Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Robert Hurt letters

Abstract

The Robert Hurt letters (dated 1918-1919, 1946; 0.21 cubic feet; 6 folders) comprises letters between Robert Hurt and his family that document his experience serving in the army during World War I.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Robert Hurt letters
Date
1918-1919, 1946 (inclusive)
Creator
Hurt, Robert
Extent
0.21 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Correspondence.
Family.
Military life.
Farm life
Parent and child.
Brothers and sisters.
World War, 1914-1918.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, American.
Basic training (Military education)
Military training camps.
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
2009ms132.0883: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Robert Hurt letters, 1918-1919, 1946, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Robert W. Hurt (1897-1982) was born in Kentucky to David Andrew Hurt (1868-1938) and Margaret Crouch (1872-1969). He was married to Rubye Vass (1899-1995). During World War I he served in the army, and after his discharge worked on his family's farm until owning his farm. 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 Robert Hurt letters (dated 1918-1919, 1946; 0.21 cubic feet; 6 folders) comprises letters between Robert Hurt and his family that document his experience serving in the army during World War I. In letters that Robert writes to his family, he discusses life in Alabama, comparison of the weather and soil to Kentucky, being given work as a carpenter, his desire to come home to visit, going on guard duty, spending time with friends, being transferred to a camp in South Carolina, and his attempts to get discharged after the signing of the armistice. Letters to Robert from his family discuss life on the farm, returning to school, spending time with his girlfriend, going hunting, and the quality of their crop harvests. Additionally there are two letters to Robert from friends, mainly asking him how life in the army is like, and one letter to Robert's wife, written years later, discussing spending time with friends and neighbors.
The Robert Hurt 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

Robert Hurt to family, 1918

  • Box WH-107, folder 3-4
To top

Robert Hurt to family, 1919

  • Box WH-107, folder 5
To top

Parents to Robert Hurt, 1918

  • Box WH-107, folder 6
To top

Mabel Hurt to Robert Hurt, 1918

  • Box WH-107, folder 7
To top

Robert Hurt letters, 1918, 1946

  • Box WH-107, folder 8
To top

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.

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.



Submit a request for SCRC materials.




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.