Don Pratt papers

Abstract

The Don Pratt papers (dated 1944-2019; 5 cubic feet; 5 boxes) comprise correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, books, diaries, and writings that document Don Pratt's political activism, business, education, and parenting in Lexington, Kentucky, during the mid-20th century.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Don Pratt papers
Date
1944-2019 (inclusive)
Creator
Pratt, Don B.
Extent
5 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Businessmen -- Political activity -- Kentucky.
Letters.
Lexington (Ky.)
Political prisoners
Racism
Social justice -- Kentucky -- Lexington
Student protesters -- Kentucky -- Lexington
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Protest movements
Pratt, Don B.
Pratt, Kathleen Wainman, 1946-2019
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by format.
Finding Aid Author
Ash Pechon
Preferred Citation
2018ms064: [identification of item], Don Pratt papers, 1944-2019, University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Don Pratt was born in 1944 to Howard Devaughn Pratt and Francis Pratt. As a college student at the University of Kentucky during the Vietnam War, he engaged in anti-war activism on campus and in the city of Lexington, Kentucky. Upon refusing the Vietnam War draft and burning his draft card, Pratt received the maximum sentence of five years in prison along with a $10,000 fine. He served at the Milan Federal Correctional Institute in Milan, Michigan, from 1971 to 1972, and was released on parole after serving eighteen months. After his time in prison, Pratt went on to own and manage a grocery store, Woodland Grocery, in Lexington while engaging in community efforts and raising foster children. He married Kathleen Wainman Pratt shortly before entering prison. They later divorced after having a daughter.
Scope and Content
The Don Pratt papers (dated 1944-2019; 5 cubic feet; 5 boxes) comprise correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, books, diaries, and writings that document Don Pratt's political activism, business, education, and parenting in Lexington, Kentucky, during the mid-20th century. The bulk of the collection contains items related to Pratt's political activism protesting the Vietnam War and conscientious objection regarding the draft. These items include protest notifications, pamphlets about the war, and writings about his beliefs. From his time in prison for refusing the draft, there are extensive files related to his writings from prison and correspondence he received from his parents, wife Kathleen Pratt, friends, and community members. There are letters received by Pratt's parents expressing community concern regarding their son's welfare.
The series of items related to his professional life contains correspondence, clippings, and articles from Pratt's political campaigns and his business owning the Woodland Grocery Store in Lexington. His personal series contains correspondence and foster care paperwork and pamphlets.
Pratt maintained extensive clipping files related to numerous broad social interest issues, such as war, nuclear disarmament, gun safety, policing, and the environment. He also collected clippings specifically related to Fayette County, Kentucky, politics and the University of Kentucky.
The series of diaries and datebooks illustrate daily activities spanning some of the years from 1979 to 2017.

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 Libraries Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Education and early life, 1944-1998

Power of attorney, diploma, baptism records, 1944-1962

  • Box 1, folder 1
To top

Bryan Station High School student newspaper, yearbook, 1962-1964

  • Box 1, folder 2
To top

Learning to Learn and Developing Your Vocabulary textbooks, 1960-1961

  • Box 1, folder 3
To top

Zoology textbook, 1962

  • Box 1, folder 4
To top

University of Kentucky clippings, letters, 1963-1981

  • Box 1, folder 5
To top

UK Christian groups rosters, meeting minutes, 1964-1970

  • Box 1, folder 6
To top

UK activism, bookstore report, union, 1970

  • Box 1, folder 7
To top

UK alternative publications, 1970-1973

  • Box 1, folder 8
To top

Blue-Tail Fly, undated

  • Box 1, folder 9
To top

UK student government, 1972-1973

  • Box 1, folder 10
To top

UK athletics clippings, 1972-1998

  • Box 1, folder 11
To top

UK William T. Young Library clippings, 1994

  • Box 1, folder 12
To top

Missionary work in Venezuela letters, 1966

  • Box 1, folder 13
To top

Black Panther cases, 1970

  • Box 1, folder 14
To top

Conscientious objection and time in prison, 1965-2007

UK Pratt loses ROTC commission clippings, 1967

  • Box 1, folder 15
To top

Vietnam War clippings, books, 1965-2000

  • Box 1, folder 16
To top

Vietnam War protests clippings, flyers, 1966-1972

  • Box 1, folder 17
To top

Conscientious objection writings, pamphlets, booklets, 1968-2007

  • Box 1, folder 18
To top

Conscientious objection clippings, 1968-1981

  • Box 1, folder 19
To top

Notes on Resistance (Noam Chomsky) notes, undated

  • Box 1, folder 20
To top

Position statements by Pratt on refusing the draft, 1968

  • Box 1, folder 21
To top

Application for bail pending appeal, 1968

  • Box 1, folder 22
To top

Fine and clemency correspondence, 1973-1977

  • Box 1, folder 23
To top

FBI file, 1967-1969

  • Box 1, folder 24
To top

Going to prison sign, undated

  • Box 1, folder 25
To top

Don Pratt news release, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 26
To top

