Autobiography--"Preacher's Son," by Charles Kelly

File — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Identifier: I

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

In a diary entry dated August 20, 1936, Charles Kelly writes: "The old man is dead. I've waited for a good many years to write that good news, and at last it has come.... It comes at an appropriate time, just as I was about to begin working on the final draft of 'Preacher's Son.' I intend to finish it this winter and try to get it published." "Preacher's Son" is Kelly's autobiography--the story of Charles, his four brothers, and their mother, and their struggle for survival living with a fanatical husband and father, the preacher. He tells of the starvation diets, the made-over clothing, the begging for donations and food, the ridicule of other children, and the hatred which finally built up against the father because he believed "the Lord will provide." Kelly was only thirteen years of age when he claimed to be "an infidel." He had by this time been unable to reconcile his father as a man of God with the unreasoning cruelty and dishonesty of the "preacher" toward his wife and children. Kelly concludes his autobiography with his philosophy of prophets, men of God, and religion generally. The manuscript was never published.

Dates

1889-1971

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.