Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Peck family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Peck family letters
- Date
- 1837-1907, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.29 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Correspondence.
- Family.
- Illinois
- Education
- Education, Higher.
- Military life.
- Farm life
- Crops
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0652: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Peck family letters, 1837-1907, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The Peck family of Du Quoin, Illinois included Miles Peck (1803-1887), his wife Celina (1804-1887), and their son Joseph E. Peck (1838-1907). Miles was a farmer, and Joseph continued in the same vein upon finishing college. In 1861, Joseph enlisted in the Union Army with the 6th Illinois Cavalry and he mustered out in 1864. In 1872, Joseph married Adelaidee Burbank (1846-1908) and together the couple had one child, May (b. 1873). No other biographical information available.
- 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 Peck family letters (dated 1837-1907, undated; 0.29 cubic feet; 7 folders) comprises letters sent to three generations of the Peck family of Du Quoin, Illinois from friends and family in the second half of the nineteenth century. In the letters between members of the immediate Peck family, they discuss Miles' business efforts and travels, Joseph's college experience, Lincoln's election, opinions about secessionists and thoughts on joining the Union army. Letters from relatives and friends discuss personal health, social events, local gossip, the Civil War, commentary on commodity money systems and note printing, announcements of marriages and deaths, and updates on daily life.
- The Peck family 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
Letters to Miles Peck, 1837, 1865
Letters to Celina Peck, 1840-1871, undated
Letters to Joseph E. Peck, 1855-1889
Joseph E. Peck to parents, 1860-1861, undated
Parents to Joseph E. Peck, 1860-1864
Letters to Adelaidee Burbank Peck, 1884-1896, undated
Letters to May Peck, 1884-1907, undated
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.
