Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Morford Riddick papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Morford Riddick papers
- Date
- 1921-1943, 1966-1970, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Riddick, Morford
- Extent
- 0.18 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Correspondence.
- Male friendship -- United States -- History.
- Friendship.
- Essays.
- Education
- Prisons
- Prison administration.
- Family.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0724: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Morford Riddick papers, 1921-1943, 1966-1970, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Morford Riddick (1907-1995) was born in Texas to Solon (1880-1955) and Sally Riddick (1885-1972). By 1910, the family had moved from Texas to California, settling near Los Angeles. In 1933, Morford married Royale B. Edgerton. No other biographical information available.
- 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 Morford Riddick papers (dated 1921-1943, 1966-1970, undated; 0.18 cubic feet; 6 folders, 13 photographs) comprise letters, newspaper clippings, papers, and photographs that document the life of Morford Riddick in California in the twentieth century. The letters come from two main sources, one is a group called the Artisan Club, which was founded by Morford and friends as a way to stay in touch after finishing school, and the letters discuss starting the group and who wanted to be a member of it. The other letters come from Verling Spencer, a former colleague and friend, who is in prison for shooting four people. His letters discuss life in San Quentin via the prison newspaper, studying psychology, his thoughts on prison reform efforts, his hopes of being transferred to a minimum security prison, and thoughts on potentially getting parole. Newspaper clippings include Morford's announcement of his son's wedding, club officer appointments, and articles on Verling Spencer's crime. The papers include an essay on Jose Marti by Morford and report cards from school. The photographs depict men and women in their daily lives in glass-negatives, negatives, and print copies.
- The Morford Riddick 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.
Contents of the Collection
Artisan Club letters, 1925, undated
Letters to Morford Riddick, 1970, undated
Newspaper clippings, 1925, 1966-1970
Personal papers, 1921-1932, undated
Papers on Verling Spencer, 1940, undated
Verling Spencer to Morford Riddick, 1940-1943
Photographs, undated
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.
