Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Coke Family Papers (Mss 737), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 737. Correspondence and papers of the Coke family of Logan County, Kentucky and related families, principally the Guthrie and McCutchen families. Includes materials on the historic family homestead, McCutchen Meadows, near Auburn, Kentucky. Also includes J. Guthrie Coke's letters to his wife Carrie, January-February 1914, written in the form of journals describing his experiences as a state legislator in Frankfort, Kentucky (Click on "Additional Files" below).

Lucas, Mary Melton - Collector (Sc 3635), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3635. Items related to research for the book That Perfect Feeling in the Air: The Life of Victor Herbert Strahm, a biography of the highly decorated veteran of both world wars, co-authored by Mary M. Lucas, Gilbert T. Calhoun and Jonathan Jeffrey and published by Landmark Association (Bowling Green, Ky.) in 2017. Consists of correspondence; a compact disc with the manuscript and various notes; notes of a telephone conversation with the widow of Strahm’s stepson; text of programs on Strahm given by Lucas and Calhoun; Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame Class of …

Belz, Elmore F., 1892-1918 (Sc 3496), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3496. Letters to his family, 1918, and related personal papers of Elmore F. Belz, Dayton, Kentucky, created while he was stationed at Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. He describes his military training, diet and leisure, and comments on the prevalence of influenza in the area. When he falls ill, he writes of his hospital stay in letters dated two days before his death on 7 October 1918. Includes a letter to Belz’s parents from his battery commander praising his qualities as a soldier; also includes a camp song sheet, memorial certificate, and …

Peete Family Papers (Sc 3626), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3626. Letters, 4 and 20 August 1923, and a letter fragment from Weldon Peete, Bowling Green, Kentucky, to his parents describing his automobile trip through New York and Canada; also U.S. Army discharge certificate and enlistment record, 19 November 1918, for Weldon’s uncle Charles S. Peete.

Taylor Family Papers (Mss 730), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 730. Letters of Aaron H. Taylor and William B. Taylor, husband and son of Carrie Burnam Taylor of Bowling Green Kentucky, written to her daughter Louise (Taylor) Beckwith regarding Carrie Taylor's estate and the affairs of Taylor’s large dressmaking business, the Mrs. A. H. Taylor Company. Also includes data on Louise Beckwith and miscellaneous papers.

Hilleary, Elizabeth Claypool, 1895-1975 (Sc 3600), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3600. Pledge, 2 October 1918, of Elizabeth Hilleary, Louisville, Kentucky, accepting a commission in the Louisville Women’s Liberty Loan Legion; letter, 9 December 1918, to Hilleary from United War Work Campaign, Louisville and Jefferson County, thanking her for her participation.

Gentry, Robert Turner, 1865-1950 (Mss 713), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 713. Correspondence of Robert T. Gentry, Sonora (Hardin County), Kentucky, an insurance agent and cashier for the Bank of Sonora. Consists mostly of letters to Gentry from his wife, from Gentry’s friends and siblings in Owen County, Kentucky, and from sellers and dealers of Native American relics. Some correspondence of his wife Martha “Mattie” Gentry is also included.

Grider, Dorothy, 1915-2012 (Mss 709), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 709. Correspondence, papers, sketches, drawings, mockups and other artwork documenting the career of Bowling Green, Kentucky native Dorothy Grider, an artist and illustrator of greeting and playing cards, filmstrips, advertisements for magazines, and numerous activity, coloring and story books for children.

World War I Collections In Manuscripts & Folklife Archives At Western Kentucky University, Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

This is a list of collections in the Manuscripts & Folklife Archives holdings of WKU’s Department of Library Special Collections that relate to World War I. Included are letters and diaries of soldiers and civilians, military records and papers, research projects, photographs, scrapbooks and other, mostly unpublished material. Our collections are particularly strong in documenting the experiences of Kentuckians at home and overseas, and of others who found themselves in Kentucky (most notably, at Camp Zachary Taylor, the Army training facility in Louisville) during the war and its immediate aftermath.

