Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Vance family papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Vance family papers
- Date
- 1944-1952, 1977-1979 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.08 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Correspondence.
- Family.
- Farm life
- Military life.
- World War, 1939-1945.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0608: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Vance family papers, 1944-1952, 1977-1979, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Ollie Vance (1890-1924) and George McKinley Vance (1897-1966) were brothers living in Lobb, Kentucky. Ollie was married to Virgie Jones (1887-1924) and they had three children, Pansy (1910-1986), Garnett (1915-1978), and Hugh (1920-2000). George married Minnie Bennett (1898-1982) and they had two children, Cresswell (1917-1983) and Ray (1920-1984). Garnett was a farmer and was married from 1937 to 1947 to Ruby Scoggins (1915-1948); they had no children. Cresswell married Gertrude Marcum (1916-2013) in 1940 and they had one daughter, Sandy. Creswell served in the US Army during World War II, attaining the rank of sergeant before his release, and returned home to his family and farm. Ray married Virginia (1931-1972) and together they had one child, Raemonda.
- 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 Vance family papers (dated 1944-1952, 1977-1979; 0.08 cubic feet; 2 folders) comprises letters and one diary that document the lives of members of the Vance family of Lobb, Kentucky during World War II and later in the twentieth century. The letters are sent to George Vance and his wife Minnie from their children and other relatives. Their sons write about serving in the military, being in the Pacific Theatre, personal health, and from whom they have received letters. Relatives write about personal health, family gossip, and happiness at being able to have seen the couple. Attached to a few of the letters are photographs. The small diary recounts day-to-day life for members of the Vance family, tasks completed around the farm, friends helped and visited, deaths, funerals, and contact information.
- The Vance family papers 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.
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.
