Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Laura A. Erickson diary

Abstract

The Laura A. Erickson diary (dated 1918-1919; 0.03 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprises one diary that documents the work of Laura Erickson as a Red Cross nurse in France at the end of World War I.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Laura A. Erickson diary
Date
1918-1919 (inclusive)
Creator
Erickson, Laura A.
Extent
0.03 Cubic Feet
Subjects
World War, 1914-1918.
Military life.
Military hospitals.
Nurses
Travel.
Tourism.
Hospitals.
Health
Gossip.
Friendship.
Man-woman relationships -- United States -- 20th century
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0936: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Laura A. Erickson diary, 1918-1919, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Laura A. Erickson (b. 1887) was born in Wisconsin to Albert Erickson (1862-1931) and Carrie Munson. During World War I, Laura worked as a nurse for the Red Cross and worked in hospitals overseas in France between 1918 and 1919. She returned to the United States and moved to Chicago, Illinois where she found work at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA hospital. 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 Laura A. Erickson diary (dated 1918-1919; 0.03 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprises one diary that documents the work of Laura Erickson as a Red Cross nurse in France at the end of World War I. In the entries, she details her journey from New York to France, the daily weather, other nurses she bunks with, meeting soldiers on their transport ship, getting assigned to various hospitals, her patients, common ailments and injuries she encounters, going through quarantines for infectious diseases, spending time with friends, traveling around France, going sightseeing, going on dates with soldiers, her personal health, what her work schedule is, and being transferred to various wards.
The Laura A. Erickson diary 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

Laura A. Erickson diary, 1918-1919

  • Box WH-119, folder 1
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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.