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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
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- Box 3
- Barcode: 31234014140204
- Folder 1: Goff Family Letters (Green County, KY), 1903-1914
- Letters to Lee and Laura Goff from various friends and family members. They talk mostly about mutual friends and family and day to day life.
- Folder 2: John Ralph Lancaster to his Father, 24 May 1903
- This is a letter from a son to his father that talks about his living expenses, his upcoming graduation as well as a possible job available to him in Cleveland, Ohio. He also talks about his mentor, Dean F. Paul Anderson.
- Folder 3: Roland G. Railey from Josephine Keith, 07 Dec 1903
- This folder contains a letter from Josephine to Roland telling him about herself. There is also a photograph of her with her sister.
- Folder 4: Bethel College Building Committee, 01 Sep 1904
- A letter from the building committee of Bethel College in Russellville, KY soliciting funds for building a library and gymnasium combination on their campus.
- Folder 5: Postcard (Things that made Kentucky Famous), 1905
- Women, bourbon, horses and guns.
- Folder 6: Postcard Urging Reelection of Taft, 26 Mar 1905
- Unused postcard urging a second term for President William Howard Taft with a quote by Theodore Roosevelt.
- Folder 7: Postcard of Court House and Public Square in Lexington, KY, 26 Mar 1906
- Folder 8: Letter from the Cumberland Hotel, 25 Jul 1906
- Letter from Walter to his wife on Cumberland Hotel of Middlesborough, Kentucky talking about his attempt to get a contract to install the heating system in a new school.
- Folder 9: Love Letter from Robert Smith to his Wife, 15 Oct 1906
- The love letter talks about their thirty-ninth wedding anniversary.
- Folder 10: William Jennings Bryan Photograph, ca. 1907
- Photograph taken at the Old Pier at Chautauqua, NY showing the pier building and a crowded steamboat.
- Folder 11: Postcard of Teddy B., 16 May 1907
- To Miss Lillian Canada from Anita who writes about skating and baseball.
- Folder 12: G.W. Holmes from Secretary of Augustus E. Willson, 11 May 1908
- Acknowledges Holmes' letter urging a pardon for Caleb Powers and James Howard.
- Folder 13: Postcard of Kentucky Delegation, 17 Jun 1908
- Caricature of Kentucky politicians with their facial hair, guns and bourbon.
- Folder 14: Augustus Thomas from Ollie M. James, 19 Jun 1909
- Requests that Thomas (a playwright) consider Jack Newman, stage name Eugene Savoyard, for a part in the "Witching Hour." He also enclosed a book of essays by E.W. Newman (pen name Savoyard), father of the actor.
- Folder 15: R.G. Railey from G.W. Long, 1909
- Form letter asking that the recipient write to the governor for a pardon of W.S. Taylor, Charles Finley, John L. Powers, Harlan Whitaker and John W. Davis who were indicted as co-conspirators to Goebel's murder.
- Folder 16: Mrs. Howard from Governor Augustus E. Willson, 04 Aug 1909
- A letter concerning liniments.
- Folder 17: "At Home" Social Card, 09 Jul 1909
- An invitation to a home for a social event.
- Folder 18: Holt Everman from Attorney R.A. Chiles, 1909-1911
- Three letters of the two discussing meeting places and what to discuss.
- Folder 19: Signatures of Four Democratic Politicians, 1909-1917
- Signatures of Ollie M. James, Joseph C.W. Beckham, James B. McCreary, and Thomas H. Paynter.
- Folder 20: Postcard of Frances E. Willard, 6 Dec 1910
- Secretary of the Women's Christian Temperance Union office in Louisville writes to Juliet L. Powers of Grayson, KY about the records of the organization which she says were likely destroyed.
- Folder 21: A.E. Kelly from Humler & Nolan Cigar Stand, 24 Jan 1910
- Letter to the proprietor of the Hotel McCreery of Hinton, West Virginia regarding hiring clerks to operate their cigar stand in the hotel and about the future lease.
- Folder 22: Doctor's Note, 29 Apr 1911
- Written by doctor Joel S. Gunn stating that one of his patients is unable to do road work.
- Folder 23: Campaign Materials for Chester A. Keslar, 1911
- Candidate for the mayor of Newport, Kentucky.
- Folder 24: DeVoe Weather Book or Every Man a Weather Prophet, 1914
- Weather information with advertisements for patent medicine.
- Folder 25: Postcard for Democratic Presidential Campaign, 1916
- Unused postcard of a fighting rooster caricature stating "Let Each Democrat in Kentucky be as Game as this Bird Looks, and a Great Victory will be Won on November 7th, 1916." Compliments of J. Campbell Cantrill, State Campaign Chairman 1916.
- Folder 26: Senator Ollie James Speech, 15 Jun 1916
- Senator from Kentucky and chairman of the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis, MO. Gives a speech in support of Woodrow Wilson where he talks about lobbyists, tariffs, Americanism, defense and peace among others.
