Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: University of Chicago academic letters

Abstract

The University of Chicago academic letters (dated 1951-1965; 0.14 cubic feet; 9 folders) comprise letters from prospective foreign students to the Registrar, and from former or current foreign colleagues of professors at the University of Chicago during the 1950s.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: University of Chicago academic letters
Date
1951-1965 (inclusive)
Extent
0.14 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Agriculture.
Correspondence.
Dead Sea scrolls
English literature.
Letters.
Universities and colleges.
Universities and colleges -- Faculty.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by recipient. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0190: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: University of Chicago academic letters, 1951-1965, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller and is a private, non-profit research university in Chicago, Illinois. The founders outlined a commitment to rigorous academics for people of all backgrounds, including "opportunities for all departments of higher education to persons of both sexes on equal terms." Well known for its diverse fields of study, the University has attracted students from across the globe, since its inception, to apply and provides the necessary support for retention and success of international students. Additionally, the University supports international research by their faculty through a variety of overseas campuses and centers.
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.
Sources: University of Chicago, (n.d.). UChicago Global. Retrieved from https://global.uchicago.edu/page/international-students
University of Chicago. (n.d.). About the University. Retrieved from https://www.uchicago.edu/about/
Scope and Content
The University of Chicago academic letters (dated 1951-1965; 0.14 cubic feet; 9 folders) comprise letters from prospective foreign students to the Registrar, and from former or current foreign colleagues of professors at the University of Chicago during the 1950s. The letters from the prospective foreign students come from England, India, Pakistan, and West Africa, and the letters inquire about the availability of funding for international students in undergraduate and graduate level courses. The students are inquiring about courses in a variety of topics, including business, agricultural geography, literature, zoology, and economics. The letters from colleagues of professors at the university discuss working abroad, mainly in England, Germany, and India. These letters discuss lectures given or attended, professional conferences, upcoming publications, academic appointments, and updates on author's daily lives. Some letters also discuss political events happening in the Middle East in the 1950s and the uncertainty surrounding them. Of the letters in the Letters to University of Chicago professors file, many of the correspondents are experts in their fields, such as Dead Sea Scrolls expert John Allegro, English Literature expert Arthur Friedman, and Near East Studies Expert Fritz Rudolf Kraus. The letters to Benno Landsberger are written in German, and the majority of the letters written to Nirmal Minz are written in Hindi.
The University of Chicago academic 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
The 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

Letters to University of Chicago registrar, 1951-1957

  • Box 255, folder 14
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Letters to professor R.C. Bald, 1953-1957

  • Box 255, folder 15
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Letters to professor G.E. von Grunebaum, 1956-1957

  • Box 255, folder 16
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Letters to professor Arnold C. Harberger, 1954

  • Box 255, folder 17
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Letters to professor Benno Landsberger, 1957-1958

  • Box 255, folder 18
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Letters to Nirmal Minz, 1957

  • Box 255, folder 19
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Letters to professor Charles L. Mowat, 1956-1958

  • Box 255, folder 20
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Letters to Jan R. Wightwick, 1958

  • Box 255, folder 21
To top

Letters to University of Chicago professors, 1951-1965

  • Box 255, folder 22
To top

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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.

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.