The two divorced after 23 years of marriage, but had two children together.
- 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 Lewis Graves family papers (dated 1878-1933; 0.18 cubic feet; 7 folders) comprise letters and a diary documenting the life of the Graves family in Michigan and California. Letters between Lewis Graves and his future wife, Florence Wheeler, discuss personal dissatisfaction with life and religion. The diary is from Hazel Graves, their daughter, who began writing in it in 1910. She writes about her first love, Elwyn Van Zandt, their separation and her subsequent marriage to William Gibson in 1921. Letters between William Gibson and Hazel Graves are also included in this collection.
- The Lewis Graves 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
- 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.
