Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Marie Anderson Simpson letters

Abstract

The Marie Anderson Simpson letters (dated 1942-1944; 0.1 cubic feet; 2 folders) comprise letters that document the life of Elwood Hays, stateside and abroad, while serving in the army during World War II.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Marie Anderson Simpson letters

Date: 1942-1944 (inclusive)

Creator: Simpson, Marie Anderson, 1904-

Extent: 0.1 Cubic Feet

Subjects: African Americans -- Kentucky -- Louisville; African American soldiers.; African Americans -- United States; African American women -- Kentucky; Correspondence.

Arrangement: Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.

Finding Aid Author: Sarah Coblentz

Preferred Citation: 2009ms132.0092: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Marie Anderson Simpson letters, 1942-1944, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Repository: University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History: Marie Anderson Simpson (b. 1904), and African American woman, was a widowed and divorced mother of two, Anna Lee (1922-1994) and Christopher Anderson, Jr. (1923-1973), who lived in Louisville, Kentucky. Elwood Hays (1904-1967) was a Louisville native as well and corresponded with Marie during World War II while he was in the service. In 1943, Hays asked Simpson to marry him in a letter and begins to address her as "wife" but records to establish whether they did marry have not been located.; 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 Marie Anderson Simpson letters (dated 1942-1944; 0.1 cubic feet; 2 folders) comprise letters that document the life of Elwood Hays, stateside and abroad, while serving in the army during World War II. The letters are from Hays to Simpson and discuss topics such as his loneliness, the tediousness of army life, the constant movement of his unit, family news, and plans for a future with Simpson as his wife.; The Marie Anderson Simpson 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

Marie Anderson Simpson letters, 1942 November 29-1943 September 3

Box 47, folder 8

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Marie Anderson Simpson letters, 1943 October 14-1944 June 4

Box 47, folder 9

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Abstract
Descriptive Summary
Collection Overview
Preferred Citation
Restrictions on Access and Use
Contents of the Collection

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