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Kentucky Military History Museum se t to Re - op e n on V e te rans Day
Putting a Face with a COLLECTION
www.history.ky.gov
KHS ACQUIRES AMBROTYPE OF FREELAND CULLEY Museum Collections & Exhibitions CARETAKERS OF KENTUCKY ARTIFACTS
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r u family o y ? y r o t s i h The Martin F. Schmidt Research Library is available to assist you with genealogical queries over the winter season. Thursday night workshops continue through Dec. 8 Online resources accessible 24/7 at www.history.ky.gov Reference staff available at 502-564-1792, ext. 4460 or KHSrefdesk@ky.gov The library will be open to walk-in visitors Dec. 10, 2011, Jan. 14, 2012 and Feb. 11, 2012
Resources Online access to HeritageQuest, Fold3, KHS digital collections and more Over 90,000 print materials and publications Archival resources: manuscripts, photographs and oral histories Court records, wills, newspapers, census data and more on microfilm
100 W. Broadway | Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-1792 | www.history.ky.gov
The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.
Contents FA L L 2 0 1 1
F E AT U R E A RT I C L E S
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Kentucky Military History Museum s e t to R e - o p e n o n V e t e r a n s Day
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Putting a Face with a Collection
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Museum Collections & Exhibitions
K H S AC QU I R E S A M B R OT Y P E O F F R E E L A N D C U L L E Y
C A R E TA K E R S O F K E N T U C K Y A RT I FAC T S
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N E W D O N AT I O N S A N D AC QU I S I T I O N S
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“The Makings of a Master: KEN T U C K Y FO L K ART A P P REN T I C ESHI P S ”
TO T H E K E N T U C K Y H I S TO R I C A L S O C I E T Y C O L L E C T I O N S
N ow O p e n at K H S t h r o u g h D e c . 1 0
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T H E C I V I L WA R , R E L I G I O N , A N D D E AT H A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H K H S F E L L OW K E N T M C C O N N E L L
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L E T T E R F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R IN THE WORKS...
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F O L L OW I N G U P. . .
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K H S C A L E N DA R O F E V E N T S
Cover: Kentucky Military History Museum at the State Arsenal. www.history.ky.gov
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Executive Director Kentucky Historical Society Kent Whitworth Executive Director Kentucky Historical Society Foundation Dana Bauer Cox Director of Communications Lisa Summers Cleveland Editor Lisa Summers Cleveland Assistant Editor Chelsea Compton Contributors Dana Bauer Cox, Tony Curtis, Tim Talbott, Elizabeth J. Van Allen Design Studio Director Scott Alvey Creative Director Charley Pallos Design Kelli Thompson Photography Creative Services Mark Brown James Johnson Charley Pallos
2011 KHS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD Chancellor, Gov. Steven L. Beshear President, Robert E. Rich, Covington First Vice President, Sheila Mason Burton, Frankfort Second Vice President, J. McCauley Brown, Louisville Third Vice President, John Kleber, Ph.D., Louisville Bill Bartleman, Paducah; William Fred Brashear II, Hyden; Dawn Browning, Maysville; Major Gen. (Ret.) Verna D. Fairchild, Frankfort; Marion Forcht, Corbin; Mike Hammons, Park Hills; Derrick Hord, Lexington; Ruth Ann Korzenborn, Edgewood; David Lee, Ph.D., Bowling Green; Karen McDaniel, Frankfort; Brian Mefford, Bowling Green; Mike Mullins, Hindman; Patti Mullins, Corbin; Nancy O’Malley, Paris; Wayne Onkst, Erlanger; Lowell Reese, Frankfort; Renee Shaw, Lexington; Nancy Smith, Paris; Sue Speed, Louisville; Louis Stout, Lexington 2011 KHS FOUNDATION BOARD President, John R. Hall, Lexington First Vice-President, Ann Rosenstein Giles, Lexington Second Vice-President, Henry C. T. Richmond III, Lexington Secretary, Kent Whitworth, Frankfort Treasurer, Buckner Woodford IV, Paris Bruce Cotton, Lexington; James T. Crain Jr., Louisville; Dennis Dorton, Paintsville; Robert M. “Mike” Duncan, Inez; Thomas P. Dupree, Sr., Lexington; Jo M. Ferguson, Louisville; John S. Greenebaum, Louisville; Frank Hamilton, Georgetown; Jamie Hargrove, Louisville; Raymond R. Hornback, Ed.D., Lexington; Elizabeth Lloyd Jones, Midway; Nancy Lampton, Louisville; Hon. Crit Luallen, Frankfort; Anita Madden, Lexington; Margaret Patterson, Frankfort; Warren W. Rosenthal, Lexington; James Shepherd, Georgetown; Gerald L. Smith, Ph.D., Lexington; Charles Stewart, Frankfort; John P. Stewart II, M.D., Frankfort; William Sturgill, Lexington; Bosworth M. Todd, Louisville J. David Smith, Lexington, pro bono counsel
Circulation Manager Leslie Miller
Fall 2011. The Chronicle is published by the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), Frankfort, Ky. Printing fees are covered by the KHS Foundation. The Chronicle is a periodical for KHS members and friends that builds awareness of the mission of the Society as it engages people in the exploration of the diverse heritage of the commonwealth. The Chronicle reports how the comprehensive and innovative services, interpretive programs and stewardship of the Society are providing connections to the past, perspective on the present and inspiration for the future. If you are interested in making a bequest to the Society’s work, use our full legal address: Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601. Send all address changes to: The Chronicle, Kentucky Historical Society, 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601. Website: www.history.ky.gov. E-mail: KHSmembership@ky.gov.
