Ashby and Keifer family papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-2638
Scope and Contents
The collection primarily contains correspondence from members of the Ashby and Kiefer families. The family members worked in middle and low income positions in dry goods retail and farming, and most lived in or around Henderson, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana.
The letters from the 19th century are primarily love letters, friendly gossip and news traded among family members. The early 20th century letters focus more on family-oriented information. During World War II, George Albert Ashby and his mother, Florence (Keifer) Ashby, corresponded and sent clothing and food to friends and relations in Germany. Most of the incoming correspondences dating from this period are written in German with an accompanying English translation. Post-World War II papers are few and are primarily made up of miscellaneous family correspondence, solicitation mail, and notes from friends.
The letters from the 19th century are primarily love letters, friendly gossip and news traded among family members. The early 20th century letters focus more on family-oriented information. During World War II, George Albert Ashby and his mother, Florence (Keifer) Ashby, corresponded and sent clothing and food to friends and relations in Germany. Most of the incoming correspondences dating from this period are written in German with an accompanying English translation. Post-World War II papers are few and are primarily made up of miscellaneous family correspondence, solicitation mail, and notes from friends.
Dates
- 1883 - 1971
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.
Biographical / Historical
George R. Ashby, son of Isaac Ashby, worked for many years as a window dresser and notions salesman in Hambleton. He married Florence Keifer circa 1899, and they had two children, George A. Ashby and Ruth Ashby, who died in her youth. He became a furniture salesman for the Loeb Company and flourished in that position, being described in his obituary as a "prominent businessman" of Henderson, Kentucky. He died circa 1924 from an unidentified illness.
George R. Ashby was preceded in death by his brother, John Chris Ashby, who was an agricultural laborer. Their younger sister, Sallie Sandefur, was married to a miner.
After his father's death, George A. Ashby continued to live with his mother, Florence, her only companion and assistant as she gradually lost her eyesight. Florence outlived her brother, Herman, sister-in-law, Annie, and sister, Lena Oman, who moved to Washington state circa 1930 and rarely (if ever) saw her family members again.
George A. Ashby’s sweetheart of 13 years, Esther, married another man. During World War II, he and his mother provided aid and support to German relatives and friends living in Lasfelde, Kaiserslautern and Bonn.
George R. Ashby was preceded in death by his brother, John Chris Ashby, who was an agricultural laborer. Their younger sister, Sallie Sandefur, was married to a miner.
After his father's death, George A. Ashby continued to live with his mother, Florence, her only companion and assistant as she gradually lost her eyesight. Florence outlived her brother, Herman, sister-in-law, Annie, and sister, Lena Oman, who moved to Washington state circa 1930 and rarely (if ever) saw her family members again.
George A. Ashby’s sweetheart of 13 years, Esther, married another man. During World War II, he and his mother provided aid and support to German relatives and friends living in Lasfelde, Kaiserslautern and Bonn.
Extent
1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
The collection contains personal and business correspondence from different members of the Ashby and Kiefer families primarily providing news of daily life from those employed in sales and farming in and around Kentucky and Indiana.
Provenance
Gift of Wade Hall, 2006.
Processed by
Processed by Amanda Haldy, 2009; revised by Erin Schmidt, 2011
- Title
- Guide to the Ashby and Keifer Family Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- March 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository