Lester Gene Hatfield was born on November 23, 1925 in Conway, Arkansas to Lester and Gertrude Powers Hatfield. Gene’s birth took place in the family home at 407 Center Street. He was the youngest of five children, having three older sisters and one older brother. The oldest child was Maurine, who was eighteen years older than Gene, who was ten years older. Frank was 9 years his senior and Myra was four years older.
The Hatfield family has had a very long relationship with the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), which began in 1922. Gene, along with siblings Mildred, Frank, and Myra attended the training school at UCA, formerly known as Arkansas State Teachers College. His eldest sister, Maurine, attended Central College for Girls in Conway. She transferred to Arkansas State Teachers College where she graduated in 1929. Gene’s mother, Gertrude Hatfield, also attended Central College for Girls, as did Maurine and Mildred, who finished high school there and completed their first two years of college.
Gene’s father, Lester Hatfield, was a building contractor and built many homes in Conway during the 1920’s. In 1929 the stock market crash occurred and Lester’s business was adversely impacted. This financial setback was the impetus for the Hatfield family to move back to Mount Vernon in 1932. Mount Vernon was Lester and Gertrude’s hometown and they would move into a house directly across the road from Gene’s grandmother.
In 1937, the Hatfield family moved back to Conway and Gene would attend Conway High School, where he graduated in 1942. After graduation from high school, he entered Arkansas State Teachers College and found college life very pleasant. Due to World War II, there were very few males on campus with the exception of Navy pilots and army recruits. In addition, Women’s Army Corps Branch Number Three was on campus, which added to the already disproportionate number of females to males.
After his first sophomore semester, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1944. He received his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In September 1944 he was sent to France, where he landed at Marseilles and waded ashore. His unit camped in a field outside Marseilles until they were picked up by trucks and taken to the war-front in Northern France. In northern France they had to fight through to Vosges Mountains to the Rhine River.
In April 1945, Gene was wounded by shrapnel from an anti-tank grenade, which exploded in a tree right above him. The shrapnel hit his face, missing his left eye while severing the muscle below the left eye. At a field hospital near Stuttgart, Germany a brilliant surgeon removed all the shrapnel and saved his sight. He was then sent to a hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where he recovered.
After being discharged from the Army, Gene again enrolled at Arkansas State Teachers College and graduated with a B.S.E. degree in the summer of 1947. After receiving his B.S.E. degree Gene studied at Northern Colorado University and earned a M.A. degree. Upon completion of his Master’s Degree he began teaching at A.S.T.C. with Miss Marie Schichtl in the Art Department. During the summer Mr. Hatfield continued his education by taking courses in painting and sculpture at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. In addition, during the summers he took advanced classes in Saint Ives, England, Paris, Fontainbleau, and Aix-en-Provence, France.
In 1957, he would marry Miss Nicole Wable in Montreuil Sur-Mer France. They would have three children all born between 1960-1970. Their names are Hadrian, Marc, and Mathilda. The long-term Hatfield association with UCA which began in 1922, continued with all three children of Gene and Nicole Hatfield attending the University of Central Arkansas. Marc attended UCA and graduated from the University of Arkansas; Hadrian graduated from UCA and did graduate work at Vanderbilt University where he earned a Juris Doctorate Degree; Mathilda graduated from UCA and received her Masters Degree in Student Affairs from the University of Kentucky at Louisville. She went on to become Director of Alumni Services at UCA and served admirably in this position for several years.
Mr. Hatfield was a member of Alpha Chi, Alpha Psi Omega, Arkansas Art Teacher Association (President – 1952), and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Mr. Hatfield was voted Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Art at UCA in 1987. He retired from UCA in 1985 after completing 37 years of service with the university. As of April 2001, Gene and Nicole Hatfield continue to make Conway their home. Nicole A. Wable Hatfield died August 19, 2004. Lester Gene Hatfield died February 18, 2017 at the age of 91.
