The Shackelford Papers, through correspondence, diaries, photographs, newspaper clippings and other materials, document the public career and personal life of William Rodes Shackelford and his family. The correspondence series consists of letters Shackelford received from his classmates at Central University, Richmond, KY acquaintances, and business associates. Glimpses of Richmond educational, social and cultural life are found in the correspondence along with discussions on local, state and national political issues are covered, especially the watershed 1896 presidential election between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley and the Spanish American War.
Shackelford kept a diary beginning when he was 18 and entering Central University and continuing until 1912 with a break from 1890 to 1907. The diary from his Central University time includes details about his student days. Also of interest are the ledgers of Dr. S.M. Letcher which indicate who he treated and what they were treated for. The Legal Documents series includes materials from a number of suits involving the Clay family and a case involving betting on an election.Only a portion of this collection has been digitized. See the
Finding Aid for a description of the entire collection.
