Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Louise Shrewsbury diaries

Abstract

The Louise Shrewsbury diaries (dated 1951-1965; 0.27 cubic feet; 3 folders) comprise three five-year diaries that document the day-to-day life of Louise and her husband Ralph in Louisville, Kentucky in the mid-twentieth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Louise Shrewsbury diaries
Date
1951-1965 (inclusive)
Creator
Shrewsbury, Louise, 1901-1989
Extent
0.27 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Domestic Life -- United States -- 20th century
Family.
Friendship.
Health
Marriage
Travel.
Women -- United States -- Social conditions.
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
2009ms132.0467: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Louise Shrewsbury diaries, 1951-1967, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Stella Louise Shrewsbury (1901-1989), daughter of Charles Shoemaker (1879-1960), lived in Louisville, Kentucky with her third husband Ralph Damon Shrewsbury (1897-1970), whom she married in 1932. Her first husband was Berthal Hatfield whom she married in 1918 and divorced by 1920. Her second husband was Harry Lacefield (1889-1929) who she was married to from 1922 until his murder in 1929. Louise had no children with any of her husbands, however she had four step-children from her marriage with Ralph; Earl (1918-2003), Ralph Jr. (1919-1998), Frances (1921-2003), and Richard (1928-2018).
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 Louise Shrewsbury diaries (dated 1951-1965; 0.27 cubic feet; 3 folders) comprise three five-year diaries that document the day-to-day life of Louise and her husband Ralph in Louisville, Kentucky in the mid-twentieth century. In the entries, Louise wrote short details about her daily life, when she woke up, chores she did around the house, visits from family and friends, social outings, what she had for lunch or dinner, trips taken, and personal health. She also wrote frequently about organizations she and her husband are members of, including participation in meetings, initiations, performances, or attending events or parties.
The Louise Shrewsbury diaries 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

Diary, 1951-1955

  • Box WH-29, folder 3
To top

Diary, 1956-1960

  • Box WH-29, folder 4
To top

Diary, 1961-1965

  • Box WH-29, folder 5
To top

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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.