Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Duke Craps letters

Abstract

The Duke Craps letters (dated 1985; 0.09 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprises letters sent to Duke from family and friends in Virginia while he is in basic training for the army in 1985.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Duke Craps letters
Date
1985 (inclusive)
Creator
Craps, Duke
Extent
0.09 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Family.
Friendship.
Brothers and sisters.
Basic training (Military education)
Gossip.
High school students.
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
2009ms132.0832: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Duke Craps letters, 1985, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Duke L. Craps (1966-2003) was born in Vietnam to Duane B. Craps (b. 1946) and Hang Thi Nuygen (b. 1946). The family was living in the United States by 1972, the year Duke's parents were married. In 1985, Duke enlisted in the army. In 1989, he married Theresa Lyn Law (b. 1968), however the couple divorced in 1995. 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 Duke Craps letters (dated 1985; 0.09 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprises letters sent to Duke from family and friends in Virginia while he is in basic training for the army in 1985. The majority of the letters are from Duke's younger sister, she writes about her junior year of high school, getting her driver's license, breaking up with a boyfriend, plans to travel, and spending time with friends. Other letters in the collection discuss finishing high school, visiting friends, going to parties, finding employment, daily life in the military, and how Duke's basic training is progressing. There are a few photographs in the collection, four from a girlfriend of Duke's and three of friends of Duke's in basic training.
The Duke Craps 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

Duke Craps letters, 1985

  • Box WH-91, folder 2
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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.

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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.