Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Ezra and Lydia Woodring letters

Abstract

The Ezra and Lydia Woodring letters (dated 1862-1863, undated; 0.02 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise letters from Lydia to Ezra that document the life of a family working to make ends meet in Indiana while Ezra served in the military during the Civil War.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Ezra and Lydia Woodring letters
Date
1862-1863, undated (inclusive)
Creator
Woodring, Ezra, 1831-1905
Extent
0.02 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Correspondence.
Family farms
Farm life -- Indiana
Health
Letters.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged chronologically. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
Finding Aid Author
Sarah Coblentz
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0364: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Ezra and Lydia Woodring letters, 1862-1863, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Ezra Woodring (1831-1905) was born in Ohio to Philip Woodring (1805-1879) and Jane Ann Maynard (1806-1884). In 1853, he married Lydia Miller (1831-1881) and together the couple had nine children. During the Civil War, Woodring served in the Union Army as a Corporal in the 84th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Company D. After the war, Woodring returned to his home in Indiana where he worked as a farmer and carpenter. After the death of Lydia, Woodring married again in 1883 to Harriet Heavenridge (1861-1922), and they had three children together.
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 Ezra and Lydia Woodring letters (dated 1862-1863, undated; 0.02 cubic feet; 1 folder) comprise letters from Lydia to Ezra that document the life of a family working to make ends meet in Indiana while Ezra served in the military during the Civil War. Lydia writes about her health and their children's health, getting help from family and neighbors to tend to their farm, selling cows and hogs to make money, needing money to purchase goods and clothes, dealing with people trying to scam them, and her hopes for Ezra to make a safe return home.
The Ezra and Lydia Woodring 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
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

Lydia Woodring to Ezra Woodring, 1862-1863, undated

  • Box WH-17, folder 11
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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.