Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William Emory Foster papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William Emory Foster papers
- Date
- 1862-1931 (inclusive)
- Creator
- Foster, William E (Emory), 1821-1888
- Extent
- 0.05 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Cattle -- Marketing.
- Family -- History
- Memoirs.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0018: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: William Emory Foster papers, 1862-1931, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- William Emory (W.E.) Foster was born in 1821 in Madison, Ohio, to John Foster (1796-1880) and Ruth Foster (1796-1847). His family moved westward from Ohio to undeveloped land in Marshall County, Illinois where John Foster worked as a farmer and raised cattle, which he and his sons herded to the stockyards in Chicago, Illinois to sell. In 1847, William married Elizabeth Cowen and they remained in Marshall County, where William continued farm work and held a partnership with his brother driving cattle to Chicago. They had a daughter, Herma (1849-1902), and a son, Homer (1852-1854). In 1857, William sold his farm and moved to Geneseo, Illinois while continuing to seek land further west into Iowa and Minnesota. In that same year William's wife, Elizabeth, passed away and in accordance with her wishes, he let their daughter, Herma, live with his wife's parents. However, he soon joined his daughter in Magnolia, Illinois, selling everything he owned. He complained of being lonely and in the fall of 1858, he married Julia Abbott, a schoolteacher from Geneseo, Illinois. After remarrying, he took Herma back into his home, which was disagreeable to his deceased wife's parents. They removed Herma from their will for fear that Herma would die and William would lay claim to the inheritance. In 1871, William moved to Santa Barbara with Julia and Herma where he lived until his death. Herma married Cicero Porter Hamilton on June 3, 1873 and they had one daughter, Ina Hamilton, together before Porter's death in 1874.
- 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 William Emory Foster papers (dated 1862-1931; 0.05 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise a memoir on William Foster and an assortment of genealogical records that document the Foster family in Ohio, Illinois, and California. The memoir focuses on William's life, detailing his childhood, two marriages, the births of his children, and business ventures. Additionally, there is genealogical research on the Foster family compiled by Ina Hamilton, William's granddaughter. The diary and corresponding papers offer insight into westward expansion, property rights, land claims, and land development.
- The William Emory Foster papers letters ares 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
Memoir and genealogy papers, 1862-1931
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.
