The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects

Browse Items (635 total)

  • F. D. Sampson writes to Abercrombie regarding Foster Hale, a "boy sent from Knox County to your institution." He says that he received a letter from the Home stating that Hale was "feeble minded," and that he was informed that Hale was not feeble minded, rather "quite to the contrary." He offers to pay for Foster to be returned to Barbourville and sent to the institution for the feeble minded at Frankfort. Handwritten, "Boy returned to Juvenile Court, M. E. A." Letter marked Barbourville, KY.

  • W. R. Moorman writes to Abercrombie regarding the preparation of apprenticeship papers for Winkler. He says that his wife has been very ill and is hesitant at the prospect of apprenticing the girl, but asks for the papers to be sent anyway. He provides a reference, Mr. J. W. Newman, Sect. of the KY State Fair. Handwritten, "No further word." Letter marked Glendeane, KY. In another letter from R. Sidney Owen to Abercrombie, Owen recommends Moorman as "a suitable person to take charge of one of the girls of the home." He says that he is wealthy, has a young daughter, and that "Miss Gertrude Wainscott, a former inmate of your Home, lived with Bro. Moorman for years." Handwritten, "Did not apply for child." Letter marked Hardinsburg, KY.

  • Ingram writes to "Miss Abbie" regarding her adopted child, Luther. She says that she enclosed his card "to the Children," and is "satisfied that he will be all right." She also mentions two children- Willard and Lona- who seem to also be adopted from the Home. She states, "Lona is a nice child and we think well of her, of course havent become attached to her yet as we have Willard as we have had him longer, To be just we try and show no prefance between them, if we do, it to Lona." She also asks about expenses for Luther. Letter marked Shamrock, TX.

  • Moss writes to Abercrombie to ask about getting a boy from the Home. He is 38 years old and his wife 35; he says that though they do not belong to a church, they "we were engaged in Mission work in Louisville KY upon the street, City Hospital." Handwritten, "Home not suitable of S. S., ans- 7/19/09." Letter marked Evansville, IN.

  • Gates writes to the home asking to get "a good orphan girl, from 13 to 20 years old to make her home with us." He says that they would clothe her, give necessary spending money, and she would "assist us generally in housework." He adds that "we do not wish to make a slave of her- we have a daughter two years of age, and our work is very light." Handwritten, "none suitable." Letter marked 1519 Highland Ave, Louisville, KY.

  • Gaines writes to the Home inquiring about getting a boy to raise/use as a farmhand. He says that he has a wife and two grown daughters, and would provide the boy "the same treatment that farmers usually give their sons, with about the same educational advantages." Handwritten, "Ans 6/28/09, none suitable, M. E. A." Letter marked New Castle, KY.

  • Sebree writes to Abercrombie regarding two boys he is taking care of- one "past 5, the other past 8." He says that they are "healthy, stout boys, their mother died 2 years ago," and he has been taking care of them since but is "almost worn out." He asks what is necessary to place the boys in the Home and provides references. Handwritten, "Admitted 2 boys." Letter marked Petersburg, KY.

  • E. W. Roach writes to Abercrombie regarding the Caps children- all of one of which were taken to the Home "some time ago." He now writes about the little boy, who he wants to also place in the Home since his father also died and is now "just running around over town." He asks Abercrombie to "confer with Bro Sanders" and have him come get the boy as soon as possible. Letter marked Corbin, KY.

  • Katie M. Wright writes to the Home on behalf of her mother and father, asking if the Home has a girl about 10 or 12 years old they could adopt. She says that she is their only daughter, and married 15 years ago, after which they adopted an orphan girl who has also recently been married. She says that her "only brother Dr. A. B. Coons" adopted a boy about 14 years ago from the Home who is now "a fine young man." She says that they are all Baptists and offers Bro. W. E. Powers and J. T. Sampson as references. Handwritten, "Sent them Edna White." Letter marked Pendleton, KY. In a telegram from 6 Jan 1907, Wright writes to clarify any questions the home has, saying that her mother is 65 and her father is 75 and there "has always been a orphan in this home even before my birth." She says that they live on a four mile plot in the country, 2 miles from a church and 0.5 miles from a school. In a letter from 17 Jan 1907, Wright asks if the girls have ever had measles, and says that she has been very sick. In a letter from 12 Feb 1907, Wright says that she might come into the city this week and asks if the children in the Home are over the measles. In a letter from 25 Feb 1907, Wright says that her father will send the necessary paperwork in soon for Edna White. She says that Edna is now with her mother and father, and that her husband visited on Sunday and "told her he had come to see if she wanted to return to the home and she informed him she did not and was so far well pleased." Letters marked Pendleton, KY.

