Roberts Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2003A009

Roberts Family Papers

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Scope and Contents

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These photographs and manuscripts were separated from a collection of photographs formerly known as the Townsend Photographs. They are arranged starting with photos of identified people, and these starting with the Roberts family photos themselves. The photos work themselves out through a family web starting with Letha Mae, then moving to her parents, then on to extended family and friends. Following the identified people are the photos of people who were not identified (a photo in which a person is the subject but is either too far away to see or just not identified by the original photographer). The next group consists of identified places and unidentified places. There are a few larger photos at the end of this group including a photo of a train with its crew and a photo of Letha Roberts. The manuscript material follows the photographs and consists of a letter to Stanley Roberts from C.F. Roberts (not her husband, but probably her grandson), a poem about the Cumberland Gas Plant explosion, a short story by C.F. Roberts about a trip through the Panama Canal and lists of family genealogy which explains some of the connections in the Roberts family as well as people outside of the family.

Dates

Creation: 1900 - 1977

Biographical or Historical Information

There was no biographical information available for this collection but the photographs are mainly of the Roberts family and their friends in Fixer, KY (Lee County). Chester F. Roberts, also called Red, was married to Stanley. They had a daughter named Letha Mae. There is also a Letha Roberts photo dated 1900, this may be Chester's mother with Letha Mae being named after her. Many of the photos were taken at the Fixer Gasoline plant in Lee County. It was struck by lightning ca.1931 and exploded killing both Frank Hobbs and Roy Lutes. The manuscripts contain a poem about the Cumberland Gas Plant explosion, a short story by C.F. Roberts about a trip through the Panama Canal [it is uncertain if this is a factual or fictional story] and lists of family genealogy which explains some of the connections in the Roberts family as well as people outside of the family.

Note written by Angela Heupel

Full Extent

0.22 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Source of Acquisition

Unknown

Other Descriptive Information

Photographs were initially numbered with the accession number; however, a decision was made to change to collection number. The database was changed, but the numbers written on the images were not changed.