Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Jim Calvey letters
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Jim Calvey letters
- Date
- 1950-1952, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Calvey, Jim
- Extent
- 0.45 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Letters.
- Correspondence.
- Family.
- Korean War, 1950-1953
- Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal narratives, American
- Schizophrenia
- Medical care.
- Military life.
- Travel.
- Health
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0827: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Jim Calvey letters, 1950-1952, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Jim Calvey (1930-2000) was born in Youngstown, Ohio to Frank Calvey (b. 1905) and Catherine Golonko (1907-1991). Between 1950 and 1952, he served in the US Marine Corps, and was stationed in Guam and Japan during the Korean War. In late 1952, Calvey was hospitalized and treated for schizophrenia via electroshock therapy. In 1981, he married Mildred J. (Broadbent) Porter (1927-2002). 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 Jim Calvey letters (dated 1950-1952, undated; 0.45 cubic feet; 1 box) comprises letters sent from Jim Calvey to his parents that document his experiences serving in the marine corps and treatment for schizophrenia in Guam, Japan, and California during the Korean War. In Calvey's letters to his parents, he discusses his experiences in basic training, making friends, buying gifts for himself and his parents, writing letters to friends, getting court martialed for going A.W.O.L., his efforts to get an early discharge, personal health and weight fluctuations, and learning he'll be stationed in Guam. Once in Guam he writes about being on guard duty, how cheap items cost on the island, his interest in buying a car, attempts to get furloughs, and a promotion to corporal. After being transferred to Japan from Guam, he writes about the weather and his desires to come home soon. Halfway through 1952, Calvey is hospitalized after being diagnosed with schizophrenia, and writes to his parents about his treatments, life in the hospital, and his desire to be sent to a hospital near home. Many of these letters include outbursts at his parents for signing off on this treatment for him and frequent requests for them to take it back. Other letters in the collection include one written to Jim from a friend, and letters to Jim's mother from her friends discussing daily life and personal health. There is one photograph in the collection that is a portrait of Jim in his military uniform.
- The Jim Calvey 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.
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.