Norcutt, Ruth Annette, 1898-1921 (Sc 3530), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3530. Letter, 8 April 1918, of Ruth Norcutt, Henderson, Kentucky, written to her brother Gilbert during his World War I military service. She reports on various family and friends, on a local parade to promote Liberty Bonds, and on hearing wounded soldiers recount their experiences at her church. She expresses hope that Gilbert may return home soon, but refers to talk of President Woodrow Wilson’s refusal to accept a negotiated peace. The letter includes a note from “Claude,” an employee of Ruth’s father’s plumbing company, reporting on …

Haskins, Lee Owsley, 1890-1964 (Sc 3525), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3525. Letters to Captain Lee Owsley Haskins, written by his family in Bowling Green, Kentucky during his World War I military service. His father describes his business activities, discusses his son’s plans after the war, and reports in November 1918 of the ebbing of the influenza epidemic and the Board of Health’s plan to “lift the Ban.” His mother refers to his recent surgery, and his sister writes of the arrival of a troop train in Bowling Green and the soldiers’ march downtown for canteen service.

Milem, Charles Arthur, 1893-1950 (Sc 3493), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and typescripts (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3493. Letters, 28 March and 27 April 1919, of Arthur Milem to his future wife Bendola White in Covington, Kentucky. Writing from Verdun, France, where he is serving with the American Expeditionary Force, he reports on the weather, letters received from family and friends, and his uneventful military life. Noting that his is now the oldest company left at Verdun, he expresses hope that orders will arrive soon allowing them to embark for “the good old U.S.A.” Hearing that Bendola and his sister are planning a reception …

Perry Collection (Mss 676), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 676. Letters, papers, photographs and scrapbooks of the Perry family, principally Gideon Babcock Perry, rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Hopkinsville, Kentucky and his children, Reverend Henry G. Perry, Chicago, Illinois, and Emily B. Perry, Hopkinsville.

Knott Family Papers (Mss 675), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid for Manuscripts Collection 675. Papers and photographs of James Proctor Knott, Lebanon, Kentucky, and his wife Sarah "Sallie" (McElroy) Knott. Includes two journals of Sallie Knott covering the first eight years of their marriage (Click on "Additional Files" below to view typescripts), and miscellaneous papers of a related family, the Clarks.

Holder Family Papers (Sc 3447), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3447. Miscellaneous personal papers of the Holder family of Warren County, Kentucky. Includes employment and National Service Life Insurance applications and driver’s license of Clifford Holder; also includes promissory notes of his great-grandfather, a great-aunt’s marriage certificate, a letter to his wife from her coworkers after her marriage, an uncle’s tobacco allotment notice, and song lyrics, “After the War,” by a cousin.

Howell, Ray, 1893-1977 (Sc 3440), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3440. Personal papers of Ray Howell, Bowling Green, Kentucky: postcards sent during his military service in World War I and bearing his image; a 1931 certificate confirming his 1919 discharge from the U.S. Army; a certified copy of his birth certificate; a postcard from California advising of a death; and Howell’s funeral instructions. Also includes the 1919 reply of another “Ray Howell,” then serving in Germany, to whom Howell’s sister Maud’s letter was sent by mistake; he also encloses a postcard bearing his image.

Strahm Family Collection (Mss 655), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 655. Data, clippings and information about the Strahm family and related families. Most of the material relates to Franz J. Strahm, WKU music director from 1910-1941, and his son Victor H. Strahm’s career in military service. Includes photographs of Franz, Victor, and other family members.

Jackson, Carlton Luther, 1933-2014 (Mss 581), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 581. Research and manuscripts for books written by Western Kentucky University history professor Carlton Jackson. Includes some personal and professional correspondence, unpublished writing, and a partial memoir. Click on "Additional Files" below to see a listing of correspondents who provided information about the influenza pandemic of 1918. This correspondence is found in Boxes 13 and 14.

Buckberry, Ray B., Jr., B. 1934 (Sc 3227), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3227. “Warren County War Dead: World War I,” by Ray Buckberry, Jr., a compilation containing data on Warren County, Kentucky soldiers who died in World War I. Includes data on overseas cemeteries and visits by Gold Star mothers and wives of the dead.

