UAH Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives

Eleanor Hutchens Collection

Dublin Core

Identifier

Eleanor Hutchens Collection

Title

Eleanor Hutchens Collection

Description

Eleanor Newman Hutchens (October 9, 1919 to November 9, 2016) attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, majoring in English and Greek. After receiving her B.A. in 1940, she attended the University of Pennsylvania, acquiring an M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature (“Eleanor Hutchens - Obituary”).

Hutchens first held a part-time teaching position at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1955, then joined the faculty with a full-time position in 1957. She taught English, her specialties the English novel, literary criticism, and 18th century literature. Hutchens also chaired the steering committee “for its initial accreditation and the first committee for the selection of majors,” and served as the first elected president of the Faculty Senate. She moved to Agnes Scott College in 1961, remaining there until 1966. She eventually returned to UAH and remained a member of its English department until her retirement in 1979 (“Eleanor Hutchens - Obituary”).

Hutchens wrote prolifically over and after her career, publishing Irony in Tom Jones, Writing to Be Read, and “numerous articles in national and international journals” (“Eleanor Hutchens - Obituary”).

Hutchens was very active even outside of her academic career, serving as "president of the Huntsville Hotel Company, owner of the Russell [sic] Erskine Hotel, and as a director of the Huntsville Land Company, the West Huntsville Land Company, and the Mountain Heights Development Company.” She was "a founder and charter member of the board of Randolph School," a board member of the Huntsville Public Library and the Huntsville Symphony, and "an active member of the [Episcopalian] Church of Nativity.” Hutchens was also a member of "the Historic Huntsville Foundation, the Huntsville Historical Society, the Botanical Garden, the Burritt Museum of Art, the Huntsville Museum of Art, and the Friends of the Huntsville Public Library” (“Eleanor Hutchens - Obituary”).

Sources

“Eleanor Hutchens - Obituary.” Legacy.com, 3 Jan. 2019, www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/eleanor-hutchens-obituary?pid=182447617.

Collection Items

  • loc_hutc_001000_001010.pdf

    This appraisal contains the wholesale and retail value of various items in the property at 300 Williams Ave. SE, Huntsville, Alabama in August 1970. Various items belong to Eleanor N. Hutchens, Ellen W. Newman, Margaret H. Henson, Margaret N. Hutchens, Susie N. Hutchens, and William W. Newman. The appraisal also contains images of the rooms appraised in the estate that show the corresponding items within. The appraisal is signed by Susie N. Hutchens and Margaret N. Hutchens along with the appraiser, A. L. Compton.
  • loc_hutc_000225_000226.pdf

    Will writes to Ellen about his trip to Canada. He includes various activities and details of the weather.
  • loc_hutc_000223_000224.pdf

    This letter marked "confidential read and burn," this letter is in response to a telegram sent earlier by William P. Newman. Garth states that he promised to appoint "Jno". He further writes that when "Jno" is notified of this, Newman is to say nothing as Garth does not with anyone to know he had anything to do with it. He writes that the only chance he has of defeating Moore in the convention is a "solid vote of Madison, Jackson, and Morgan." He concludes by stating that he wanted "simply to ask you" to help him obtain this "solid vote in Madison" and to put in a good word for him in Jackson as well. He reitterates that the letter is confidential and should be burned.
  • loc_hutc_000222_000222.pdf

    Pictured is an illustration of an airplane flying over the Tennesee Valley. Sponsored By The Huntsville Salesman's Club. Via Air Mail. L.G. Collier Postmaster Chamber of Commerce
  • loc_hutc_000218_000221.pdf

    Written on Phoenix Assurance Co., Ltd. letterhead, these pages contain handwritten notes and calculations by W. W. Newman that begin in the 1890s and runs through 1903.
  • loc_hutc_000206_000217.pdf

    Most likely William Wyeth Newman, these various checks are signed by W. W. Newman from the W. R. Rison Banking Company to various recipients.
  • loc_hutc_000204_000205.pdf

    Written on Wheeler Construction Company (Vicksburg, Canton and Yazoo City Rail Road.) letterhead, this letter addressed to "Gentlemen" is badly burnt and difficult to discern the subject matter. It appears to have been signed by Crawden & Newman of Huntsville, Alabama. The back contains a handwritten note that reads, "Papers relating to Richmond Steele Matters."
  • loc_hutc_000193_000203.pdf

    This envelope contained various receipts and handwritten calculations and notes pertaining to the building and assessment of the new street proposed by William Thomas Hutchens. Receipts include totals for paving the streets of Monroe and West Clinton, and the assessment notices of the completed streets.
  • loc_hutc_000191_000192.pdf

    Brandon, contractor and builder, writes to Hutchens about a petition to be signed by the people in the neighborhood that will allow a water pipe to stretch to the end of Conley Street. The letter includes an illustration of the proposal.
  • loc_hutc_000187_000190.pdf

    This letter details a compromise regarding the railroad and buildings on the ground deeded to the railroad. The author states that this will not affect Benedict's purchase price. It also includes information regarding the Coxe Estate. The memo included from the Report of Railroad Officials further details the available lots and those that belong to the railroad and the Coxe Estate.

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