Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John Welsh letters

Abstract

The John Welsh letters (dated 1933-1945, undated; 0.7 cubic feet; 2 boxes) comprises letters that document the experience of John Welsh and his family during his military service stateside and overseas in World War II.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John Welsh letters
Date
1933-1945, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Welsh, John, 1912-1987
Extent
0.7 Cubic Feet
Subjects
African Americans -- Military service.
Love-letters
World War, 1939-1945 -- Europe
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Rachel Holbrook
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0249: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: John Welsh letters, 1933-1945, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
John Henry Welsh (1912-1987) was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Herman R. Welsh (1881-1943) and Ida Elsa Welsh (1884-1968). In 1937, Welsh married Juanita Lawrence Caufiled (1916-1998), with whom he had at least two children: John Jr. (b. 1939) and David Lawrence (b. 1941). John enlisted in the US Army in 1942, ultimately serving as a captain of the 95th Engineer General Service Regiment. He was discharged in 1945 and returned home to his family in Louisville.
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 John Welsh letters (dated 1933-1945, undated; 0.7 cubic feet; 2 boxes) comprise letters that document the experience of John Welsh and his family during his military service stateside and overseas in World War II. During his military service, John spent time stateside at Fort Belvoir and Fort Bragg, and abroad in Canada, Germany, and France. Welsh was a captain in the 95th Engineer General Service Regiment, which was mostly made up of African-American enlisted soldiers and white officers. The letters are primarily from John to his wife, Juanita, and discuss going to school, friends made in training camp, moving camps, excitement over receiving packages from the family, the weather where he was located, and how much he misses his wife and two sons. There are a few cards from his sons as well for father's day and Christmas. Additionally, there are letters from members of Juanita's family addressed to her and John discussing enlisted family members, personal health, and life in California.
The John Welsh 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 from John Welsh, 1933-1937

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Letters from John Welsh, 1940

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Letters from John Welsh, 1941

  • Box 1, folder 3-5
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Letters from John Welsh, 1942

  • Box 1, folder 6-7
  • Box 2, folder 1-2
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Letters from John Welsh, 1943

  • Box 2, folder 3
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Letters from John Welsh, 1944

  • Box 2, folder 4
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Letters from John Welsh, 1945

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Letters from John Welsh, undated

  • Box 2, folder 6
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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.

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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.