Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lena Ashby papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lena Ashby papers
- Date
- 1916-1945, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Ashby, Lena, 1878-1956
- Extent
- 1.8 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Family.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by sender. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0147: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Lena Ashby papers, 1916-1945, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Lena B. Ashby née Guffy (1878-1956) was born in Logan County, Kentucky to John Guffy (1828-1914) and Elizabeth C. Guffy (1838-1899). In 1895, she married John J. Ashby (1874-1954), and they had two children together, Otis Ashby (1898-1977) and Weaver Ashby (1910-1988). John owned and worked a farm and Lena worked as a postmaster. Otis eventually moved from Kentucky to Detroit, Michigan and owned his own retail cigar shop.
- 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 Lena Ashby papers (dated 1916-1945, undated; 1.8 cubic feet; 4 boxes) comprise letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs that document the lives of Lena Ashby and her children, Otis and Weaver, during the first half of the twentieth century in Kentucky. The letters are primarily between Lena and Otis, she wrote to him regularly, and the letters discuss daily life, pride in his academic achievements, thanks for sending money, and the health of family members. There are a few letters from Weaver to Otis, that also give thanks for sending money, discuss the health of his farm, and the weather at home. Other letters in the collection include some that are sent to Lena and discuss the health of a relative and Otis's daily life, a few letters to Otis from friends, and one between Jack and his sweetheart. The photographs document the Ashby family in the early twentieth century.
- The Lena Ashby papers 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
- 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
Letters to Otis Ashby from mother [Lena Ashby], 1922-1945
Letters to Otis Ashby from Weaver Ashby, 1926-1934
Letters to Otis Ashby [Jack] from multiple senders, 1916-1945
Letters to Lena Ashby, 1923-1934, undated
Letter from "Jack", 1925
Newspaper clippings and partial letters, 1926-1930, undated
Ashby family photographs, 1908, 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.