Clippings, Don's imprisonment, 1968-1982

  • Box 1, folder 27
To top

Draft refusal letters, 1968-1970

  • Box 1, folder 28
To top

Bureau of Prisons policy statements, 1972

  • Box 1, folder 29
To top

Federal Correctional Institution, Milan, Michigan, 1971-1973

  • Box 1, folder 30
To top

Prison documents on parole, identification card, 1971-1972

  • Box 1, folder 31
To top

Probation and parole letters from Robert Sedler; Sedler lecture and clippings, 1974-1995

  • Box 1, folder 32
To top

University of Michigan correspondence, admission, 1971-1972

  • Box 1, folder 33
To top

Carl Perkins and John Watts responses to calls of intervention, 1968

  • Box 1, folder 34
To top

Don Pratt writings and notes from jail and prison, 1968-1972

  • Box 1, folder 35
To top

Letters of support to Don Pratt's parents, 1968-1972

  • Box 1, folder 36
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, April-May, 1968

  • Box 1, folder 37
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, May-June, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 38
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, July, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 39
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, August-September, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 40
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, October-November, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 41
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, December, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 42
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, January-February, 1972

  • Box 1, folder 43
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, March-April, 1972

  • Box 1, folder 44
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, May, 1972

  • Box 1, folder 45
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, June, 1972

  • Box 1, folder 46
To top

Don Pratt to his parents from prison, July-November, 1972

  • Box 1, folder 47
To top

Letters to Don Pratt from his mother, 1968-1972

  • Box 1, folder 48
To top

Letters to Don Pratt from his father, 1971-1972

  • Box 1, folder 49
To top

Letters to Don Pratt from his grandparents, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 50
To top

Letters to Don Pratt from his mother-in-law, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 51
To top

Letters of support to Kathy Pratt, May, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 52
To top

Letters to Don Pratt from his wife, Kathy Pratt, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 53
To top

Letters to Don Pratt from his wife, Kathy Pratt, 1972

  • Box 2, folder 1
To top

Letters to Kathy Pratt from Don Pratt, May-August, 1971

  • Box 2, folder 2
To top

Letters to Kathy Pratt from Don Pratt, September-October, 1971

  • Box 2, folder 3
To top

Letters to Kathy Pratt from Don Pratt, November-December, 1971

  • Box 2, folder 4
To top

Letters to Kathy Pratt from Don Pratt, January-February, 1972

  • Box 2, folder 5
To top

Letters to Kathy Pratt from Don Pratt, March-April, 1972

  • Box 2, folder 6
To top

Letters to Kathy Pratt from Don Pratt, May-July, 1972

  • Box 2, folder 7
To top

Letters to Kathy Pratt from Don Pratt, August-November, 1972

  • Box 2, folder 8
To top

Letters to Kathy Pratt from Don Pratt, undated

  • Box 2, folder 9
To top

Berry, Wendell correspondence and clippings, 1969-1971

  • Box 2, folder 10
To top

Mazzoli, Romano (KY 3rd District) correspondence, 1971-1972

  • Box 2, folder 11
To top

Senators Mike Gravel (AK), John Sherman Cooper (KY), Wayne Morse (OR), Marlow Cook (KY), Edward Kennedy (MA), and Mike Mansfield (MT) correspondence, 1967-1972

  • Box 2, folder 12
To top

Letters to Don Pratt from friends, 1971-1972

  • Box 2, folder 13-19
To top

Letters from Don Pratt to friends from prison, 1971

  • Box 2, folder 20
To top

Nixon, 1972-1975

  • Box 3, folder 1
To top

McCarthy presidential, 1968

  • Box 3, folder 2
To top

UK ROTC building burned clippings, 1970-1990

  • Box 3, folder 3
To top

U.S. vs. Dellinger, davis, Hayden, Hoffman, Rubin, Weiner, Froines, and Seale ACLU brief, 1969