Tracings
Hatfield, Gene
Gene Hatfield
Arkansas Teachers Association
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
The Starwagon Troupe (1960)
UCA Art Department
World War II
Chocolate Chicanery by Gene Hatfield
The Devil’s Toupee by Gene Hatfield
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel
Short Stories of Science and Invention by Charles Franklin Kittering
Series 1
Box 1-A
File 1- Gene Hatfield personal file/ Gene Hatfield Bio
File 2- Nicole A. Wable Hatfield – Wed Gene Hatfield Aug. 17, 1957
File 3- Family Photos – (Gene’s & Nichole’s)
- Envelope 1 – Gene Hatfield and Emily Montgomery c1989
- Envelope 2 – Gene Hatfield c1942
- Envelope 3 – Gene and Nicole Hatfield (on Honeymoon) Dreux, 1957
- Envelope 4 – Mathilda Hatfield daughter of Gene and Nicole c1983
- Envelope 5 – Gene, Nicole, and Mathilda Hatfield at UCA Homecoming 1996
- Gene Hatfield at home November 1994
- Envelope 6 – UCA Archives Reception for Gene Hatfield Collection 2001
- Envelope 7 – Gene Hatfield and Art at Rockville, Maryland home of H & H Hatfield
- Gene Hatfield and Army buddy Peter Dobkowski in Washington D. C. 2001
- Envelope 8 – Gene near Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida take by Pat Larson
- Envelope 9 – Gene Hatfield 2001-2002
- Envelope 10 – Marc and Leigh Hatfield c2001
- Envelope 11 – Hatfield and brother 1995
- Envelope 12 – Nicole and Gene Hatfield 1998
- Envelope 13 – Bob Adams
- Envelope 14 – Life Magazine Hatfields and McCoys, May 22, 1944
- Arkansas Democrat Gazette, “Hatfield, McCoy Kin Peacefully Sign Truce” June 15, 2003
- Envelope 15 – Paper copies of family photographs of the Hatfield family 1888-c2005
- Envelope 16 – Gertrude Hatfield c1984
- Envelope 17 – Gene Hatfield taken by Myra Hatfield Adams Edmondson 1990s
- Envelope 18 – Photo of four children
- Envelope 19 – Hatfield family and Friends
- Envelope 20 – Hatfield family
- Envelope 21 – Gene, Nicole, and friends.
- Envelope 22 – Cemetery Memorial
File 4 – Awards and Certificates – 1986 – 2010
File 5 – Nicole Wable Hatfield – 1959 – 2004
File 6- In Memory of Nicole Wable Hatfield – Jan. 10, 1930 – Aug. 19, 2004
File 7- Important Legal papers, Marriage, Wills etc.
File 8 – Newspaper – Log Cabin Democrat – Sun., Feb. 19, 2017 “Gene Hatfield remembered for his art and generosity”
File 9- Photos 2000 – 2010
End of Box 1-A
Series I
Box 1-B
File 1 – Scrapbook – Gene Hatfield’s mother/ Gertrude Powers/ Hatfield born 18883 – 1994?
