Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edward Phares family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edward Phares family letters
- Date
- 1936-1958, 1980, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Phares, Edward A., 1910-1989
- Extent
- 0.15 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Agriculture.
- Correspondence.
- Young men -- United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0519: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edward Phares family letters, 1936-1958, 1980, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Edward A. Phares (1910-1989) was born in Lexington, Missouri to Fred Phares (1882-1923) and Irene Kelly (1881-1955). In the late 1930s, Phares married Kathleen Ennis (1909-1987) and together the couple had two children, Robert and David. In the 1940s, Edward worked for the Kansas State Department of Social Welfare.
- 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 Edward Phares family letters (dated 1936-1958, 1980, undated; 0.15 cubic feet; 5 folders) comprise letters sent between the Phares family, friends, and relatives that document life in Missouri and Kansas in the 1930s to 1950s. The majority of the letters are from Edward to his girlfriend and later wife, Kathleen Ennis, in them he wrote about winning card games with friends, work in the hay business, visiting friends and family, going to visit her, and thoughts about returning to school. Kathleen and Edward received letters from friends and relatives, giving updates on their daily lives, personal health, marriage announcements, and thanks for gifts sent. There is one letter from their son about whether he will be able to visit for Christmas and what it is like working at the VAMC in the psychology department. Also in the collection are letters sent to Kathleen's parents from her and her siblings, informing them on their grandchildren, married life, the weather at their homes, and trips taken.
- The Edward Phares 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 Edward and Kathleen Phares, 1941-1957, 1980
Edward Phares letters to Kathleen Ennis-Phares, 1936-1939
Letters to Kathleen Phares, 1945-1958
Phares family letters, 1951, undated
Letters to Thomas and Edna Ennis, 1937-1942
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.
