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From R.M. Gentry to D.W. Allen, 1886-1894

 File — Box: 2, Folder: 2
Identifier: A
From the Series:

Series II: Allen Family Papers, 1810-2008 (bulk 1885-1912), consists of Allen family correspondence, records such as legal documents and wills, and items and clippings detailing family and Wolf Creek history.

Correspondence begins in the mid 1850s with letters from Maggie Gentry Allen’s mother, Ada Cowan Gentry, to her own mother while Ada was living as a young wife and mother in Florida. There is also correspondence nearing the end of the 19th century from Maggie’s father, R. M. Gentry to Maggie’s husband, David (D. W.) Allen, concerning business matters. In addition to other correspondence to and from Maggie and David, there is a good amount of correspondence to Betty and/or Ward Walker in the latter part of the 20th century, some of which is from Louise Talbot, a great granddaughter of James and Zilpha Hoxsie and granddaughter of Maude Hoxsie McCardle and Ed McCardle, all friends of the Allens and frequent visitors to Wolf Creek. Lastly, there is some correspondence about Mary McNabb, a housekeeper at Wolf Creek who died there at 90, in 1933.

Allen family records include military records for Reuben Allen and William Edwin Allen, son of James R. and Anne Nichols Allen and half-brother of David (D. W.) Allen; business records and papers; wills and other legal papers concerning the land dispute with J. B. Huff; and historical records such as genealogy charts and articles about the Allen family and the Wolf Creek Inn. This series also contains several of D. W. Allen’s editorial columns for the Newport Plain Talk; topics include government corruption, the Brownsville Affair, and the senate campaign and death of Senator Edward Carmack. Family wills are also included and some are housed separately in an oversize box. The series also contains a plant journal from 1907; notes, clippings, and papers belonging to Betty Walker; and contents of a donated binder entitled "Firmament." There are also photographs as well as several periodicals though it is not clear to whom they belonged.

Dates

  • 1886-1894

Language

From the Collection:

English

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

From the Collection: 2.5 Linear Feet (2 record boxes, 2 flat boxes)

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480