File 2 – Book – The Test and Study Speller by Daniel Starch and George A. Mirick – 1921 and first hair cut – July 1929. This book belonged to Gene Hatfield
File 3 – Correspondence – Hatfield Family – 1930’s – 1969
File 4 – 3 War Rations Books from W.W.II
File 5 – WWII Correspondence 1944
File 6 – PFC Gene Hatfield Wounded in Action April 22, 1944
File 7 – War Department NO. 21-4 Information for Soldiers going back to Civilian Life – 1944
File 8 – The Echo. Oct. 25, 1946 “Who’s who Selections are named” (Gene Hatfield #8)
File 9 – Newspaper – “Way Back When” Log Cabin Democrat 1976 – 2007
File 10 – Family Photos
File 11 – Family Photos
End of Box 1-B
Series I
Box 1-C
File 1 – Article – Legacy of French modernist printmaker (Henri) Goetz Celebrated in Carborundum exhibition. Henri Goetz, Artist/ Teacher 1909 – 1989
File 2 – Gene Hatfield Scholarship Fund 2008 – 2010
File 3 – Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award – Nov. 2010
File 4 – UCA buys Gene Hatfield Home – 2017
File 5 – Hadrian Hatfield – Attorney (1st born son)
File 6 – Marc Hatfield 2nd Son of Gene and Nicole Hatfield Artist – Art by Marc
File 7 – Poem by Caroline Hatfield (Gene and Nicole’s granddaughter) Age 12 – April, 2004
File 8 – Mathilda Hatfield, Daughter of Gene Hatfield Photographs and Articles
File 9 – Mathilda’s and Jeffery’s Wedding, Sat. Sept. 14, 2002
File 10 – Correspondence – 1960’s – 70’s – Charles W. Colson/ Frank Hatfield (Gene’s Brother)
File 11 – Newspaper Articles on Hatfield Family Members Gene’s Sister Maurine, Mildred
File 12 – Book – Worship and Conducted Songs for Beginners and Primaries by Elizabeth McE Shields Copyright, 1929 (belonged to Myra Adams, Gene Hatfield’s sister) and Newspaper Clippings, photos & Cards
File 13 – Movie Life Magazine – April, 1957 (Gene’s Sister’s)
File 14 – Myra’s Tour of Europe by Myra Hatfield Adams – 1994
File 15 – Newspaper Coverage of Ken Hatfield’s Career 1960’s
File 16 – Coach Ken Hatfield (Gene’s Nephew) 1983 – 1988
File 17 – Ken Hatfield Career – 1990’s – 2008
File 18 – “Hog’s Fantasy Football – All- Century Team Kenny Hatfield Sun., Feb. 13, 2000 (1962 – 1964) Chosen
End of Box 1-C
Series I
Box 2-A
File 1 – Memorabilia – School, College, Work, Trips etc.
File 2 – Brochure – Arsenal Building and Walk of Honor Dedication Dec. 2001 (Gene Hatfield’s name is on a brick in The Walk of Honor WWII
File 3 – Connections! An Outgrowth of “Dancin’ with Dollies” a Memoir of WWII 384th Bomb Group – March, 1994
File 4 – Newspaper Article – “Silence of the Camps” about Arkansas Two WWII internment Sites for Japanese-Americans. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) May 5, 2000
File 5 – Log Cabin Democrat Newspaper – Article on preserving history of WWII and interview of Veteran Gene Hatfield May 31, 2004
File 6 – Post Card from army buddy – Pete Dobkowski
File 7 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’s Class Record Book, September 13 1948 to June 5, 1949
File 8 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’s Class Record Book, 1949 – 1952
File 9 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’s Class Records Book, 1951 -1954
File 10 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’s Class Records Book, 1955 -1958
File 11 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’s Class Records Book, 1958 -1961
File 12 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’s Class Records Book 1961 – 1964
