Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Oelke family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Oelke family letters
- Date
- 1904-1918, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.21 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Childbirth
- Correspondence.
- Family.
- Farm life
- Gardening.
- Letters.
- Livestock
- Marriage
- Women -- Employment -- Kentucky.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0381: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Oelke family letters, 1904-1918, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- The Oelke family of Kentucky included Henry Oelke (1830-1913), his wife L. Burkhart, and their seven children: Fred W. (1863-1956), Charles (b. 1865), George (b. 1868), Annie A. (1872-1961), Susan "Susie" (1876-1962), Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1878-1976), and William (1882-1922). Susie had three children, Dora (b. 1897), Rosa (b. 1899), and Dennis Morgan (1909-1958), but never married. The majority of the family stayed close to home, however Lizzie moved to Louisville, Kentucky after getting married and William moved to Earl Park, Indiana when he married. 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 Oelke family letters (dated 1904-1918, undated; 0.21 cubic feet; 6 folders) comprise letters between members of the Oelke family of Jefferson County, Kentucky and Earl Park, Indiana in the early twentieth century. The majority of the letters are addressed to Susie, coming from her siblings, daughters, and friends. The letters discuss employment, personal health, marriage issues, birth announcements, daily life, gardening, taking care of livestock, visits from relatives, and plans to see each other.
- The Oelke 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
Dora Oelke to Susie Oelke, 1912-1918
Lizzie Humphrey to Susie Oelke, 1907-1915
Rosa Oelke to Susie Oelke, 1915-1917
William Oelke to Susie Oelke, 1904-1908, undated
Susie Oelke to children, 1906-1908
Oelke family letters, 1905-1908
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.