- Folder 27: J.R. Fisher from Arthur Raymond Fisher, 1916-1917
- Arthur writes to his parents, first from pharmacy school and then from training camps at Camp Green, Jefferson Barracks, and Fort Oglethorpe. He talks about learning to use gas masks, and other training as well as men he has met. The last letter in this folder mentions that they are getting ready to go overseas and talks about reasons he is fighting.
- Folder 28: J.R. Fisher from Arthur Raymond Fisher, 1918-1919
- These letters begin with Arthur preparing to go to France. He talks of disease in the camp, administering anesthesia during surgeries and getting experience in the operating room and going to school to be a surgeon when he gets back home. Beginning in June he writes from France and after the war is over he is in Germany. He gives descriptions of the places and things he sees and talks about family members and friends from back home. In one letter he talks about his ideas for a business for his father.
- Folder 29: Letters to Arthur Raymond Fisher
- Letters from his sister and from a friend with news from home.
- Folder 30: Photograph, Lexington, KY, 1917
- Photograph of the board that was erected in Lexington listing donors to the National War Savings Limit Club during World War I.
- Folder 31: Letters from Olney Futrell to his Parents, 1917
- WWI soldier stationed stateside in Georgia and at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville. Mentions German POWs in USA, Evangelist Billy Sunday, and lack of officers in the army.
- Folder 32: William Walls Cook Military Service Call, 04 Aug 1917
- A "notice of call and to appear for physical examination."
- Folder 33: William from "Cousin Pullie", 27 Aug 1917
- A letter to William from his "Cousin Pullie" that was delivered with a bracelet that Pallie gave to William "with dearest love."
- Folder 34: Glen-At a Camp in New Jersey, 23 Dec 1917
- Letter from Glen to his mother writing about friends and family and what will happen with his pay.
- Folder 35: Letters to Miss Viola Robinson, 1916-1919
- These letters are written to Ollie Viola Robinson Murphy from various friends and family members. During this time Viola is living in Covington and Richwood, Kentucky. Two letters are from her future husband, Clarence Murphy while stationed in Hawaii. They are all filled with news and happenings. Also included are two photographs, commencement announcements, programs from the First Baptist Church in Covington and a recipe for liniment.
- Folder 36: Soldiers' French Phrase Book, 1918
- Taken to France by George Chescheir of Louisville, KY and given to Appleton by his son, William Chescheir.
- Folder 37: P. Gawthorpe from the London War Office, 07 Sep 1918
- Notification of death of W. Gawthorpe who was killed in action 14 Aug 1918.
- Folder 38: Photograph of Jesse Beard, ca 1918
- Beard of Henderson, KY is with 2 French children.
- Folder 39: Ones from Elmer Hurdbuck, 18 Nov 1918
- Writing from Somewhere in France and talks about the War ending.
- Folder 40: Mrs. James H. Cunningham from James H. Cunningham, 1918
- The return address on one letter denotes that he is a Captain and the other he is a Major. Describes his life in France, including the Chateau where they are staying and mentions going to the theater. He also talks about the French government.
- Folder 41: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Shough from Roy Willoby, 1918
- Letters from a soldier to his family about the holidays and how he is.
- Folder 42: WWI Draft Registration Card, 1918
- This draft registration card was issued to Mr. Clyde Huffaker Bash in December of 1918. (He was in class one, division a.)
- Folder 43: C.E. Brooks Correspondence, 1918, 1926
- There are three letters. One of which is written to Brooks about one of his medical appliances from J.L. Martin in 1918. There other two letters is one from Brooks to a man named A.B. Partin asking about Partin's child. Partin replies on the back of the letter he received from Brooks, assuring him that Partin's child is better because of Brooks' appliance and apologizing for not writing to Brooks about it sooner.
- Folder 44: Ad for Dr. George W. Young's Prohibition Speech, 1918
- Folder 45: Little Sister from Frank, 25 Oct 1918
- Letter from Frank to his little sister for her birthday. He also mentions that 37 have died from influenza, more than undertakers can embalm.
- Folder 46: Bryan and Floyd Packard from Carl Packard, 18 Dec 1918
- Packard is serving in France and writes to his brothers about working in the hospital in Central France, the French countryside and armistice.
- Folder 47: Gruyere Rumorill from Milton J. Wroten, 23 Oct 1918
- Letter from France to Louisa, Kentucky, a soldier during WWI writing about his time in France.
- Folder 48: Mary W. Dunagan from T.A. Dunagan, 1918
- Letters from a father to his daughter in college. He writes about family, a hail storm that caused damage farming and daily life.
- Folder 49: Mrs. Delos Totman from Milton Totman, 1919
- Soldier writing to his mother from Angers France after the war has ended. He writes about Rose who he will see for the last time that evening.
- Folder 50: Katherine Leer Stephenson from Christmas Carol Haley, 23 Mar 1919
- A letter from Haley to his sister Katherine expressing his desires to come home to Central Kentucky. (The letter does not mention any specific places.)
- Folder 51: WWI Letter from France, 24 Mar 1919
- A letter from a man named "Leo" to his Aunt and Uncle. He writes about his regiment and working at the French Post Office and going to a football game attended by the King and Queen of Belgium and General Pershing.
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