.
By Katy Davis, Dr. Christiana Taylor
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Dr. Thomas H. Appleton, Jr. started regularly collecting historical Kentucky materials after he started working at the Kentucky Historical Society in the 1980s. The collection he continues to build consists of materials such as correspondence, ephemera, publications, legal documents and other items, which span over 200 years of Kentucky history. Some notable figures mentioned in the correspondence include Henry Clay, Charles S. Morehead, A.B. 'Happy' Chandler, Phyllis George Brown, Alben Barkley, Barbara Bush, and many more. Materials contain information about politics, religion, pop culture, death, slavery, the military and more. The collection is state-wide in scope; however, most materials are from central Kentucky. The collection continues to grow thanks to a generous endowment funded by Dr. Appleton.
Collection Historical Note
Thomas H. Appleton Jr. (Tom) was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1950. After graduating from the University of Memphis in 1971, he enrolled at the University of Kentucky to pursue a doctorate in American history. At UK he was fortunate to study under two of the eminent scholars in that field, Charles P. Roland and Holman Hamilton. In 1979, he joined the publications department of the Kentucky Historical Society, where he rose from assistant editor to editor in chief in 1990. His work at the KHS nurtured his desire to collect historical materials, which he had begun in elementary school. In 2000, he became professor of history at Eastern Kentucky University; in 2015 he was named Foundation Professor. As he approached retirement (2018), he decided that the archives and special collections department at EKU's Crabbe Library would be the logical repository for his collection. At the same time he established an endowment that would permit the purchase of additional materials to augment the collection. He hopes to inspire other patrons to donate their materials as well.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source:
Appleton, Thomas H., Jr.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[Box 2],
[
Box 3],
[
Box 4],
[
Box 5],
[
Box 6],
[
Box 7],
[
Box 8],
[
Box 9],
[
Box 10],
[
Box 11],
[
Box 12],
[
Box 13],
[
All]
- Box 2
- Barcode: 31234014140196
- Folder 1: Saul A. Hayward from Eva Lee Kesler, 1883-1891
- Consists of ten newsy letters from Eva Lee Kesler of Walnut Hill Farm in Bagdad, Kentucky. Letters discuss cholera, the "World Fair," counting, and the drought in Kentucky in 1889. Eva is a writer and she talks about writing and having her works rejected.
- Folder 2: Pulaski County Schools, 17 Jul 1885
- Form letter listing recommended textbooks for the academic year.
- Folder 3: Ellen Ruby from Emma Benton, 13 Sep 1885
- Emma is writing to Ellen telling her why she left the celebration at Point Pleasant and asking about all of their mutual friends. She talks of converting friends to the Baptist faith.
- Folder 4: Dr. J.L. Howe from Etta Howe, 02 Apr 1886
- A letter from a wife to her husband. She has been away to visit family in Pennsylvania. She is telling him about their daughter and how much she misses him.
- Folder 5: J.E. Quisenbury from D.H. Goyer, 6 Jul 1886
- Letter about a painting business bid.
- Folder 6: Miss Etta Allen from Irvin W., 27 Oct 1886
- Letter speaks of an unpleasant event that occurred.
- Folder 7: Judge D.K. Young from W. G. Colson, 1887-1888
- Two letters involving the collection of debts from a dry good store in Pineville, Kentucky.
- Folder 8: Rev. Frank Bedinger from David Blyth, 28 May 1888
- Blyth talks about a friend of his by the name of Mr. Williams who has requested a specific price to send an orphan girl whom is under his care to school. (Williams is willing to pay $200 for one year.)
- Folder 9: Edward P. Clark from James Lane Allen, 11 August 1889
- A letter that accompanied a two dollar donation from Allen to the Welch Memorial Fund of which Clark was the treasurer.
- Folder 10: The Republican Executive Committee of Kentucky Stationery, 1890
- Folder 11: Miss Susie Muncie from Berry Hines, 2 Apr 1891
- Romantic letter from Hines while he is away at a Constitutional Convention.
- Folder 12: Mary Richardson from Rob, 31 May 1891
- Rob is writing from Washington D.C. and describes the city. He also describes the Statue of Liberty and Gettysburg Battlefield.
- Folder 13: Kentucky Union Railway Company, 1893
- Pass for James D. Livingston
- Folder 14: Hon. Mike Oliver from H.N. Robertson, M.D., 01 Jan 1898
- Robertson talks about a judgement against him for a buggie that was bought from Michael Bros. He says he has tried to pay and wants to exchange notes for the payment. Most of those won't be paid until tobacco is sold.
- Folder 15: Mr. E.T. Herndon from J.F. Firth, 15 May 1898
- Gives instructions on how to use a device that sets tobacco plants.
- Folder 16: Ellis D. Robb from R.Q. Mills, 2 Jun 1898
- Letter from the Senator to Robb talking about Cuba.
- Folder 17: William Butler Longest, 15 Jun 1898
- Certficate rewarding William Butler Longest with free tuition to attend the State College of Kentucky.
- Folder 18: Miss Chris Seruis[?] from Ed. E. Garretson, 20 Oct 1898
- Written from Camp Hamilton at Lexington, KY on YMCA stationary. Talks about where Gerrelson will be stationed once the Yellow Fever epidemic is over.
- Folder 19: Mrs. Dellie Baugh from W.J. Baugh, 1899
- Written on Tradewater Coal Mines of Sturgis, Kentucky stationary. Talking about Christmas in the A.O.V.W. lodge and inviting Dan to stay with him to go to school.
- Folder 20: I.H. Goldsmith from J.A. Porter, 9 Oct 1899
- Porter, secretary to President McKinley, writes about the timeline for the president setting the date for Thanksgiving.
- Folder 21: Ed from Wm. Bosler, 27 Mar 1900
- Bosler tells his friend about his efforts to find him a job in Louisville.
- Folder 22: Appointment of Appraisers for Widow, 31 Jul 1901
- Breckinridge County Court orders an appraisal and the widow's dowry for the estate of Henry S. Burch.
- Folder 23: Peacock Coal Co. from Hutte & Co., 11 Dec 1901
- Letter placing $50 on credit account and ordering more coal. He also talks about barge transportation on the river in the winter and alludes to problems with hauling in the winter.
- Folder 24: Dawson from Baron D. Gray, 15 Feb 1902
- Letter from Georgetown College President 1901-03 declining an invitation to preach. He also talks about the Southern B.Y.P.U. meeting in Asheville. He mentions an endowment and fundraising for the college.
- Folder 25: R. Elizabeth Fraser from Lenora Williams, 28 Nov 1902
- She is writing to her cousin. Mentions that her son is going to Vanderbilt Dental School. Talks about a cousin named Sidney that her brother helped and his role in the estate of their Frazer grandfather. Mentions difficulties with wrapping up their grandfather's estate. Some of the problems involve business partnerships in a tobacco warehouse and banks failing.
- Folder 26-34: Joseph Cox Wallace and Elva May Rust Correspondence, 1903-1907
- These folders consist of 137 letters mostly between a young couple from Bullitt County, Kentucky; however, there are letters from other romantic love interests of both Joe and Elva as well as family members. None of the correspondence mentions politics or national events, there are occasional interesting mentions of the introduction of the telephone, horse and buggies and interurbans, measles and mumps outbreaks, High Bridge, "protracted" church meetings, the Odd Fellows and more.
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[Box 2],
[
Box 3],
[
Box 4],
[
Box 5],
[
Box 6],
[
Box 7],
[
Box 8],
[
Box 9],
[
Box 10],
[
Box 11],
[
Box 12],
[
Box 13],
[
All]