The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.
DIRECTOR’SLETTER
THE R O LL C O NTINUES !
Since we last “talked,” the Kentucky Historical Society has received even more good news! As the cover of this issue of the Chronicle indicates, the Kentucky Military History Museum (KMHM) will re-open on Veterans Day. We are so pleased that the current phase of upgrades to the State Arsenal will be finished in time to reopen as a part of Governor Steve Beshear’s special “11-11-11” commemoration. This happens to be the same day as the KHS Annual Meeting and Kentucky History Awards. Please join us for all of the festivities! What is even more exciting is the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs’ commitment to fund the final phase of this $2 million plus project. Our deepest thanks go especially to Kentucky’s Adj. Gen. Edward Tonini, for his leadership support of the KMHM and his vision for its future. The other good news involves the Civil War Governors of Kentucky project. Described as a research project for the digital age, this legacy initiative for Kentucky’s commemoration of the Civil War Sesquicentennial was awarded a $210,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Receipt of this highly competitive grant enables the Kentucky Historical Society to expand the project staff and to begin this research and editorial work in earnest. So, KHS continues to be on a roll – completing long-term projects and strategically launching new initiatives. Many individuals and organizations have invested in the important work of the Kentucky Historical Society. Through the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation’s Annual Report, which is due to come out in the next few weeks, we publicly express our heartfelt appreciation to you for believing in and investing in our mission of providing connections to the past, perspective on the present and inspiration for the future!
Executive Director
www.history.ky.gov
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IN THE WORKS... K H S W i n t e r H o u r s o f O p e r at i o n ultimately benefits researchers who then have greater access to these records. Through our strategic plan, KHS has made a commitment to catalog its priority collections and make them available to researchers online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” During the winter months, KHS will continue to accept rentals and reference services and will be available by e-mail and telephone. Outreach programs, including the KHS HistoryMobile, Kentucky Junior Historical Society/National History Day program, KHS Museum Theatre, oral history technical services, KHS Museums-To-Go exhibits, historical markers and work with the Civil War and War of 1812 commemorations, will also be ongoing. The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) history campus will adopt a seasonal hours schedule again this winter, from Dec. 11 through March 9, 2012. The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, Old State Capitol and recently renovated Kentucky Military History Museum at the State Arsenal will not be available to walk-ins during this winter period, but will be open to groups of 10 or more who have pre-registered. There are a few exceptions to this rule. The KHS history campus will be open on a walk-in basis to the public and researchers on Saturdays Dec. 10, 2011, Jan. 14, 2012 and Feb. 11, 2012. On these dates, KHS will continue to host Family History Workshops (in conjunction with the Kentucky Genealogical Society) and other programs. Last winter, during the first experiment with seasonal hours, nearly 6,100 people visited KHS in groups of 10 or more, an actual increase in visitation from winter 2009. Focusing on group visitation during these months, when walk-in numbers are typically lower, allows staff to concentrate efforts on processing the society’s 500,000 museum and special collections. Last winter, KHS staff transferred more than 31,000 records to a new collections database, added nearly 700 artifact records to its online services and catalogued more than 2,400 rolls of microfilm representing county records, church records and manuscript collections. “KHS is making this collections-related work a top priority during the winter,” said Kent Whitworth, KHS executive director. “The work that’s being done during this time
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Beginning Saturday, March 10, 2012, KHS’s public hours of operation will return to Wednesday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Family History Workshops, presented by the Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Genealogical Society, will continue on second Saturdays each month throughout the winter. The schedule is as follows: Saturday, Dec. 10 Digging Deeper for the Gold: Genealogy 201 with Deborah Lord Campisano Saturday, Jan. 14 Preserving Your Family Treasures with Louise Jones and Trevor Jones Saturday, Feb. 11 “Entangled Lives,” a dialogue between descendants of master and slave presented by Ann Neel and Pam Smith Saturday, March 10 Navigating Wildcat Turf: Conducting Research at the University of Kentucky Saturday, April 14 1940 Federal Census For more information or to register for these free workshops, contact the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library reference desk at 502-564-1792, ext. 4460 or KHSrefdesk@ky.gov.
