Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Orlo Smith family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Orlo Smith family letters
- Date
- 1929, 1940-1953, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Smith, Orlo
- Extent
- 0.24 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Illinois
- Families.
- Marriage
- World War, 1939-1945.
- Travel.
- Children
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.1011: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Orlo Smith family letters, 1929, 1940-1953, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Orlo Smith (1898-1972) was born in Muskego, Wisconsin to John Smith (b. 1877) and Louella Smith (b. 1874). Orlo worked as a painter. By 1942, he was married to Eva Smith. Together they had a son named Lynn. No other biographical information available.
- 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 Orlo Smith family letters (dated 1929, 1940-1953, undated; 0.24 cubic feet; 8 folders) comprises letters sent to Orlo Smith and his family in East Troy, Wisconsin in the mid-twentieth century. The letters are primarily sent to Orlo and his wife, Eva, but many are also sent to them individually from friends and relatives in Wisconsin, Illinois, and California. Letters to Orlo discuss work and helping others find employment. Letters to Eva discuss married life, dealing with relatives serving during World War II, the fear of air raids in California, taking vacations, personal health, thanks for gifts, employment, and moving. The letters to the couple jointly discuss many of the same topics, along with congratulations on the arrival of their child. There is one letter to Orlo and Eva's child, from a relative saying that they hope to meet again and that the child won't run off this time and stay and play.
- The Orlo Smith family 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
Elenora Olson to Eva Smith, 1941-1944
Letters to Eva Smith, 1929, 1941-1953
Letter to Lynn Smith, 1949
Letters to Orlo Smith, 1942-1944
Mabel and Ed Morrison to Orlo and Eva Smith, 1942-1944
Elenora Olson to Orlo and Eva Smith, 1940-1944
Letters to Orlo and Eva Smith, 1940-1943
Letters to Orlo and Eva Smith, 1944-1950, 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.
