Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Crawford family papers

Abstract

The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Crawford family papers (dated 1910-1955, undated; 0.26 cubic feet; 2 boxes) consists of correspondence, a diary, assorted papers, photographs, and other materials of different members of the Crawford family. The bulk of the collection contains Robert Benjamin Crawford’s papers.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Crawford family papers
Extent
0.26 Cubic feet
Subjects
Correspondence.
Families--Kentucky--History--20th century
Letters.
Soldiers--Correspondence.
Soldiers--United States.
World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--United States.
World War, 1914-1918.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged in the following series: Series I. Richard Benjamin Crawford papers; Series II. General Correspondence; Series III. General papers; Series IV. Photographs.
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Sarah Pham
Preferred Citation
2009ms132.0148 : [identification of item], Crawford family papers, 1910-1955, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Richard Benjamin Crawford (1897-1982) of Louisville, Kentucky, served as a soldier during World War I, achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant, and was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1919. Crawford became a lawyer and later went on to serve as Judge of the Jefferson County Circuit Court. Crawford married Mary E. Hunt, and they had one son Hunt Crawford. Shirley Malcolm Crawford (1872–1917) was the half-brother of Richard Benjamin Crawford and married Margaret M. Crawford. He served as a Corporal in the 1st Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Spanish-American War. He and his wife later moved to California, where an automobile struck him, resulting in a compound comminuted fracture of his right leg. William Waite Crawford (1846-1933), the father of Richard and Shirley Crawford, married Eva L. Crawford with whom he had two other daughters Louise Benson and Patti Gray Crawford. He worked as a grain buyer for his father’s firm Brandies & Crawford and later as an accountant into retirement.
American Letters collector Wade Hall is a native of Union Springs, Alabama. Since 1962, he has lived in Louisville, where he has taught English and chaired the English and Humanities/Arts programs at Kentucky Southern College and Bellarmine University. He has also taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida. He holds 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 is 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 Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Crawford family papers (dated 1910-1955, undated; 0.26 cubic feet; 2 boxes) consists of correspondence, a diary, military documents, photographs, and realia that document the daily lives of the Crawford family primarily during World War I. The bulk of the collection comprises Richard Benjamin Crawford’s correspondence, World War I diary (1918-1919), military documents, and photographs. His diary documents daily activities like attending YMCA programs and receiving letters during his time stationed at different camps throughout the United States, such as Camp Stanley in Texas, Camp Shelby in Mississippi, and Camp Pike in Arkansas. The poems and newspaper clippings pasted in the diary further document the time with stories about cases of the Spanish influenza, poems written by soldiers, and pieces supporting soldiers. Other materials in the collection include the letters of Shirley Crawford, assorted papers from William Waite Crawford and other Crawford family members, and photographs.
The Crawford family papers 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
Conditions Governing Access Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Special Collections.

Contents of the Collection

Richard Benjamin Crawford papers, 1916-1955

The series consists of Richard Benjamin Crawford’s correspondence, World War I diary, military documents, and ephemera. The letters date from 1916-1955, including those from Richard to his father William Waite Crawford and family during his service in World War I; letters from his son Hunt Crawford; and letters from the 1930s-1950s. The diary, dated 1918-1919, documents Crawford’s time during World War I in the United States Army with daily entries, pasted newspapers clippings, and pasted photographs of himself in uniform, soldiers, his parents. The entries recount daily activities like attending YMCA programs, drilling with his company, filling out paperwork, and mentioning letters he received and who he wrote during his time stationed at different camps throughout the United States such as Camp Stanley in Texas, Camp Shelby in Mississippi, and Camp Pike in Arkansas. The poems and newspaper clippings pasted in the diary feature stories about cases of the Spanish influenza, poems written by soldiers, and pieces supporting soldiers. The military documents include a certificate of Crawford’s honorable discharge from the United States Army in 1919 and an application for World War Adjusted Compensation. The ephemera consists of a namecard printing plate, two political advertisements he used during his campaigns for Judge, and two greeting cards.