IN THE WORKS... M a k e yo u r M a r k o n K e n t u c k y H i s to ry
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the history lover in your family? The Kentucky Historical Society Foundation has a way to permanently display their support of history for generations to come. Make a donation to the annual fund in a loved one’s name and receive a personalized commemorative brick outside the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History or bronze leaf, stone or acorn in the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library’s family tree. Purchases of these commemorative items are tax-deductible and support the KHS Foundation annual fund, ensuring a lasting legacy for history education, research and collections. Commemorative bricks are available for a $100 donation, and are installed at the Center for Kentucky History main entrance or in the Cralle-Day Garden. Donations of $200, $500 or $1,000 are required for a bronze leaf, stone or acorn in the family tree in the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library. For more information or to purchase a brick, leaf, acorn or stone, contact Katie Skidmore at 502-564-1792, ext. 4445 or katie.skidmore@ky.gov.
www.history.ky.gov
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IN THE WORKS... W h y H i s to ry M at t e r s Abraham Lincoln Society Dinner to F o c u s o n C o m m e m o r at i o n
Dwight T. Pitcaithley, Ph.D.
“How Will We Know Ourselves? Why History Matters” was the focus of the 2011 Abraham Lincoln Society Dinner, on Monday, Oct. 24. The keynote speaker was Dwight T. Pitcaithley, former chief historian for the National Park Service.
Pitcaithley, who received his doctorate from Texas Tech University in 1976, has presented worldwide on the topics of memory, identity and commemoration. The 2011 Abraham Lincoln Society Dinner addressed the importance of history in shaping our personal and national identities, with an emphasis on how history can enhance our ability to address current challenges. Pitcaithley’s presentation was part of the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration currently underway. A historian of the American West, Pitcaithley currently serves as a professor at New Mexico State University, where he has taught since 2005. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and has been widely published in academic and public history journals. Pitcaithley also oversaw the revamping of historical interpretation at the nation’s Civil War and other historical sites from 1995 to 2005. The Abraham Lincoln Society annual event gives KHS the opportunity to induct qualified members into the Abraham Lincoln Society, the Society’s premier giving circle. The Abraham Lincoln Society was established in 1998 and is comprised of philanthropic organizations, corporations, foundations and individuals who have a cumulative lifetime giving equal to $25,000 or more. This year, KHS inducted the Kentucky Veterans Program Trust Fund and Tom Courtenay, of Shelbyville, and Martha Ann Courtenay Davidson, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., into the Lincoln Society. While the dinner was free of charge to Lincoln Society members due to a generous sponsor, KHS did request donations in support of the Elizabeth Lloyd “Libby” Jones Student Scholarship Fund, which provides money for students to visit the KHS history campus. For more information about the Abraham Lincoln Society or to make a contribution to the Libby Jones Student Scholarship Fund, please call 502-564-1792, ext. 4449.
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K H S A n n ua l M e e t i n g S c h e d u l e d f o r N ov. 1 1 The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will hold its annual meeting on Friday, Nov. 11, in conjunction with the 2011 Kentucky History Awards. Both events will take place at the Old State Capitol. During the annual meeting, KHS will induct the newest officers and members of its executive committee (governing board). This year’s nominees will replace five people whose terms expire in November, including Fred Brashear, Ruth Korzenborn, Karen McDaniel, Lowell Reese and Robert Rich, who served the maximum two years as president. Four individuals elected in November will serve four-year terms, which will conclude in November 2015. One will serve a two-year unexpired term. Officers can serve in their respective office for two one year terms. The KHS nominating committee is charged with preparing a slate of proposed officers and board members to be voted on by the membership. This year’s nominating committee included Renee Shaw (chairman), J. McCauley Brown, Dawn Browning and Mike Hammons. Jamie Hargrove represented the KHS Foundation on the nominating committee.
The full slate of nominees will be voted on by the KHS membership in October. Successful candidates will take the oath of office in November. “KHS board membership does carry a considerable responsibility,” said Kent Whitworth, KHS executive director. “Members are expected to attend regular meetings, discuss and vote on key issues, participate on various committees and serve as ambassadors for KHS throughout the state. We’ve been extremely fortunate over the years to have highly dedicated men and women who are willing to give both their time and their expertise to this organization.”
IN THE WORKS...
fa l l t e ac h e r w o r k s h o p When testing is done and the school year ends for Kentucky teachers, many of them reverse roles and become the students. June, July and August were extremely busy for the KHS Education team and its efforts in teacher professional development.
2 0 1 1 K e n t u c k y H i s to ry Awa r d s SET F OR F RIDAY, NOV. 1 1 Each year, the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) invites the public to recognize outstanding achievements by the commonwealth’s historians, public history professionals, volunteers, business and civic leaders, communities and historical organizations with the Kentucky History Awards. KHS encourages organizations, individuals and communities across the state to nominate deserving projects and individuals for their efforts to promote the preservation, awareness and appreciation of state and local history. Nominations were accepted through July 15 for any project initiated or completed during the 2010 calendar year. This year’s awards fall into one of two categories: service awards and general awards.