  • Katie M. Wright writes to the Home on behalf of her mother and father, asking if the Home has a girl about 10 or 12 years old they could adopt. She says that she is their only daughter, and married 15 years ago, after which they adopted an orphan girl who has also recently been married. She says that her "only brother Dr. A. B. Coons" adopted a boy about 14 years ago from the Home who is now "a fine young man."

  • Jones writes to the Home regarding adopting a baby from the Home that was listed in "last nights Times." He says that they would be "glad to take him and care for him and raise him to manhood if we can get him." He adds that they have "three sons, two of which are grown and gone in buisness," and the other of which is 12 years old. Handwritten, "Baby sent to Bond of children's Guardians." Letter marked St. John, KY.

  • Peck writes to the Home to ask if it is possible to "again get the little child Lelia While," stating that "circumstances over which I had no control prevented me from keeping her before, but now they are remond and we would gladly take her again this time to keep her." She says that her "greatest gault was untruthfullness," but that she knows now "she can be broken of that." She says if it is impossible to get Lelia again, she would like an enfant girl, "healthy and nicely formed and desireable babe." Letter marked Lebanon, KY.

  • Lockhead writes the the Home regarding her 6-month old baby, saying that she is a widow and "find it so hard to make a living with the baby." She asks for the Home to keep the baby over the winter until she can take care of it, and for it not to be adopted out. She adds that Mrs. Heirs "has some children there and is going from here xmas to visit them." She refers the Home to Bro. Petty, whom she says "knows my circumstances." Handwritten, "No elibible for admission." Letter marked Mayfield, KY.

  • Blackwell writes to the Home regarding the adoption of a girl between the ages of 2 and 13 years. She says that she visited the home last April but there were no children to suit her. She says she wants a "fair skin and pretty blue eye" girl, and says that "the death last December of my own little darling has left my home so lonely." She asks to be written back, and says that she could come the 15th or 16th. Handwritten, "Home reported unquitable by J. F. Ninchell, M. E. A." Letter marked Clay, KY.

  • Nannie Parrott writes to the Home regarding the adoption of Florie Herrin, an 11 year old girl at the Home. She says that she will send her daughter, Ellen Watts, on Friday to pick her up. She includes references from a Pastor, and says to send the child to Harrodsburg. An attached letter from Rev. Johnie Mason, Pastor, and J. A. Coulter C Clark recommends Mrs. Nannie Parrott and Mr. John Parrott to adopt the girl.This letter also asks the Home to "tell it to mind her and she will treat it as one of her own children and she says she dont want it to be sassy with her." A final letter from A. Perkins, member of a church, also recommends the Parrotts. Handwritten on Parrott's letter, "Child rent by Mr. Winchell but brought back. Recommendations untrue. Home and people announced by a Mr. Faller of Mackville or Springfield, M. E. A." Letters marked Mackville, KY and Battle, KY.

  • Follow-up letter from August 31, 1906. Davies writes that "the parents of the childrem [sic] were not willing to relinquish all claim to the children," and that he dropped the matter and will try to help the children in another way. Letter marked Kensee, KY.

  • Davies writes to the Home regarding "two families of this camp of five and three children." He says that the "former consister of three girls and two boys and later two boys and one girl, ranging from one year to 13 in age." He adds that the former and fatherless and the latter motherless, and that the father of the latter group is a miner who can pay each month towards the childrens' support. Handwritten, "I left word for this man to call at our office, but have not heard from him, F. M." Letter marked Jellico, TN. In a letter from 13 Oct. 1906, Davies writes that "the parents of the childrem were not willing to relinquish all claim to the children," and that he dropped the matter and will try to help the children in another way. Letter marked Kensee, KY.
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