File 13 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’ Class Records Book 1964 – 1968
File 14 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’s Class Records Book 1976, 1978, 1983 – 1984, December 1985, and 1985-1986
File 15 – RESTRICTED – Teacher’s Class Records Book 1986 and undated
End of Box 2-A
Series I
Box 2-B
File 1 – UCA Alumni Bulletin/Contact 1974 – 1984 and 1996
File 2 – The Starwagon Troupe (1960)
File 3 – Play Scripts cutting by Gene Hatfield. Agamemnon, The Gypsy, Hamlet, Hecuba Macbeth, Medea, Oedipus, Salome (John the Baptist)
File 4 – Stage Lighting & Scenery – Gene Hatfield
File 5 – UCA Productions, programs (undated)
File 6 – Programs and Flyers of Art Exhibits of Gene Hatfield and other artists
End of Box 2-B
Series I
Box 3-A
File 1 – Hatfield interview with Madam George
File 2 – The Fortune Teller by Faye McCormick, written for Children’s Gems (Nov. 1930)
File 3 – Booklet – “Chants by Chance” by Gene Hatfield (32 Pages) C. 1991
File 4 – Book of Poems, A Chance to Enchant by Gene Hatfield (1998)
File 5 – The Devil’s Toupee, manuscript by Gene Hatfield and Lester Retsel (c. 1989)
File 6 – A Screen Play – “The Devil’s Toupee”
File 7 – Book – Enola Victrola by Gene Hatfield (1987)
File 8 – Miscellaneous pages from the manuscript Enola Victrola (undated)
File 9 – Sketches by Gene Hatfield for book Enola Victrola
File 10 – Poems by Gene Hatfield
File 11 – Movie ‘9-30-55
File 12 – Miscellaneous Writings
End of Box 3-A
Series I
Box 3-B
File 1 – Correspondence – Dorrance Publishing Co. 1989 – 1993
File 2 – Chocolate Chicanery by Gene Hatfield, book cover and miscellaneous (1991)
File 3 – Chocolate Chicanery, manuscript by Gene Hatfield (1991)
File 4 – Chocolate Chicanery, manuscript by Gene Hatfield (c. 1993)
File 5 – Chocolate Chicanery, manuscript by Gene Hatfield (c. 1993)
File 6 – Short Stories by Doc Hart
End of Box 3-B
Series I
Box 4-A
File 1 – Reprints of painting by Gene Hatfield
File 2 – 4” x 6” Color photos – House and Streetscape or Landscape paintings by Gene Hatfield
File 3 – 4” x 6” Color Photographs of Nudes, Still life, and flower paintings with women’s faces painted by Gene Hatfield
File 4 – Color Photographs of Sculptures in Ceramic, Clay and Yard Art by Gene Hatfield
File 5 – Color Photographs of Wood Carvings and Other Mediums by Gene Hatfield
File 6 – 3 – Matted Photographs of Sculptures by Gene Hatfield
File 7 – 4”x 6” Color photos of “Yard Art” by Gene Hatfield
File 8 – Yard Art at Gene Hatfield’s Home on Donaghey Street near UCA 24 (8”x 10”) Blk/Whi photos
File 9 – More yard art at Gene Hatfield’s Home on Donaghey Street near UCA
End of Box 4-A
Series I
Box 4-B
File 1 – Newspaper Copies & Originals – Gene Hatfield Art. 1960’s
File 2 – Newspaper Clippings – Gene Hatfield – 1970’s & undated
File 3 – An Installation by Gene Hatfield, Snow Fine Arts Gallery, UCA Remnants and Fetishes of Pleasant Plunder, July – August 1987
File 4 – Newspaper Copies and Originals of Gene Hatfield’s Art – 1990-‘97
File 5 – Newspaper Copies and Originals of Gene Hatfield’s Art 1998
File 6– Newspaper – Gene Hatfield’s Art 1999
File 7 – Newspaper Copies and Originals of Gene Hatfield’s Art 2000-2005
File 8 – Programs of Art Shows 1969-2012
File 9 – The Faulkner County Museum present – “Faulkner County: It’s Art and Artist
File 10 – Art Cartoons and Other Cartoons
File 11 – Portrait paintings by Gene Hatfield and Others
