Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edwin Carlile Litsey papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edwin Carlile Litsey papers
- Date
- 1895-1917, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 1.35 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Authors, American -- Kentucky.
- Poetry.
- Essays.
- Songs -- Texts
- Sermons.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.1139: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Edwin Carlile Litsey papers, 1895-1917, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Edwin Carlile Litsey (1874-1970) was born in Washington County, Kentucky to William Henry Litsey (1847-1891) and Sarah Elizabeth Johnston (1850-1882). His first position was as a post runner at the Marion National Bank in 1891 and worked his way up to assistant cashier. He continued to work at the bank for over seventy years. In 1900, he married Carrie Selecman (1874-1910) and together they had one child – Sarah Selecman Litsey (1901-1996).
- At 26 years old, Litsey published his first novel, The Princess of Gramfalon. Over the course of his literary career he published 13 books – nine novels, one volume of short stories, one novelette, and two books of poetry. Prominent works include A Man from Jericho (1911), The Eternal Flame (1937), Stones for Bread (1940), and The Filled Cup. Litsey was chosen by the state legislature as Poet Laureate of Central Kentucky in 1954.
- "Edwin Carlile Litsey, Poet Laureate Dies". The Lebanon Enterprise, pages 1-2, Thursday, February 5, 1970.
- 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 Edwin Carlile Litsey papers (dated 1895-1917, undated; 1.35 cubic feet; 3 boxes) comprise drafts and copies of novels, poems, songs, essays, sermons, and articles written by Kentucky author Edwin Carlile Litsey. The majority of the materials are handwritten and signed by Litsey, there are a few typed copies. The collection includes a copy of his first novel, The Princess of Gramfalon. Additionally, there are a few letters written to Litsey in the collection and some clippings.
- The Edwin Carlile Litsey 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
Dorothy and Baby John, 1909-1910
George Bolt: A Man, 1901
The Hunted People, undated
The Man from Jericho, 1907-1908
Phantom Honey, undated
The Princess of Gramfalon, 1898
The Race of the Swift, 1905
The Reborning of Fritot, undated
The Salt of the Earth, undated
The Wilderness Lover, 1910-1911
"The Fireside Philosopher" essays, 1911
Book reviews and articles, 1901-1910
Poems, 1895-1899
Poems, 1900-1916, undated
Sermons, 1906-1911
Songs, 1897-1899, undated
Short stories and essays, A-C, 1897-1916
Short stories and essays, D-F, 1897-1917, undated
Short stories and essays, G-I, 1899-1911, undated
Short stories and essays, J-L, 1901-1914, undated
Short stories and essays, M-O, 1898-1917, undated
Short stories and essays, P-R, 1897-1917
Short stories and essays, S-U, 1898-1917
Short stories and essays, V-Z, 1899-1916, undated
Untitled, partial manuscript, 1906 March 23
Untitled manuscript, 1898 September 8
Untitled manuscript, 1905 September 20
Untitled and incomplete works, 1896-1917, undated
Single and incomplete pages, 1895-1917, undated
Edwin Carlile Litsey papers, 1897-1917, 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.