Through workshops that included Teaching American History (TAH) grant initiatives, KHS’s annual Kentucky History Education Conference and this year’s National Endowment for the Humanities Picturing America conference, KHS worked with over 300 educators this summer. One goal of KHS professional development workshops is to show teachers the benefits of getting their students to “do” history. By analyzing primary sources from the KHS collections and other archives, teachers learn the process of historical research methods, which translates to invaluable skills for their students.
The six service awards are: the Thomas D. Clark Award of Excellence (presented to a local historical organization), the Award of Distinction (presented to a non-paid individual), the Frank R. Levstik Award for Professional Service (presented to a current or recently retired paid staff member of a historyrelated organization), the Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History Award, the Brig. Gen. William R. Buster Award (presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to Kentucky’s military history); and the Volunteer Organization or Group Award.
Field studies at historic sites help educators make important connections to historical content areas. Trips were taken this summer to the KHS history campus, Kentucky sites related to immigration as well as civil rights movement sites in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. These professional development offerings allow teachers to network with one another, learn about challenges all are facing in the classroom and provide opportunities for them to formally present sessions to their peers. This fall and winter KHS will continue to reach out to Kentucky’s educators by providing quality professional development and focusing on history training for pre-service teachers in Kentucky’s colleges and universities so they will be better equipped to make life-long history learners of their future students.
General awards are given in recognition of historical projects in the areas of education and publications. These may include exhibitions, multimedia (such as audio/visual and oral history projects), preservation, programming (public or school), printed materials and websites or online indexes. This year’s award ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. at the Old State Capitol. It follows the KHS Annual Meeting and is open to the public. www.history.ky.gov
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IN THE WORKS... S a n ta i s C o m i n g ! His Visit is Set for Dec. 3
Join KHS for C a n d l e l i g h t To u r : C e l e b r at i o n S o f S e rv i c e N ov e m b e r 1 0 - 1 2 Each year, thousands of people mark the start of the holiday shopping season in downtown Frankfort by taking part in Candlelight Tour. The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) has traditionally played a large role in this community-wide event and was host to almost 2,000 people during Candlelight Tour last year.
For the past few years, Santa Claus has made time in his busy schedule to make a special stop at the Kentucky Historical Society. This year, he will be on-site on Saturday, Dec. 3. Youngsters and the young at heart can visit the Jolly Old Man at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History beginning at 11 a.m. Santa will hear wish lists from children and is always happy to have his photo taken with them. In the spirit of the season, there will be no charge. Other activities will also be available for both children and adults, including storytelling, live museum theatre productions and crafts. Children can also decorate their own holiday sugar cookies. The Society’s signature exhibition, “A Kentucky Journey,” as well as the exhibition, “Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folks Art Apprenticeships” will be open, and tours of the Old State Capitol and the Kentucky Military History Museum will also be available. Visit www.history.ky.gov for up-to-date information and a complete schedule. And don’t forget to bring your camera! Saturday with Santa is presented in partnership with Downtown Frankfort Inc. and Whitaker Bank.
This year’s theme is “Celebrations of Service” and will take place beginning 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, through Saturday, Nov. 12. The Kentucky Historical Society’s entire history campus will be open free-of-charge Nov. 10-12. Guests will be treated to live musical performances and an opportunity to view a large Lionel train display. They can also view a 12-foot Kentucky Military Treasures tree in Commonwealth Hall, decorated with artwork made by area schoolchildren. The Stewart Home School 1792 Store will also have a special holiday sale, with 10 percent off most items in the store. This will give visitors an opportunity to start – and perhaps finish – their holiday shopping. “We hope that people will look to the museum store as the place to shop for historic toy replicas and educational items,” said Linda Redmon, store manager. “We also offer a large selection of books and unique items for gifts and stocking stuffers!” In addition to specially planned entertainment, visitors will also have the opportunity to view “The Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships” exhibition in the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. During the afternoon on Friday, Nov. 11, the Kentucky Military History Museum will re-open to the public and on Saturday, Nov. 12, KHS will partner with the Kentucky Book Fair to bring presentations by authors to the Old State Capitol. “Candlelight Tour really helps get the holiday season underway in downtown Frankfort,” said Julia Curry, KHS special events coordinator. “It’s one of our favorite times at KHS because it’s so popular with both adults and children.” For a full schedule of “Candlelight Tour: Celebrations of Service” visit www.history.ky.gov/candlelight.
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Kentucky Military History Museum set to Re-open on Veterans Day
www.history.ky.gov
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or more than four years, the Kentucky Military History Museum (KMHM) on Arsenal Hill in Frankfort has been undergoing extensive renovations. Much of the work on the interior of the building is now drawing to a close and the KMHM is scheduled to re-open to the public at 2 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2011. Constructed in 1850, the State Arsenal is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. During its lifetime, it has served many purposes. At one point, it was used as a warehouse for military equipment and munitions for the Kentucky State Guard. During the Civil War, it housed a cartridge factory that employed many women and became a point of defense for the capitol. It was also used as a storage facility until being put to use as the Kentucky Military History Museum in 1974. In 1933, the building suffered a fire that destroyed the roof and damaged the second floor. The first floor was left intact. Today, the museum is operated jointly by the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs. By its re-opening on Nov. 11, much of the interior work will be completed, but the entire project is not expected to be done until 2013.
