Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Emma L. Pierson letters

Abstract

The Emma L. Pierson letters (dated 1877-1888, undated; 0.01 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise letters to and from Emma L. Pierson that document her relationships with family and friends in Vermont in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Emma L. Pierson letters
Date
1877-1888, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Pierson, Emma L.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Letters.
Correspondence.
Family.
Domestic Life -- United States
Friendship.
Parent and child.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0744: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Emma L. Pierson letters, 1877-1888, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Emma L. Pierson (1864-1928) was born in Wisconsin to Richard I. Pierson and Abigail Douglass (d. 1884). The family moved to Vermont between Emma's birth and 1870, as the US Census of 1870 lists them as living in Vermont. Emma eventually made her way to New York, and was the house mother at the Sigma Chi fraternity at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York until her death in 1928.
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 Emma L. Pierson letters (dated 1877-1888, undated; 0.01 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise letters to and from Emma L. Pierson that document her relationships with family and friends in Vermont in the second half of the nineteenth century. The letters to Emma come from her mother and friends, discussing opinions on plays, doing chores around the house, visits with family and friends, how much she is missed, questions about her living arrangements, and daily life at home. One letter is sent from Emma and friends to a young man asking him to fix a relationship with a friend of the group so that the group can live happily together again. Also in the collection is one short composition by Emma about the quality of stationery that was written for a school assignment.
The Emma L. Pierson 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

Emma L. Pierson letters, 1877-1888, undated

  • Box WH-82, folder 6
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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.

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.