Correspondence, 1916-1919, 1935-1955

  • Box 234, Folder 1
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Diary, 1918-1919

  • Box 234, Folder 2
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Military documents, 1919-1936

  • Box 234, Folder 3
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Ephemera, 1933, 1940, undated

  • Box 234, folder 4
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General correspondence, 1910-1955

The series includes the correspondence of different Crawford family members including: Hunt Crawford, Margaret Crawford, and Patti Gray Crawford. Of note are Shirley Crawford’s letters from California to his father William Waite Crawford in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the letters from Shirley’s wife Margaret to his father recounts an accident where a car backed into Shirley, resulting in a compound comminuted fracture of his right leg. Shirley died from a combination of the fracture in his leg and pneumonia. There is also a telegram from Margaret to William mentioning Shirley’s funeral in 1917.

1917-1918, 1930s

  • Box 234, Folder 5
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Shirley Crawford letters, 1910-1917

  • Box 234, Folder 6
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Assorted papers, undated

  • Box 234, Folder 7
The series contains William Waite Crawford's 1866 Louisville Male High School graduating class roster, a funeral plot for the McCallum and Crawford families, and a thank you card from the Crawford family.
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Photographs, 1922-1924

The series contains photographs of Crawford family members at the beach, on a boat, and at a racetrack. Few members of the family are identified, however, Richard B. Crawford, his mother Eva Crawford, and his father William Waite Crawford are present in several of the photographs.

Richard B. Crawford and James W. Mudd, 1922 December 21

  • Box 235, item 1
Richard B. Crawford and James W. Mudd, former soldiers in 38th Div. USA in front of old quarters of Lt. G.R. Evans, Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Miss. Dec. 21, 1922. Div. was in camp here Oct. 1917 to Sept. 1918.
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Major James W. Mudd, Richard B. Crawford, 1922 December 21

  • Box 235, item 2
Maj. James W. Mudd and Richard B. Crawford in front of old quarters of Chaplain Harris Mallinckrrodt, 138th Field Artillery on site of former Camp Shelby, Miss. Dec. 21, 1922. Division (38th) was in Camp here Oct. 9, 1917 to Sept. 1918.
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Richard B. Crawford sailing boat, undated

  • Box 235, item 3
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Richard B. Crawford standing on beach, undated

  • Box 235, item 4
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Richard B. Crawford sitting in chair on the beach, undated

  • Box 235, item 5
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Eva Spertzel Laufer (left), Richard B. Crawford, William Waite Crawford at racetrack sitting in stands, undated

  • Box 235, item 6
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Two small unidentified children sitting on steps, undated

  • Box 235, item 7
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Unidentified children standing in front of a house, undated

  • Box 235, item 8
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Richard B. Crawford standing on front steps of a house with two unidentified children, undated

  • Box 235, Item 9
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Unidentified boy holding riding crop and unidentified girl sitting outside in chair, undated

  • Box 235, Item 10
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Unidentified boy riding horse, undated

  • Box 235, Item 11
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Unidentified boy and girl standing outside, undated

  • Box 235, Item 12
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Unidentified girl sitting on railing in front of house, undated

  • Box 235, Item 13
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Richard B. Crawford walking with unidentified woman, undated

  • Box 235, Item 14
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Portrait of unidentified girl, undated

  • Box 235, Item 15
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Three unidentified boys, undated

  • Box 235, Item 16
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Unidentified man on boat named Sea Bird, undated

  • Box 235, Item 17
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Unidentified man steering boat, undated

  • Box 235, Item 18
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Steamboat, undated

  • Box 235, Item 19
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Unidentified man (possibly Richard B. Crawford) riding horse, undated

  • Box 235, Item 20
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Two unidentified women dressed in coats and hats on porch, undated

  • Box 235, Item 21
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Unidentified woman with flowered hat sitting in crowd, undated

  • Box 235, Item 22
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Negatives of unidentified woman with flowered hat sitting in crowd, undated

  • Box 235, Item 23-24
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Richard B. Crawford standing on the beach in front of a dock with three unidentified children, undated

  • Box 235, Item 25
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Mudshire Manor - Arkansas - Dick, Emmett, Major Richard B. Crawford on left most horse, 1923

  • Box 235, Item 26
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Unidentified man in front of car, undated

  • Box 235, Item 27
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Man on steps of columned building, 1924

  • Box 235, Item 28
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Unidentified man and girl in fancy dress in front of backdrop of the beach, undated

  • Box 235, Item 29
To a fine pal from a couple of your good pals 2 Ms.
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Materials must be requested at least 5 days before your appointment.

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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.