File 12 – Video “Been in the storm so long” produced by Lee Stokes & Directed by Kamal Kozah and Lee Stokes
File 13 – Video: “Stained Glass”
File 14 – Video & Flyers on “The Garbage Project
File 15 – Conway Symphony Orchestra – Feb. 9 – Feb. 17, 2009 Video Cassette & DVD-R
End of Box 4-B
Series I
Box 4-C
File 1 – Controversy with City of Conway over “Yard Art” 1998
File 2 – Gene’s “Sculpture Garden “– 2002
File 3 – A Thesis in American Culture Turning the Inside Out: An Ethnographic Exploration of Yard Artists and Consequences for the Display of Material Objects by Erin Mitchell 2003
File 4 – City of Conway Notice of Violation
File 5 – Newspaper Articles Related to Gene Hatfield Art 2006-‘09
End of Box 4-C
Series I
Box 5
File 1– Correspondence Gene Hatfield, 1970’s-1989
File 2 – Correspondence of Gene Hatfield, 1990
File 3– Correspondence of Gene Hatfield, 1991-1995
File 4 – Correspondence of Gene Hatfield, 1996-1999
File 5 – Correspondence of Gene Hatfield, 2000-2003
File 6 – Correspondence of Gene Hatfield, 2005
File 7 – Correspondence of Gene Hatfield, 2006
File 8 – Correspondence of Gene Hatfield, 2007
File 9 – Correspondence of Gene Hatfield, 2008
File 10 – Correspondence, 2009-2012
File 11- Correspondence – Father Charles Tessing, 2004-2013
File 12 – Newspapers – Early Catholic Church Buildings in Conway, & Little Rock
File 13- VIP Letters – 1993-2007
File 14- Letter from friend Bob Thompson describing Hurricane Katrina Destruction September 15, 2005
File 15- Undated Correspondence
File 16- Birthday Cards – undated- and other Greeting Cards
File 17- Greeting Cards – Christmas, Father’s Day, etc.
End of Box 5
Series I
Box 6-A
File 1 – James Bridges: ASTC Alumni, Author and Movie Director
File 2 – Dee Brown (an Arkansas Author) Article Active Years August 1993
File 3- Helen Gurley Brown (an Arkansas) Article on Page 8. Active Years publication, May, 1993
File 4- Program – The Bear Claw Follies, Oct. 16, 1997
File 5- Cadron Settlement Park Blockhouse (Newspaper Article, July 19, 1998)
File 6- Typed History of Conway – Formerly Conway Station, 1870
File 7 – Newspaper Articles on Cherokee Indians
File 8 – Newspaper The Conway Times Vol. 29 No. 6 April 29, 1925
File 9 – Ms. Dorris Curtis 1908-2006
File 10 – Newspaper- The Arkansas Times, March 17, 2005: Jimmy Driftwood 1907-1998
File 11 – Arkansas Democrat Gazette, article on “Scipio Afracanus Jones” having to do with the Elaine, Arkansas Race Riot (Tues., Jun. 8, 1999)
File 12 – Newspaper- Log Cabin Democrat – Tue., Sept. 27, 2011. “Ex-President of UCA “Lu” Hardin gets probations, no prison time”
File 13-A – Howard Johnson- Artist, Author
File 13-B – “Picnic Proverbs” – by Howard Johnson – 2001 (These Old Sayings are in our family Tradition). And “Marlsagate – 2003, Scott, Arkansas” by Howard Johnson 2003
File 14 – Photo- Herber L. McAlister, Col. 153rd Inft. (R.) 1- 8”x 10” Black & White (autographed)
File 15 – Letters form Mary Medearis 1990-’96 and Newspaper – Arkansas Democrat – Gazette – Dec. 29, 1996 “Mary Myrtle Medearis” High Profile
File 16 – Fenton Shaw – Sculptural Artist – 1946-2012
File 17 – Artist- Junius R. Sloan 1827-1900. Sloan Collection at Valparaiso University
File 18 – Margret Truman Sang at UCA – March 6, 1952 (Then – Arkansas State Teachers College)
File 19 – Interview with Brother C.C. Turner at his place of business “Brother T’s Soul Food” in Conway, Arkansas Interviewer – From Tolliver – 2008 UALR