Carley Family Papers (Sc 3223), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3223. Letters and papers of George Carley of Georgetown, Kentucky and family (mainly daughters, a granddaughter, and nieces). Relatives in Ontario, Canada and in Pennsylvania report family news and mourn the soldiers of World War I; a daughter writes from Arkansas of taxes and the economy, her stepson writes of medical studies during the influenza pandemic, and her brother-in-law writes of oil and investments. George’s papers include solicitations from makers of fencing and farm supplies.

Also includes children’s letters and poems.

Gerwig, Frank Todd, 1897-1962 (Sc 3128), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and typescript (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3128. Letter, 24 February 1918, of Frank T. Gerwig to Hal Kritschgau, Scottdale, Pennsylvania. While training at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, Gerwig writes on YMCA letterhead of military routines, a quarantine due to measles, meeting other soldiers from Pittsburgh, and his eagerness to serve overseas as an ambulance driver.

Sorgen, Vinton Grant, 1894-1968 (Sc 3073), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3073. Letter, 28 May 1918, of Grant Sorgen, stationed at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, to his family in Kenton, Ohio. He describes settling in at camp, receiving vaccinations, and the likelihood of moving to different quarters.

Alexander, Fay Sherman, 1896-1972 (Sc 3038), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and typescript (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3038. Letter, 3 June 1918, of Fay S. Alexander to his parents in Ashland, Ohio. Writing from Camp Taylor, Kentucky, he reports on a quarantine due to measles, his meals, leisure and exercise, and refers to arguments among his “jolly bunch” of comrades.

Gorham, Fred Jaynes, 1878-1918 (Mss 583), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 583. Correspondence and papers of Fred J. Gorham and wife Ethelyn Gorham of Henderson, Kentucky, chiefly regarding Fred’s Spanish-American War and World War I service, his death, and Ethelyn’s receipt of military benefits thereafter. Some family correspondence and data is included.

Edmunds And Willis Family Papers (Mss 549), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 549. Almost exclusively correspondence of the Edmunds and Willis families of Barren County, Kentucky. The Willis family correspondence (the bulk of the collection) is almost exclusively amongst females, so housekeeping, sewing, fashion, family matters are discussed frequently. Frank Willis, the family patriarch, does discuss farming with his daughters. Many of the letters are addressed to his wife, Laura (Edmunds) Willis, and a majority of those are from her daughters.

Doll, Howard D. And Anne (Parker) Doll (Mss 573), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 573. Correspondence and papers of of the Pool, Keel and Beauchamp families of Metcalfe (formerly Barren) County, Kentucky. Includes papers of related families: Mitchell, Clark, Rogers, Cook, Shirley Yates, and others. Civil War letters include a letter from James F. Keel (Click on "Additional Files" below for typescript) describing activity at Nashville, Tennessee in July 1862.

Barr, Edward Wallace, 1887-1962 (Mss 576), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 576. Papers, lecture notes and appointment book relating to Dr. E. Wallace Barr’s training and service as a dentist with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I; includes a few items of family correspondence.

Helm, Margie May, 1894-1991 (Mss 552), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 552. Personal and professional correspondence and papers of Margie Helm, Auburn, Kentucky native and longtime Western Kentucky University head librarian. Includes ancestral and family correspondence and papers, photographs, and genealogical research on the Helm, Carson, Porter, Blakey and related families.

Bacorn, Almira Louise (Winans), 1838-1920 (Sc 2973), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 2973. Letters from Almira L. Bacorn, Gardiner, Montana, to Mrs. E.G. Anderson, Oak Park, Illinois, in which she discusses family matters, mutual friends, and the aging process. In one letter she mentions the wounding of a young man, the son of mutual friends.

Mccallum, Elizabeth Elliott (Cherry), 1890-1985 (Sc 2970), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 2970. Three postcards sent by Elizabeth Elliott Cherry while she was serving with the Red Cross during World War I. The cards are sent to her sister David Ellen “Spooks” Tichenor and her nephew Thomas Cherry Tichenor. They discuss sites she is visiting in France and asks that some candy be sent to her as she could “nearly die for sweets.”