  • Box 3, folder 4
To top

Professional life, 1966-2010

Nexus Coffee House fliers, clippings, 1966

  • Box 3, folder 5
To top

Woodland Grocery correpondence, clippings, 1979-1999

  • Box 3, folder 6
To top

Rental property documents, correspondence, 1977-1984

  • Box 3, folder 7
To top

Sixth Congressional District of Kentucky races clippings, correspondence, 1968-1982

  • Box 3, folder 8
To top

Lexington Urban County Government 3rd District Council Member election, 2001-2010

  • Box 3, folder 9
To top

Personal life, 1949-2019

Writings/clippings by and about Pratt, 1967-2019

Don Pratt notes, writings, 1973-2004

  • Box 3, folder 10
To top

Don Pratt notes, writings, undated

  • Box 3, folder 11
To top

Clippings written by Don Pratt, 1967-2019

  • Box 3, folder 12
To top

Clippings about Don Pratt, 1967-2006

  • Box 3, folder 13
To top

Parenting, 1980-2019

Carrie Pratt, 1980-1999

  • Box 3, folder 14
To top

Foster parenting information, correspondence (1 of 2), 1991-2004

  • Box 3, folder 15
To top

Foster parenting information, correspondence (2 of 2), 1991-2004

  • Box 3, folder 16
To top

Children's drawings and letters, undated

  • Box 3, folder 17
To top

Luggage for foster children charity correspondence and clippings, 2015-2019

  • Box 3, folder 18
To top

Personal interests, 1970-2004

Awards, certificates, 1985-2004

  • Box 3, folder 19
To top

Bluegrass 10,000 clippings, certificates, 1980-2002

  • Box 3, folder 20
To top

Concerts, films, 1970-1997

  • Box 3, folder 21
To top

Poems, song lyrics, undated

  • Box 3, folder 22
To top

Jokes, stories, comics, undated

  • Box 3, folder 23
To top

Stickers, logos, drawings, undated

  • Box 3, folder 24
To top

Correspondence, 1949-2007

Subpoenas and correspondence, 1985-1987

  • Box 3, folder 25
To top

Invitations, announcements, 1968-2005

  • Box 3, folder 26
To top

Devaughn Pratt condolence letters, 1972

  • Box 3, folder 27
To top

Carrie Pratt correspondence, 1988-2001

  • Box 3, folder 28
To top

Letters from Kathy Pratt after divorce, undated

  • Box 3, folder 29
To top

Letters to Don Pratt from Bob Pratt (brother), 1970

  • Box 3, folder 30
To top

Correspondence from politicians, 1968-1998

  • Box 3, folder 31
To top

Horton, Robert correspondence, 1971-1988

  • Box 3, folder 32
To top

Mitchell, Karen letters, writings, 1987-1993

  • Box 3, folder 33
To top

Taylor, Candy correspondence and clippings, 1967

  • Box 3, folder 34
To top

Correspondence to Don Pratt, 1966-1970

  • Box 3, folder 35
To top

Correspondence to Don Pratt, 1973-2007

  • Box 3, folder 36
To top

Correspondence to Don Pratt, undated

  • Box 3, folder 37
To top

Correspondence from Don Pratt, 1975-1998

  • Box 3, folder 38
To top

Correspondence from Don Pratt, undated

  • Box 3, folder 39
To top

Cards, undated

  • Box 3, folder 40
To top

Correspondence not to or from Don Pratt, 1949-1988

  • Box 3, folder 41
To top

Clippings, 1951-2018

American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, 40 year celebration book, 1995

  • Box 3, folder 42
To top

Amnesty International, 1971-1999

  • Box 3, folder 43
To top

Appalachia clippings, undated

  • Box 3, folder 44
To top

Architecture and housing, 1976-2008

  • Box 3, folder 45
To top

Arts clippings, 1972-1996

  • Box 3, folder 46
To top

Bell Court fight against townhouse development, Bell Court Kids personal narrative, 1989

