Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: James Clark Courtenay letters

Abstract

The James Clark Courtenay letters (dated 1900-1948, undated; 1.14 cubic feet; 3 boxes, 24 items) comprise letters, photographs, and photo negatives that document the life of upper middle-class families in Louisville, Kentucky in the early twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: James Clark Courtenay letters
Date
1900-1948, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Courtenay, James Clark, 1897-1991
Extent
1.14 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Correspondence.
Love-letters
Families.
Friendship.
Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 20th century
Long-distance relationships.
Marriage
Male friendship -- United States -- History.
Kentucky.
Louisville (Ky.)
Gossip.
Health
Education
Young women -- United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
United States -- Social life and customs.
Travel.
Negatives (photographic)
Construction
Courtenay, James Clark, 1897-1991
Courtenay, Louise Johnson, 1896-1938
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0672: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: James Clark Courtenay letters, 1900-1948, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
James Clark Courtenay (1897-1991) was born in Louisville, Kentucky to William H. Courtenay (1858-1934) and Isabel Clark (1868-1945). In 1920, Courtenay married Louise Johnson (1896-1938) and together the couple had two children, Martha (1921-2001) and James Jr. (1925-1978). After the death of Louise, James remarried in 1948 to Lillian Noell (1900-1983). James worked as a salesman in Louisville.
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 James Clark Courtenay letters (dated 1900-1948, undated; 1.14 cubic feet; 3 boxes, 24 items) comprise letters, photographs, and photo negatives that document the life of upper middle-class families in Louisville, Kentucky in the early twentieth century. The majority of the letters are written to James from his future wife, Louise Johnson, and she writes about her daily activities, spending time with friends and family, placing fun bets with James, her desire for him to return home, local gossip, wedding and death announcements, personal health, and her excitement at planning their wedding after their engagement. James also receives a number of letters from family members, discussing their daily lives, trips taken, personal health, school, employment, and inquiries on his health. Friends mainly write to James about social events and outings, who went out with whom, and wishes for him to be back in town to join them. The photographs depict children of the Courtenay family and the negatives in the collection depict construction work on an unknown building.
The James Clark Courtenay 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

Eleanor to James Clark Courtenay, 1918-1920, undated

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Erskine H. Courtenay to James Clark Courtenay, 1909-1913, undated

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Family to James Clark Courtenay, 1900-1932, undated

  • Box 1, folder 3
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James Clark Courtenay to Louise Johnson-Courtenay, 1935-1938, undated

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Louise Johnson to James Clark Courtenay, 1916

  • Box 1, folder 5-6
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Louise Johnson to James Clark Courtenay, 1917-1918

  • Box 1, folder 7
To top

Louise Johnson to James Clark Courtenay, 1920, undated

  • Box 1, folder 8
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Martha Courtenay to James and Louise Courtenay, 1934-1938, undated

  • Box 2, folder 1
To top

Martha Courtenay to James C. Courtenay, Jr., 1934

  • Box 2, folder 2
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Mother to James Clark Courtenay, 1902-1912

  • Box 2, folder 3
To top

Mother to James Clark Courtenay, 1913-1915, undated

  • Box 2, folder 4
To top

Nomina T. Cox to James Clark Courtenay, 1918, 1944-1946

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Nomina T. Cox to James Clark Courtenay, 1947-1948, undated

  • Box 2, folder 6
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Sophie Preston Hill to James Clark Courtenay, 1915-1916

  • Box 2, folder 7
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James Clark Courtenay to Father, 1915-1918, undated

  • Box 3, folder 1
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James Clark Courtenay to Mother, 1918-1919

  • Box 3, folder 2
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Letters from James Clark Courtenay, 1906, 1945-1946, undated

  • Box 3, folder 3
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Letters to James Clark Courtenay, 1908-1938, undated

  • Box 3, folder 4
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Letters from Louise Johnson Courtenay, undated

  • Box 3, folder 5
To top

Letters to Louise Johnson Courtenay, 1934-1936, undated

  • Box 3, folder 6
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James Clark Courtenay papers, 1916, 1936, 1939

  • Box 3, folder 7
To top

Photographs, undated

  • Box WH-68, item 1-10
  • Box WH-155, item 11-13
  • Box WH-156, item 14
  • Box WH-138, item 15-24
To top

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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.