University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Kevin Trauth papers
Trauth, Kevin, 1960-1994
2009ms132.0892
0.17 Cubic Feet
8 folders, 50 photographs
1949, 1972-1985, undated
The Kevin Trauth papers (dated 1949,
1972-1985, undated; 0.17 cubic feet; 8 folders, 50 photographs) comprises letters and
photographs documenting the life of Kevin Trauth in Louisville, Kentucky during the latter
part of the twentieth century.
English .
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, 2000.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been
processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Biographical note
Kevin Trauth (1960-1994) was born in Louisville, Kentucky to John Stanley Trauth
(1935-1982) and Karen Trauth (b.1936). Kevin Trauth had three siblings, Kim Trauth Ettel (b.
1959), Michelle Trauth Forbes (b.1962) and Michael Trauth (b.1965). Kevin attended Seneca
High School, a public school in Louisville. Kevin Trauth passed away at thirty four years
old and is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
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.
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0892: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Kevin
Trauth papers, 1949, 1972-1985, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research
Center.
Scope and Contents
The Kevin Trauth papers (dated 1949, 1972-1985, undated; 0.17 cubic feet; 8 folders, 50
photographs) comprises letters and photographs documenting the life of Kevin Trauth in
Louisville, Kentucky during the latter part of the twentieth century. The letters in this
collection are from friends and family member. Letters from Kevin's mother, Karen Trauth,
provide insight into Kevin's bad relationship with his father, and Karen's new dating life.
In one letter sent to Kevin from his father, he discusses topics such as sex and his love of
drinking. Kevin and his sister, Kim, are very close and she writes frequently from Florida
where she meets her husband and has her first child. Kevin's paternal grandmother and aunt
write to Kevin and his siblings, offering them condolences after the passing of their
father. Kevin also receives many letters from male and female friends. They discuss various
prevalent topics from the eighties; drugs, sex, music and the gay community. Kevin is openly
gay and receives letters from other friends who are also gay. His wide friend group writes
to him about their daily lives, painting, school, relationships problems and other gossip.
The photos in this collection feature Kevin Trauth and various friends. Many of the
pictures are from a pride parade and showcase many different drag queens. Other photographs
depict various house and costume parties. There are also pictures from Kevin's trip to
Florida to visit his sisters and their partners.
The Kevin Trauth papers 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.
Conditions Governing Use
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of
Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Letters.
Friendship.
Gay community -- Kentucky.
Gays -- Social life and customs
Gay pride celebrations.
Gay community
Drag shows.
Louisville (Ky.)
Florida.
Families.
Divorce -- Kentucky.
Drug abuse
Photographs
Sex
Violence
Death
Art.
Trauth, Kevin, 1960-1994
John Trauth to Kevin Trauth
1972
WH-102
16
Kim Trauth to Kevin Trauth
1981-1983, undated
WH-102
17
Karen Trauth to Kevin Trauth
1982
WH-102
19
Letters to Mary Trauth
1949, 1981-1983, undated
WH-102
20
Aunt Barbara to Trauth family
1982
WH-102
21
Convent of Our Lady of Michelob to Kevin Trauth
undated
WH-102
22
Mary Trauth to Kevin Trauth
undated
WH-102
23
Photographs
Series I.
1981-1985, undated
Schrodt art studio student sale
1981
WH-95
1
Unidentified young girl dressed as a hula dancer and a young man dressed as a
Star War Character, note on back reads Lois, Halloween at
V.8.
1981
WH-95
2
Alonzo, Celine, Kenny, Clark and Clark's
girlfriend Halloween at V.8.
1981
WH-95
3
Kevin Trauth posing next to steel beam
1984 September
WH-95
4
Four unidentified individuals on a couch
1984
WH-95
5
Unidentified young man in a teal shirt on a bed
1984
WH-95
6
Three unidentified men dressed in dresses and wigs, smoking
1984
WH-95
7
Unidentified shirtless man in front of an open refrigerator
1984
WH-95
8
Two unidentified men in a doorway dressed in tropical fruit
outfits
1984
WH-95
9
Unidentified woman in a white and pink polka dot shirt
1985
WH-95
10
Three unidentified men at a house party
1985
WH-95
11
Unidentified man sleeping on a couch
1985
WH-95
12
Eight unidentified men sitting on the floor, laughing
1985
WH-95
13
Unidentified man and woman drinking and lying on the beach
1985
WH-95
14
Unidentified man and woman posed in front of the water
1985
WH-95
15
Unidentified man and woman sun tanning on the beach
1985
WH-95
16
Kevin Trauth [center] with two unidentified men sitting on a
couch
1985
WH-95
17
Kevin Trauth [Left] sitting on a couch with an unidentified man
1985
WH-95
18
Unidentified group at a house party
1985
WH-95
19
Unidentified man and woman inside a house
1985
WH-95
20
Three unidentified men and a blonde woman talking at a party
1985
WH-95
21
Three unidentified shirtless men on a beach themed parade float
1985
WH-95
22
Unidentified blonde drag queen wearing an orange dress at a
parade
1985
WH-95
23
Unidentified crowd at unknown event in downtown Louisville,
Kentucky
1985
WH-95
24
Two unidentified Black men riding on a car in a parade
1985
WH-95
25
Unidentified drag queens and men on a parade float
1985
WH-95
26
Unidentified man wearing black leather harness and a hat
1985
WH-95
27
Unidentified shirtless man on a parade float with a golden statue of
liberty
1985
WH-95
28
Unidentified men on a parade float
1985
WH-95
29
Two unidentified drag queens dressed as geishas walking in a
parade
1985
WH-95
30
Unidentified drag queen wearing a red dress with feathers in their hair at a
parade
1985
WH-95
31
Unidentified person wearing a white cat costume sitting on a car driving in a
parade
1985
WH-95
32
Three unidentified men in speedos wearing medals on a parade
float
1985
WH-95
33
Three unidentified shirtless men on a parade float
1985
WH-95
34
David, holding a jar of cheez balls, next to his painting Nymphs in Space
undated
WH-95
35
Three unidentified persons dressed as clowns, note on back reads Clowning around in Louisville. I may start a new fashion craz.
The Bag Head. We were doing valium
too.
undated
WH-95
36
Scotty [bottom] sitting on couch holding the arms of an unidentified person
standing behind the couch
undated
WH-95
37
Unidentified man in a white button up shirt
undated
WH-95
38
Two unidentified men and a woman at the beach
undated
WH-95
39
Kenny Williams and Mark Peak in a cemetery
undated
WH-95
40
Two unidentified men in drag
undated
WH-95
41
Nine unidentified men and Kevin Trauth [second from left, bottom row] forming
a human pyramid
undated
WH-95
42
Human pyramid collapsing made up of nine unidentified men and Kevin Trauth
[on floor, with man in white long sleeve shirt above him]
undated
WH-95
43
Three unidentified men drinking while wearing beach apparel
undated
WH-95
44
Kevin Trauth [shirtless, far left] and four unidentified men attempting to
form a human pyramid
undated
WH-95
45
Kevin trauth [second from right], two unidentified men, and one woman at a
beach themed party
undated
WH-95
46
Kevin Trauth [second from right] with three unidentified men and one woman at
a beach themed party
undated
WH-95
47
Three unidentified men in beach themed outfits
undated
WH-95
48
Kevin trauth [second from left] with three unidentified men posing in front
of a beach themed backdrop
undated
WH-95
49
View of John B. Castleman monument in Louisville, Kentucky
undated
WH-95
50