Ray Family Papers | Manuscripts | Western Kentucky University

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Ray Family Papers

Ray Family Papers

The Ray Family Papers contains hundreds of letters that were shared chiefly amongst the children of Joe Ed Ray (1864-1907) and Vivia Scott Ray (1875-1915). Joe died as the result of a logging accident in 1907. Vivia was a homemaker and seamstress. Their children included: Ruby Catherine Ray MacDonald (1896-1972), Virginia Scott Ray Harman (1897-1972); William Brown Ray (1899-1986), Amy Eleanor Ray (1902-1955), Edward Marshall Ray (1903-1973), and Joseph Malchus Ray (1907-1991). The “round robin” correspondence begins in 1928 and continued for over sixty years. These letters demonstrate a family that exhibited grit and determination. Despite difficult circumstances, all of the children received college degrees and most had exemplary careers in education.

To see additional information about the correspondents in this collection, click here:The Ray Family Backstory

Picture above: Ray family reunion ca. 1938 at Mammoth Cave Park.

Left to right: Edward Marshall Ray (1903-1973) Ruby Catherine Ray MacDonald (1896-1972) William Brown Ray (1899-1986) Virginia Scott Ray Harman (1897-1972) Joseph Malchus Ray (1907-1991) Amy Eleanor Ray (1902-1955)

To see additional photographs of the Ray Family, click here: Joseph M Ray Collection

Submissions from 2020 2020

Ray Family Photo Album, Department of Library Special Collections

The Ray Family Backstory, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1998 1998

1998 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1989 1989

1989 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1988 1988

1988 Ray Family Papers (01-10-1988), Department of Library Special Collections

1988 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1987 1987

1987 Ray Family Papers (05-13-1987), Department of Library Special Collections

1987 Ray Family Papers (05/13/1987), Department of Library Special Collections

1987 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1986 1986

1986 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

1986 Ray Family Papers (08-28-1986), Department of Library Special Collections

1986 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1985 1985

1985 Ray Family Papers (Feb.-Oct.), Department of Library Special Collections

1985 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1984 1984

1984 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1983 1983

1983 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1982 1982

1982 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1981 1981

1981 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1980 1980

1980 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1979 1979

1979 Ray Family Papers (06/11/1979), Department of Library Special Collections

1979 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1978 1978

1978 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1977 1977

1977 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1976 1976

1976 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1975 1975

1975 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1974 1974

1974 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1973 1973

1973 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

1973 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1972 1972

1972 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1971 1971

1971 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1970 1970

1970 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1969 1969

1969 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1968 1968

1968 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1967 1967

1967 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1966 1966

1966 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1965 1965

1965 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1964 1964

1964 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1963 1963

1963 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1962 1962

1962 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1961 1961

1961 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1960 1960

1960 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1959 1959

1959 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1958 1958

1958 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1957 1957

1957 Ray Family Papers (07-08-1957), Department of Library Special Collections

1957 Ray Family Papers (07/08/1957), Department of Library Special Collections

1957 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1956 1956

1956 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1955 1955

1955 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1954 1954

1954 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1953 1953

1953 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1952 1952

1952 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1951 1951

1951 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1950 1950

1950 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1949 1949

1949 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1948 1948

1948 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1947 1947

1947 Ray Family Papers (January-June), Department of Library Special Collections

1947 Ray Family Papers (July-December), Department of Library Special Collections

1947 Ray Family Papers (9/10/47), Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1946 1946

1946 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1945 1945

1945 Ray Family Papers (08/10/1945), Department of Library Special Collections

1945 Ray Family Papers (July-Oct.), Department of Library Special Collections

1945 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1944 1944

1944 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1943 1943

1943 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1942 1942

1942 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1941 1941

1941 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1940 1940

1940 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1939 1939

1939 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1938 1938

1938 Ray Family Papers (05-15-1938), Department of Library Special Collections

1938 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1937 1937

1937 Ray Family Papers (09-10-1937), Department of Library Special Collections

1937 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1936 1936

1936 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1935 1935

1935 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1934 1934

1934 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1933 1933

1933 Ray Family Papers (no date), Department of Library Special Collections

1933 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1932 1932

1932 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1931 1931

1931 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1930 1930

1930 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1929 1929

1929 Ray Family Papers (06/27/1929), Department of Library Special Collections

1929 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections

Submissions from 1928 1928

1928 Ray Family Papers, Department of Library Special Collections