Images of the Kentucky Military History Museum through the years.
Restoring this historic building has been costly. To date, nearly $1.5 million has been allocated to the project, funded by the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation and the Kentucky Veterans Program Trust Fund. By the time the restoration is complete, the project will have cost over $2 million. Prior to beginning this process, the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation funded a feasibility study which helped guide the renovation project for this historic structure. A goal of the project is to restore the building – as closely as possible – to its original appearance.
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Work began on the interior in November 2007 with an upgrade to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. In October 2008, repair work to masonry was undertaken. Iron bars that were added to the building sometime in the 1920s were removed and the window trim was returned to its original color. A fire suppression system has since been installed and plaster repair to the second floor ceiling has also been completed. Carpeting on the second floor has been removed and the wood floors restored. One of the most noticeable changes to the interior of the building has been the addition of a staircase that leads to the second floor. “The last staircase was not up-to-code,” said Trevor Jones, who has served as KHS’s representative on this project. “This new one is designed to complement the industrial look of the building.”
Work on this historic building has been guided by the firm John Milner Associates, Inc. under the direction of lead architect Christopher Quirk. Prior to its re-opening, the Society’s “Kentucky Military Treasures” exhibition will be moved into the building on both the first and second floors. This exhibition contains many military-related artifacts from the KHS collections. But “Kentucky Military Treasures” is not just about the artifacts, the exhibition also tells the stories of Kentuckians who fought in battles spanning nearly 200 years of conflicts – from the War of 1812 to more recent engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. Finally, after years of costly and painstaking attention to the renovation process – Kentucky’s military artifacts and the stories behind those pieces – will be returned to the State Arsenal. The KMHM is expected to be visited by thousands of schoolchildren as early as next spring.
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Contractors have also installed metal supports on the old beams in the ceiling so that the second floor could support more weight. New storm windows with magnetic, ultraviolet blocking capacity were also installed throughout the building. These windows help regulate climate control without blocking the incredible view from this hilltop structure. “I think you get some of the best views of Frankfort from that building,” said Jones. Over the winter, contractors will change the main entrance to the building to the large double doors on the side; these were originally the loading doors. Bathrooms will also be modernized. In addition, Jones said that space is being set aside to house the Kentucky Military Records Branch Old War Records. Early next year and into 2013, attention will again be turned to the exterior of the building. The State Arsenal was originally painted gray and it will be returned to that color. Shutters will be returned to the building, as will a large flagpole that was once situated on the roof. Landscaping will be addressed, as well as safety issues that deal with the existing retaining wall. At present, pulling into or out of the KMHM parking lot is difficult due to the height of that wall, which limits motorists’ views of traffic. The renovation project has been extensive, according to Jones, and has required balancing the historic fabric of the building with health and safety concerns. Jones said the lead architects on the project have been “unbelievably great. We really couldn’t have done it without them.”
KHS recently received the generous donation of a very special artifact. What is it? Come to the re-opening of the Kentucky Military History Museum on Nov. 11 to witness its unveiling!
RE-OPENING CEREMONY 2 P.M. ON 11-11-11 The reopening ceremony for the Kentucky Military History Museum (KMHM) is planned for 2 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The ceremony will take place at the State Arsenal in Frankfort and is open to the public. Visitors will be able to tour the renovated building and see the exhibition, “Kentucky Military Treasures: Selections from the Kentucky Historical Society Collections.” The entire KHS history campus, which includes the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol and the State Arsenal will be open free-of-charge on Nov. 10, 11 and 12. After Nov. 12, the KMHM will be operated in the same way as the Old State Capitol. Visitors should first check in at the Center for Kentucky History for tickets and tours will be available at specific times. For details about regular hours of operation, see history.ky.gov.
