Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Robert A. Cochran, Jr. letters

Abstract

The Robert A. Cochran, Jr. letters (dated 1877-1906, undated; 0.46 cubic feet; 13 folders) comprise letters that document the lives of the Cochran family in Maysville, Kentucky while their son Robert was attending college in Massachusetts in the 1870s.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Robert A. Cochran, Jr. letters
Date
1877-1906, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Cochran, Robert A., Jr., 1862-1932
Extent
0.46 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Amherst College
Letters.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by sender. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0157: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Robert A. Cochran, Jr. letters, 1877-1906, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Robert A. Cochran, Jr. (1862-1932) was born in Maysville, Kentucky to Robert A. Cochran, Sr. (1822-1896) and Harriet Frances January (1832-1896). The son of a prominent attorney, cotton mill owner, and bank vice president, he had one older brother, Andrew, who was an attorney in his father's law firm, and three younger brothers – William, Jamie, and Horace. In 1877, Robert, Jr. had one of his eyes removed by a surgeon in New York City due to an unknown injury or illness. By 1878, he was recovered from the surgery and attending Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Due to dwindling enrollment and financial troubles at the college, Robert dropped out in June of 1880. Shortly after his return to Maysville, Kentucky he married Charlotte Lee Poyntz (1862-1947) in 1882. They had two children, John Poyntz Cochran (1884-1974) and Harriet J. Cochran (1886-1967). Robert, Jr. eventually became the president of the cotton mill in Maysville.
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 Robert A. Cochran, Jr. letters (dated 1877-1906, undated; 0.46 cubic feet; 13 folders) comprise letters that document the lives of the Cochran family in Maysville, Kentucky while their son Robert was attending college in Massachusetts in the 1870s. The letters are primarily from his parents, however some are from his siblings, relatives, and friends; they discuss religious obligations, spending money wisely, and weather, natural disasters, and disease in Maysville and Danville. Additionally, the letters bring up community news such as births, deaths, marriages, crimes, and issues with employment.
The Robert A. Cochran, Jr. 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 from Harriet Cochran [mother], 1877

  • Box 238, folder 1
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Letters from Harriet Cochran [mother], 1878

  • Box 238, folder 2
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Letters from Harriet Cochran [mother], 1879

  • Box 238, folder 3-4
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Letters from Harriet Cochran [mother], 1880, undated

  • Box 238, folder 5-6
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Letters from Jamie Cochran, undated

  • Box 238, folder 7
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Letters from William Cochran, 1878

  • Box 238, folder 8
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Letters from Robert A. Cochran, Sr., 1878

  • Box 238, folder 9
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Letters from Robert A. Cochran, Sr., 1879

  • Box 238, folder 10
  • Box 239, folder 1
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Letters from Robert A. Cochran, Sr., 1880

  • Box 239, folder 2
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Letters to Robert A. Cochran, Jr., 1879-1880, 1906, undated

  • Box 239, folder 3
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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.

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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.