Happy Mother's Day from the Wade Hall Collection!

The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters would like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all mothers across the globe! We invite you to come take a look at some collections that showcase the lives of mothers across the United States, their varied relationships with their families and friends, and the impact they have left on succeeding generations. These collections, and more, were processed as part of a National Endowment for the Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Grant, entitled "P.S. Write Again Soon": Revealing 200 Years of the American Mosaic through the Wade Hall Collection of American Letters.




2009ms132.0069: The Penrod Family Papers (1916-1962; 10.35 cubic feet; 1,500 letters) of the Wade Hall American Letters Collection primarily consists of letters sent to Gladys Bell Penrod, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, from her mother, Emma Bell; sisters, Gayl Bell Harkleroad, Oda Bell, and Mildred Bell; brother, Kenneth Bell; sister-in-laws Doris W. Bell and Ruth Bell; and various friends. The letters document family life, including parent-child relationships, especially abusive situations; gender roles and relationships; women's involvement in politics; and women's friendship in the early- and mid-twentieth century.

2009ms132.0119: The Carruth family letters (dated 1900-1961, bulk 1900-1947; 3.68 cubic feet; 11 boxes) comprise letters that document the family relationships between the Carruth, Hutt, and Bruce families in the first half of the twentieth century. The letters provide insight into the lives of upper middle-class to wealthy families in America through multiple generations. 

Page 1 of letter to Mrs. Carruth on the death of her mother

Page 2 of same letter

2009ms132.0143: The West family papers collection (dated 1904-1989, undated; 4.57 cubic feet; 10 boxes, 1 photograph box) comprise letters, journals, and pamphlets that document the West and Cox families in Kentucky and Tennessee throughout the twentieth century. The letters are primarily between mother and daughter.


2009ms132.0147: The Lena Ashby papers (dated 1916-1945, undated; 1.8 cubic feet; 4 boxes) comprise letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs that document the lives of Lena Ashby and her children, Otis and Weaver, during the first half of the twentieth century in Kentucky.

Page 1 of letter from Lena Ashby to her son Otis

Page 2 of Ashby letter

2009ms132.0170: The Colgan family letters (dated 1960-1973; 0.35 cubic feet; 1 box) comprise letters between the Colgan family members that document the growth of the family, daily lies, education, and business in Kentucky during the 1960s and early 1970s. 

2009ms132.0179: The Bessie Joslin letters (dated 1914-1924; 0.05 cubic feet; 3 folders) comprise letters to Bessie Joslin that document her struggle with mental illness and family in Massachusetts during the early twentieth century. The letters are from friends and family to Bessie, most concern how she is faring after losing custody of her children and her mental health battles.