www.history.ky.gov
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u Freeland Culley, ca. 1861 2nd Kentucky Infantry, CSA KHS Collections, 2011.35
Putting a Face with a Collection KHS ACQUIRES AMBROTYPE OF FREELAND CULLEY
Confederate 1st National Flag, 2nd Kentucky Infantry, CSA carried by Color-Sergeant Freeland H. Culley of Co. C Donated by John Cully, 1939.186
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ntil recently, the Confederate 1st National Flag from the 2nd Kentucky Infantry, Confederate States of America (CSA) only had an associated name, Color-Sgt. Freeland H. Culley, of Elizabethtown, Ky. Culley was color-bearer of Company C, 2nd Kentucky Infantry (CSA). But the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) did not have an image of him-until now! That changed recently when KHS was contacted about an opportunity to acquire an ambrotype of Culley. An ambrotype is a negative image on a glass medium, and when inverted and placed in front of a dark background, a positive image is produced. This was one of the primary forms of photography from the early 1850s through the 1870s, and a popular form during the Civil War. The image of Culley has a handwritten note from the family stating, “Freeland Culley – Age 16 – 1861, Grandfather of Alice, Eugene and Will T. Matthis. Served 4 years in the Civil War. 2 as color bearer & 2 in cavalry – Died Age 51.” The inside case also has a handwritten message stating the year taken and that the image is of “F H Cully.” Thanks to the Kentucky Treasures Fund of the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, this acquisition has become a reality and will now be preserved for future generations. KHS also has four related items in special collections, including an original “Application for Furlough under General Order No. 227,” which describes Culley in March 1864 and has the accompanying furlough on the reverse. Culley was a printer prior to the war and is “aged 20 years, 5 feet, 9 inches high, light complexion, grey eyes, and light hair.” Culley’s “Descriptive List, and Account of Pay and Clothing,” “Oath of Allegiance,” and “Soldier’s Hospital Certificate” are also in the KHS collection. Freeland was born to Judge James Dewitt and Elizabeth Lauretta (Buckner) Culley of Elizabethtown in 1844; he was one of seven children. At the outbreak of hostilities, he mustered into service as a private in the Confederate Army at Camp Boone, Tenn., on Aug. 16, 1861, where he served for three years. He served with the 2nd Kentucky Infantry (CSA), part of the Orphan Brigade, and later mounted infantry in late 1864. Culley saw action early in the war at Fort Donelson, where he was captured and made a prisoner of war on Feb. 16, 1862. He spent the next nine months at Camp Morton,
Descriptive List, Account of Pay and Clothing
a Union prisoner of war camp in Indiana, prior to being exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss., in November 1862 and soon returned to his regiment in Chattanooga, Tenn. Culley participated in many major engagements in the western theatre during the Civil War, including Stones River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and the Atlanta campaign. He was promoted to color-colonel at Manchester in 1863. He was wounded on two occasions during his service, first at Stones River, as a part of Roger W. Hanson’s Brigade where he received a slight wound to his arm and immediately returned to his regiment. He later received a severe flesh wound to his right leg near Jonesboro, Ga., on Aug. 31, 1864 and was admitted to Ocmulgee Hospital in Macon, Ga. His official record shows that he was present at his company’s muster roll in September and October 1864. Culley would return to his regiment for the remainder of the war, until the 2nd Kentucky Infantry (CSA) surrendered at Washington, Ga. on May 6, 1865 as a color-sergeant. Culley swore his oath of allegiance to the United States on June 10, 1865 in Nashville, Tenn.
started the first post-war Elizabethtown newspaper, “The Weekly Banner.” Freeland Culley sold his share of the firm a few months later and moved to Mississippi, where he and a new partner, B. B. Paddock, bought “The Fayette Chronicle” and unsuccessfully started another called “The New South.” Culley is listed in the 1870 United States Federal Census for Fayette, Jefferson County, Miss., enumerated on July 21, 1870, as a printer and boarding with another family. Culley married Mary C. Baldwin on Jan. 19, 1871 in Jefferson County, Miss. The 1880 U.S. Census shows the couple having three children, Clyde, Pearl B. and Carroll T. As late as the 1890 Veterans Census, Culley lived in Fayette, Jefferson County, Miss. It is unknown what happened to his first wife, as he is married again on Oct. 26, 1893 in Elizabethtown, Ky. to Sallie McDonald Bryan, the widow of James Hillary Bryan, a prominent local businessman. Culley sold the newspaper to his son, Clyde D. Culley in the early 1890s. He had spent most of his postwar years in Mississippi in the newspaper business, at least from July 21, 1870 until Oct. 26, 1893. A year and a half later, Culley died on March 23, 1895, and was laid to rest in St. James Cemetery in Elizabethtown. Adding Culley’s ambrotype to the KHS collection was an important acquisition because of its historical value. Identified Confederate ambrotypes are rare, especially of Kentucky Confederates and the state has no official records for the 2nd Kentucky Infantry (CSA).
Oath of Allegiance, June 10, 1865 However, Culley’s story does not conclude with the end of the Civil War. Following the war, he returned to Elizabethtown, where he became the junior member of the firm Wood & Culley. The senior partner, Richard B. B. Wood, had married Freeland’s sister, Lauretta Ellen Culley, on Oct. 7, 1862. They
Perhaps most important is that the ambrotype puts a human face on a collection of items that KHS already owns. Visitors need no longer try to imagine what Freeland Culley looked like, since KHS now has a “snapshot” of him from around 1861. This acquisition also makes the existing collection more complete, with several archival documents from his war service, the flag he carried with the 2nd Kentucky and now an image of Freeland Culley himself. 3
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N E W D O N AT I O N S A N D AC QU I S I T I O N S TO T H E K E N T U C K Y H I S TO R I C A L S O C I E T Y C O L L E C T I O N S
Quilt, 2010 Special Olympian Leigh Ann Fallis of Frankfort, Ky. created this quilt out of potholders that she wove herself. This unique piece won a blue ribbon at the 2011 Special Olympics Art Contest and a red ribbon at the 2011 Franklin County Fair. Donated by Leigh Ann Fallis, 2011.75
White Oak Basket, 2011 Made by master basket maker Leona Waddell, this basket shows the influence of travel and tourism along Highway 31W. Transcending their practical use as household objects, baskets in her community became collectible art pieces to Mammoth Cave tourists. Her personal style and attention to detail has won Mrs. Waddell many awards and recognition for her artistry. (This basket and more from her community are currently on display in the exhibition “The Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships.”) KHS Purchase, 2011.58.
