Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Henry Heyburn family letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Henry Heyburn family letters
- Date
- 1908-1992 (inclusive)
- 1938-1948 (bulk)
- Creator
- Heyburn, Henry, 1920-1991
- Extent
- 1.8 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Correspondence.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
- 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.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0284: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Henry Heyburn family letters, 1908-1992, bulk 1938-1948, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Henry Reuter Heyburn (1920-1991) was born in Boston, Massachusetts to John G. Heyburn (1895-1952) and Martha von Eichen Reuter (1897-1991). Henry was born while his father was still attending Harvard Law School, and the family returned to Louisville, Kentucky after John completed his studies. Henry attended Harvard University, finishing his undergraduate program in 1943 and graduating from Harvard Law School in 1949. Heyburn served in the 14th Armored Division of the US Army during World War II and received the Silver Star and Bronze Star with an oak leaf cluster while participating in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns. He was discharged from the service in 1946 at the rank of captain. Following his graduation from law school, Heyburn began practice in 1950 in his father's firm of Peter, Heyburn & Marshall, which by 1972 had become Brown, Todd & Heyburn. Heyburn was active in many different organizations and charities in the Louisville community, including board member or trustee positions at the Bernheim Foundation, Frontier Nursing Service, Kentucky State University, the Louisville Community Foundation, Louisville Central Area and Red Cross Hospital. He also served as Chancellor of the Episcopal Archdiocese of Kentucky from 1963-1979, was on the board of directors of the Porter Paint Co., Starks Building Co., and Belknap Hardware Co.; and served from 1952-1958 in the General Assembly, representing St. Matthews and other portions of eastern Jefferson County. Heyburn married Frances Powell Starks in 1947 and together the couple had four children: John G. Heyburn II (1984-2015), Frances Heyburn Pistell, Henry R. Heyburn Jr., and Franklin S. Heyburn.
- 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 Henry Heyburn family letters (dated 1908-1992, bulk 1938-1948; 1.8 cubic feet; 4 boxes) comprise letters, papers, and clippings that document the life of Henry Heyburn as a soldier and his family in Louisville, Kentucky during and post-World War II. The letters are primarily sent from Henry to his parents while he was serving in the Army. Just prior to Heyburn's entrance into the Army, he writes about participating in Harvard's ROTC, his travels to Mexico, and classes taken at Harvard. Once in the Army, Heyburn discusses participating in Officer Candidate School, traveling to different camps for training, courses taken, daily life in the camps, and his happiness at being back in the military. As time progresses, Heyburn talks about preparing to go overseas, the journey to reach Europe, the weather in France and Germany during his deployment, the transition from a combat to occupation force, opinion on the war in the Pacific, traveling to different French cities like Paris and Marseilles, promotions and medals he receives, and finally his excitement at being able to return home. Henry also writes to his friends and grandmother, discussing exams, school, hometown gossip, the weather, and thanks for gifts. There are letters sent to Martha and John G. Heyburn that discuss Henry and his fiancée Frances's upcoming wedding, Henry's military service, visits from friends and family to John and Martha, updates on other friends in the military, and sympathy letters to Martha on the passing of her mother. The papers include a copy of George Heyburn's will, military drill instructions, and personal notes. The newspaper clippings include information on Henry's Army unit's movements in Europe and the Heyburn family, including the passing of William and Henry Heyburn and the appointment of John G. Heyburn II as a US District judge by President Bush.
- The Henry Heyburn 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
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.