File 20 – Newspaper Article on 1957 Little Rock School Integration crisis 1996 – ‘97
File 21 – St. Louis Post-Dispatch “September 10, 1972 Salute to Television- “What People Remember Most in 25 Years of Television”
File 22 – Arkansas Democrat Gazette, article on “Arkansas Post celebrates its history”, Reenactments depict miserable days as Spanish-French possession (Feb. 24, 2003)
File 23 – Time magazine, articles on Vietnam and Noah’s Ark (Feb. 23, 1968)
File 24 – The Log Cabin Democrat articles on Cambodia and Saigon, South Vietnam, 96th year – No. 153 (Mar. 13, 1975)
File 25 – Newspaper Washington for Jesus Vol. 1 Issue 1 April 1980
File 26 – Miscellaneous Newspapers – 1964 – 1999
File 27 – Newspapers – Travel in France and Other Places 1900-2000’s
End of Box 6-A
Series I
Box 6-B
File 1 – Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles about Others – 2000-2008 and undated
File 2 – Book – The Alienist by Caleb Carr – 1994
File 3 – Book – The Fatal Englishman by Sebastian Faulks 1996
File 4 – Book – The Game of Life and How to Play It, by Florence Scovel Shinn April, 1927
File 5 – Pamphlet – Exhibition Opening – “Daughter of the Bayou,” Aug. 19, 2000
File 6 – Magazine – Oxford American Issues 32-36 March, December 2000 “A Painted House” by John Grisham
File 7 – “Short Stories of Science and Invention,” by Charles Franklin Kettering
File 8 – Magazine – UCA Magazine – 1, Vol. 100 Issue, Spring 2007 “UCA Centennial Anniversary
End of Box 6-B
Series I
Box 7
File 1 – Political Cartoons
File 2 – Political Writings by Gene Hatfield
File 3 – Political Writings by Gene Hatfield
File 4 – Political Newspapers – 1964-1995
File 5 – Political Newspapers – 1997 – 1999
File 6 – Political Newspapers – 2002-2009
File 7 – Bill Clinton
File 8 – Correspondence & Newspapers – Barack Obama – 2008 – 2009
File 9 – World Trade Center 1st Anniversary Sept 11, 2002
File 10 – Parade Magazine – Ark. Dem. – Gaz. Sept. 11, 2011 10th Anniversary of Trade Center/ Pentagon
End of Box 7
End of Series I
Series II
Box 1
Item #1 – 12 ¾” x 15 ½” Framed and matted pencil and water color work called “Rose Noelle” or “Christmas Rose” by Charles Albright – Limited edition 1/50 – June 26, 2003*
Item #2 – 17 1/2” x 18” Framed and matted pencil and water color work called “Rose Noelle” or “Christmas Rose” by Charles Albright – Limited edition 12/50 – June 26, 2003*
*Included on the item is an issue of Texas Monthly magazine, with an article on Charles Albright’s life. He was a student at Arkansas State Teachers College in 1953-1954.*
File 1 – Charles Albright – Correspondence with Gene Hatfield – former art instructor & Magazine – Texas Monthly
End of Box 1
Series II
Box 2
Item 1 – 11” x 14” blk. /whi. Photo – Gene Hatfield, Freshman Ark. State Teachers College 1942
Item 2 – 1940’s Newspaper – Very Fragile – Incased in Plastic – News of Faulkner County Servicemen
Item 3 – Newspaper – Arkansas Gazette Monday July 21, 1969 “First Men Land on Moon”
Item 4 – Faulkner County Centennial April 25, – May 5, 1873-1973 “Centennial Belle”
Item 5 – Newspaper – River Valley & Ozark Ark. Demo. Gazette Feb. 16, 2003 “Cheating Death on The Pacific” (WWII)
Item 6 – 11” X 16” Color Copy of Photo – Gene Hatfield and his yard Art.
Item 7 – 10 ½ “by 11”½ Color Copy of Photo “Chair Art” on display
Item 8 – Newspaper – River Valley & Ozark Ark. Dem. Gazette – Dec. 14, 2008 – Front and Center – Gene Hatfield
End of Box 2
End of Series II
End of Collection