Navy Jumpsuit, 2001 Kentuckian Edward Earhart wore this U.S. Navy jumpsuit. Earhart died while on duty at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. He was the only native Kentuckian killed at the Pentagon. Donated by Charlotte Earhart, 2011.74.1
Music Stand, 1974-1976 This stand belonged to the 202nd Kentucky Army National Guard Jazz Band. The band acted as goodwill ambassadors for the Guard in the early 1970s. The band plays on today. Donated by 202nd Army Band of the Kentucky Army National Guard, 2011.33
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“The Makings of a Master: KEN T U C K Y FO L K ART A P P REN T I C ESHI P S ” N ow O p e n at K H S t h r o u g h D e c . 1 0
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Folk art traditions have been passed down all over the world for generations through the well-bonded links between a master and apprentice. Kentucky is filled with folk traditions, old and new, from basket makers and banjo players to dancers and drummers. Explore the relationships between master folk artists and their apprentices and the culture they share through art, video interviews, live concerts and demonstrations at “The Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships.” “The Commonwealth of Kentucky is rich in diverse cultural folk groups and master artists who carry on their traditions,” said Kentucky Folklife Program Director Bob Gates. “Master musicians, dancers, craftspeople and other artists share a special relationship with those they teach within their communities. The Kentucky Folklife Program is proud to have documented these art forms over the past 20 years with the Kentucky Arts Council Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program.”
Concerts Celebrate the Relationship between Masters and Apprentices
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Sept. 15 Bluegrass Masters: A Celebration of the Bill Monroe Centennial: Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press
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Oct. 20 Kentucky Women in Old-Time Music with the Reel World String Band and Carla Gover
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Nov. 17 East meets West: Fiddling and Thumbpicking Guitar in Kentucky with Eddie Pennington, Steve Rector, Roger Cooper, John Harrod and Alonzo Pennington.
The exhibition opened in the Keeneland Changing Exhibits Gallery on Thursday, Sept. 15 to great fanfare with a performance by master bluegrass musician Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press. Even Osborne’s apprentice, Cory May, had an opportunity to share the limelight. The exhibition features not just musicians, but also basket weavers, Chinese dancers, Central American alfombra makers and storytellers. When KHS adopts winter hours of operation after Saturday, Dec. 10, “The Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships” will leave the Kentucky Historical Society and tour the commonwealth’s galleries, arts centers, schools and libraries through 2012. For more information or to schedule the exhibition in your community, contact folklife specialist Mark Brown at mark.brown@ky.gov. The exhibition is the product of the Kentucky Folklife Program, an interagency program of the Kentucky Arts Council and the Kentucky Historical Society that identifies, documents, conserves and presents the commonwealth’s diverse cultural traditions through concerts, exhibits, narrative stages, archives, grant programs and classroom and community partnerships. The Kentucky Folklife Program and “The Makings of a Master: Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships” are funded by state tax dollars and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
WH AT IS A N A L F O MB R A ? An alfombra is a temporary carpet of dyed sawdust typically used in worship during Holy Week throughout Central America. “As an immigrant, when you just arrive you are always looking for things that make you feel at home. Church is one of those, and making an alfombra there makes us feel welcome. The whole experience of getting together and doing the alfombra is very fulfilling, both as an individual and as a community. People really like it, not only the Guatemalans, but the Anglos, too.� -Jose Neil Donis, alfombra master, Louisville, Ky.
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Museum Collections & Exhibitions CARETAKERS OF KENTUCKY ARTIFACTS
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O BILL BRIGHT
ne of the most daunting – and most exciting – responsibilities faced by the Kentucky Historical Society takes place mostly behind the scenes. Preserving, presenting and interpreting Kentucky’s history is the primary goal of the KHS Museum Collections and Exhibitions team. Led by director Trevor Jones, this group is comprised of curators, registrars, exhibition designers, project specialists and volunteers who interact with Kentucky’s past on a daily basis. They have the challenging responsibility of caring for and interpreting artifacts, as well as making them available to the public, both on-site and online.
TONY CURTIS
SARA ELLIOTT
TREVOR JONES
JULIE KEMPER
LINDSAY MERRITT
JENNIFER SPENCE
DEB VAN HORN
The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is a multifaceted history organization, dedicated to the promotion of historical understanding and history education in the commonwealth.To achieve this ambitious mission, KHS programs and activities are developed, implemented and managed by a number of functional divisions with many activities requiring cooperative planning, expertise and coordination of staff from across the organization.This is the second in a series of profiles highlighting the programs and activities currently underway within KHS’s seven functional teams.