  • Box 3, folder 47
To top

Bottle Bill clippings, fact sheet, 1980

  • Box 3, folder 48
To top

Business advice print outs, 2001

  • Box 3, folder 49
To top

Capitalism clipping, print out, 1972-1997

  • Box 3, folder 50
To top

Children, 1971-2000

  • Box 4, folder 1
To top

CIA and FBI clippings, writings, 1975-1995

  • Box 4, folder 2
To top

Citizens for Ethical Government meeting minutes, reports, 1999-2002

  • Box 4, folder 3
To top

Civil Rights clippings, writings, 1971-2000

  • Box 4, folder 4
To top

Coal and coal mining clippings, 1969-2017

  • Box 4, folder 5
To top

College/college students clippings, 1968-1971

  • Box 4, folder 6
To top

Curfew clippings, 1972-1996

  • Box 4, folder 7
To top

Death penalty clippings, pamphlets, 1979-1999

  • Box 4, folder 8
To top

Drug testing/drugs, 1971-1997

  • Box 4, folder 9
To top

Eastern Kentucky University clippings, 1972

  • Box 4, folder 10
To top

Economy clippings, pamphlets, undated

  • Box 4, folder 11
To top

Editorial cartoons, 1972-1989

  • Box 4, folder 12
To top

Education clippings, writings, 1967-2001

  • Box 4, folder 13
To top

Election reform, 1995-2003

  • Box 4, folder 14
To top

El Salvador and Nicaragua, 1982-1990

  • Box 4, folder 15
To top

Environmental issues, 1970-2002

  • Box 4, folder 16
To top

Fayette County Council at Large candidate surveys, 2002

  • Box 4, folder 17
To top

Fayette County School Board, 1993-1997

  • Box 4, folder 18
To top

Feminism and women's issues, 1971-1998

  • Box 4, folder 19
To top

Gambling booklet, information, 1998-1999

  • Box 4, folder 20
To top

Gardening and beekeeping books, 1969-1978

  • Box 4, folder 21
To top

Guns/gun control clippings, 1980-1995

  • Box 4, folder 22
To top

Hager House fund, undated

  • Box 4, folder 23
To top

Health and healthcare, 1951-2000

  • Box 4, folder 24
To top

Kentucky rivers, 1972-2000

  • Box 4, folder 25
To top

LGBT youth information, undated

  • Box 4, folder 26
To top

Lexington activism, 1972-2018

  • Box 4, folder 27
To top

Lexington Fayette Urban County Government judge expenses, 1999

  • Box 4, folder 28
To top

Lexington government, 1971-2002

  • Box 4, folder 29
To top

Lexington Peace Council, 1970-1972

  • Box 4, folder 30
To top

Middle East wars, 1976-2002

  • Box 4, folder 31
To top

Nestle infant feeding in the developing world, 1977-1978

  • Box 4, folder 32
To top

Nuclear weapons, 1972-2002

  • Box 4, folder 33
To top

Obituaries, 1972-1999

  • Box 4, folder 34
To top

Oral history, 1998-2000

  • Box 4, folder 35
To top

Photographs, undated

  • Box 4, folder 36
To top

Police clippings, 1969-2002

  • Box 4, folder 37
To top

Politics clippings, undated

  • Box 4, folder 38
To top

Presidents Kennedy and Bush, 1976-2001

  • Box 4, folder 39
To top

Prisons and jails, 1971-1977

  • Box 4, folder 40
To top

Racism, 1968-2001

  • Box 4, folder 41
To top

Religion, undated

  • Box 4, folder 42
To top

Rock Bottom Music Fair clippings, 1970

  • Box 4, folder 43
To top

Separation of Church and State, 1986-1996

  • Box 4, folder 44
To top

Sierra Club "Election Politics" publication, 1984

  • Box 4, folder 45
To top

Taxes and tax reform, 1984-2002

  • Box 4, folder 46
To top

United Nations Association, 2000-2001

  • Box 4, folder 47
To top

Violations of the Human Rights of Women in Custody report, 1999

  • Box 4, folder 48
To top

War, undated

  • Box 4, folder 49
To top

Weapons, 1979-1995

  • Box 4, folder 50
To top

Zero Population Growth, undated

  • Box 4, folder 51
To top

Diaries, 1979-2017

Diary, 1994

  • Box 5, folder 1
To top

Diary, 1995

  • Box 5, folder 2
To top

Diary, 1996

  • Box 5, folder 3
To top

Diary, 1997

  • Box 5, folder 4
To top

Diary, 1998

  • Box 5, folder 5
To top

Daily planners, 1979-1984

  • Box 5, folder 6
To top

Planners, 1985-1989

  • Box 5, folder 7
To top

Planners, 1990-1994

  • Box 5, folder 8
To top

Daily planners, 1995-1999

  • Box 5, folder 9
To top

Planners, 2000-2006

  • Box 5, folder 10
To top

Planners, 2007-2012

  • Box 5, folder 11
To top

Planners, 2013-2017

  • Box 5, folder 12
To top

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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.