By Alisha Ashby
Title: Iva Cowan Adams Papers, 1940-2019
Extent: 1.94 Cubic Feet
Date Acquired: 06/01/2022
Subjects: Korean War, 1950-1953., Madison County (Ky.), World War, 1939-1945.
Languages: English
This small collection primarily contains correspondence in the form of letters and postcards. Iva Lorraine Cowan Adams, a resident of Madison County for most of her life, collected postcards, many of which are represented here. The postcards represent states all across the U.S., many parts of Canada, and some locations in other parts of the world. This collection also contains an album meant to hold postcards from each of the 50 states. The album is only partially filled.
At the end of the second World War, and throughout the Korean War, Iva wrote to several soldiers. Their letters in response to her are represented in this collection, with each letter detailing their individual experiences with the war and with military life. In many circumstances, it appears that Iva continues to write to them after each war, leaving their responses detailing their readjustment to civilian life.
A small section of this collection are in reference to Dr. Evelyn Ramsey, a doctor and missionary writing out of Swaziland, Africa (now known as Eswatini, Africa). The materials from Evelyn Ramsey come from her sister, Elizabeth, who was friends with Iva and gave her the letters, books, and postcards.
Finally, miscellaneous items of interest include some photos, EKU ephemera, and two boxes of Columbia Phonograph Company Cylinder Vinyls.
Iva Lorraine Cowan Adams was born on July 25, 1929 in Lancaster, Kentucky to John Theo and Julia Mae Stevens Cowan. Although born in Lancaster, Iva lived most of her life in Richmond, Kentucky. She was a graduate of Madison High School and Eastern Kentucky University, and was employed for 17 years as the Registrar at the Madison County Health Department. She retired from this work in 1967, but continued working as a homemaker and bookkeeper for her husband, Marion Forbes Adams. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Richmond, and belonged to other various social clubs and local organizations.
Iva had three children: Karen Lynn Adams (1963-1963), Julia Katherine Adams, and Marian Cook (Scott). She also had three siblings: Margaret Cowan Weddle (1922-2010), Charity Allene Cowan (1924-2013), and John T. Cowan (1932-2019).
Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition Source: Adams, Julia K.
