Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Neely family letters

Abstract

The Neely family letters (dated 1942-1954, undated; 0.9 cubic feet; 2 boxes) comprise letters and one photograph that document the relationships between Homer Sr., Mary, and their two children Homer Jr. and Jane in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1940s and 1950s.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Neely family letters
Date
1942-1954, undated (inclusive)
Extent
0.9 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Correspondence.
Education, Higher.
Family.
Friendship.
Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 20th century
Soldiers -- Correspondence
Travel.
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
2009ms132.0316: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Neely family letters, 192-1954, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Homer Clifford Neely, Jr. (1930-2017) was born in New Albany, Indiana to Homer C. Neely, Sr. (1891-1982) and Mary Furlong (1891-1962); he had one younger sister, Jane (1931-2002). By the mid-1940s, the family had relocated to Louisville, Kentucky. The father worked in multiple careers including sales clerk, solicitor, and pharmacist; Homer Sr. and Mary were married in 1929. Homer Jr. joined the US Navy, possibly through the ROTC program, around 1949. From 1961-1979, Homer, Jr. was married to Judith, and together the couple had three children, Jason, Mark, and Jennifer. After the couple's divorce, Homer married a second time to Ruthanne Massimo (b. 1944) and they had one child together, Sabrina. Homer, Sr., Mary, and Jane remained in Louisville, Kentucky for the rest of their lives, and Homer, Jr. moved around until settling in Potomac, Maryland.
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 Neely family letters (dated 1942-1954, undated; 0.9 cubic feet; 2 boxes) comprise letters and one photograph that document the relationships between Homer Sr., Mary, and their two children Homer Jr. and Jane in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1940s and 1950s. A majority of the letters are between Homer Jr. and his mother. Letters from Homer discuss activities at summer camp, sailing around the world in the Navy, seeing Paris, visiting Cuba, running into old friends while on leave, his opinions on the different ships he sails on, being stuck on 24-hour watch, moving to Memphis, Tennessee, and working. Mary writes about working, the amount of money she made, dinners prepared, updates on Homer's father and sister, seeing friends and family, and her excitement at him seeing the world. Homer also receives letters from his father and sister, and they discuss the weather, Jane going on dates, seeing friends, being exhausted from work, attending school, and how Homer is faring in the Navy. Jane receives letters from Homer, her parents, a boyfriend, and friends. These letters discuss gossip on friend's relationships, a boyfriend asking to take her out again, her studies at the University of Louisville, and visits from family. There is also one photograph in the collection of an older couple.
The Neely 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

Neely family letters, 1942, undated

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Letters to Mary Neely, 1942-1945, undated

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Father letters to H. Clifford Neely, Jr., 1942, 1949, undated

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Mother letters to H. Clifford Neely, Jr., 1942

  • Box 1, folder 4
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H. Clifford Neely, Jr. letters to mom, 1942

  • Box 1, folder 5
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H. Clifford Neely, Jr. letters to mom, 1945

  • Box 1, folder 6
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Jane Neely letters to mom, 1945-1946

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Letters to Jane Neely, 1945-1954, undated

  • Box 1, folder 8
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Parents letters to Jane Neely, 1946

  • Box 1, folder 9
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Friends letters to H. Clifford Neely, Jr., 1947-1949

  • Box 1, folder 10
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Mother letters to H. Clifford Neely, Jr., 1949

  • Box 1, folder 11-13
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Jane Neely letters to H. Clifford Neely, Jr., 1949, undated

  • Box 2, folder 1
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H. Clifford Neely, Jr. letters to mom, 1950

  • Box 2, folder 2
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H. Clifford Neely, Jr. letters to mom, 1951, undated

  • Box 2, folder 3-4
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H. Clifford Neely, Jr. letters to Jane Neely, 1951

  • Box 2, folder 5
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George Eldridge letters to Jane Neely, 1951-1952

  • Box 2, folder 6
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Photograph, undated

  • Box 2, folder 7
To top

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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.