Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wilson family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wilson family letters
- Date
- 1907-1939, 1956, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Wilson, Lorraine, 1895-1986
- Extent
- 0.24 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Correspondence.
- Education -- Wisconsin
- Women teachers.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0538: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Wilson family letters, 1907-1939, 1956, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Charles D. Wilson (b. 1858) lived in Wisconsin and was married to Mary Cook (1869-1933). Together the couple had five children, Grace (1890-1973), Lorraine (1895-1968), Mabel (b. 1897), Frank (1900-1969), and Clark (1907-1919). Lorraine worked as a school teacher and in 1924, she married musician Robert Hays (1899-1976). Mabel married Ed Boerner in 1931, and Frank married Lola McCaslin (1907-1978). Frank and Lola had three children, Rosemary, Robert, and David. Lorrain and Robert lived in New York for a time, but the majority of the Wilson family remained in Wisconsin.
- 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 Wilson family letters (dated 1907-1939, 1956, undated; 0.24 cubic feet; 7 folders) comprise letters and papers that document the lives of the Wilson family in Wisconsin in the early twentieth century. Letters in the collection were written to all of the family members, including Charles, Mary, and their three children, Lorraine, Mabel, and Frank. Letters to Charles informed him of his aunt;s passing and express wishes that he will be feeling better soon after being sick. Letters to Mary came from her siblings and children, discussing personal health, updates on daily life, trips taken, holiday activities, and gossip. Letters to Lorraine came from past students, her family, and friends. The ones from her students were all written with the intention of being opened ten years later by Lorraine, in them the students wrote about what they predict and expect their lives to be like in ten years. The letters from family and friends discuss her father's health, birthday wishes, daily life, travel, thanks for gifts, social events, and visits from friends and family. Letters to Mabel came from friends and relatives, congratulating her on her marriage, and updates on daily life. Letters to Frank express their sympathies for the passing of his mother; sympathy letters can also be found in letters to Lorraine and Mabel. The papers include report cards for Lorraine and her sister, an essay on war and peace, newspaper clippings, and a brief dedication speech for a pastor.
- The Wilson family letters 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
Letters to Charles D. Wilson, 1909, 1926
Letters to Mary F. Wilson, 1911-1932
Students letters to Lorraine Wilson, 1918
Letters to Lorraine Wilson, 1921-1933, 1956, undated
Letters to Mabel Wilson Boerner, 1923-1923
Letters to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilson, 1933
Lorraine Wilson papers, 1907-1912, undated
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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.