Jones’ team is responsible for KHS’s three-dimensional objects, which include everything from textiles and metals to woods and porcelain. The KHS Special Collections and Library Services team handles mostly documents, such as letters, photographs and maps. There are well over 200,000 threedimensional artifacts in the KHS collections, some as small as Henry Clay’s cufflinks and others as large as the one-millionth Toyota Camry to roll off the Georgetown plant’s assembly line. Because of the magnitude of the collection, Jones said his team has to be “the organizers of both data and stuff.” He compares their work to that of keeping a very large room cleared of clutter, so that everything can be easily found. The museum collections and exhibitions team is all about rules. They follow a detailed process that encompasses everything from formally accepting a donated artifact to cataloging it and placing it in proper storage. When an item is accepted into the collections, it is assigned a unique number. The piece is carefully reviewed, measured and photographed and that information is then recorded. Because the collections are so vast, accurate recordkeeping is essential. Jones’ team has also made it a priority to put images and information from all of the artifacts online, ensuring that researchers have access to the information. That work is on-going, given the number of items in the collections. Last winter, the team was able to transfer more than 670 new artifact records to the online catalog. That number has since grown to more than 3,500 new records. “Our job is to basically keep the floor clean,” said Jones. “We assign all of the numbers for artifacts. We research them, number them and store them. That’s the engine behind what we do. It’s attention to detail. If there’s one attribute that we have to have, it’s attention to detail.” Lest one think the job sound tedious, it’s important to note that record-keeping is only one aspect of what this team does daily. Often, they have the pleasure of discovering a unique piece of Kentucky history or a story that helps tell present generations more about their ancestors. They also produce the Society’s public exhibitions, such as “Kentucky Military www.history.ky.gov
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De ta i l s M at ter ! Keeping track of over 200,000 items illustrating Kentucky’s history is no easy task. Even simple mistakes can result in misplacing collections pieces for years. In the Kentucky Historical Society’s collection are three gold shirt studs that once belonged to Henry Clay. The studs have a rounded flat gold face with Clay’s name engraved on the front surface of each stud, and the story goes that these pieces were given by Henry Clay to one of his former slaves. Unfortunately, a simple cataloging error resulted in these important Kentucky pieces being misplaced for years.
Treasures,” which is scheduled to open at the Kentucky Military History Museum on Veterans Day. “We are the ones who get to handle the artifacts,” Jones explained. “That stuff is really neat. It’s a lot of painstaking work, but you do get those great moments.” Curators The museum collections and exhibitions team has three curators on staff; these are the people the public usually meets when donating or discussing particular artifacts. They are also the subject experts who perform the research to fill in the human stories behind the artifacts and to put the pieces into historical context. Curators often answer questions from the public about particular objects or historical topics. “They’re sort of like our ‘antiques road show’ folks,” joked Jones. “When artifacts come in, we assign them to the people who have the greatest knowledge in that area.” Registrars The registrar is also an integral part of the team. Registrars have the responsibility of handling all of the paperwork associated with a donated item. This includes ensuring the deed of gift is properly executed, making sure the collections are adequately insured and handling any loan requests. KHS regularly loans artifacts to other institutions throughout the world and all of those loans require formal documentation and insurance.
Henry Clay shirt studs 1952.1
In 1994, the shirt studs were placed in a new box -- Box 15-273, one of thousands of boxes that were eventually moved to the new Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Unfortunately, when the number was transposed when entered into the database, the box was listed as Box 15-237, a small but important mishap. When staff went to look for the studs years later, they were nowhere to be found! Searching through hundreds of boxes for three pieces --each smaller than a dime -- isn’t easy, and it wasn’t until 2011 that KHS once again managed to locate Henry Clay’s shirt studs. Managing records and making sure everything is where it is supposed to be is a big part of the KHS Museum Collections and Exhibitions team’s job. Team members work to preserve items for the future, understand why they are important and make sure they can be found when they’re needed!
Project Specialists Currently, the KHS museum collections and exhibitions team has three project specialists; these are people who work exclusively on particular projects. The projects can be of a short or long-term duration. This fall, project specialists are cataloguing both the Civil War and the Churchill Weavers collections, and assisting with the production of an educational toolkit project in association with Kentucky Educational Television. Often, the work of these specialists is funded through private donations and the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation. Exhibition Developers Those unfamiliar with museum and exhibitions work may not realize that an intensive amount of design and even skilled carpentry goes into putting together a public exhibition. KHS has two dedicated exhibition developers who literally build the exhibitions from the ground up. They work closely with curators and other staff at KHS to build an exhibition that tells a story about Kentucky’s history. “When you do an exhibit it’s like writing a book or a long article,” said Jones. “Everyone is going to see your words and
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you have to make sure that you’re engaging your audience but that it’s also verified, which means a lot of research.You’ve got to make the story come alive.” Volunteers Volunteers are also an essential component of the museum collections and exhibitions team. On any given day, trained volunteers are busy behind the scenes working in the collections at KHS. Jones said that several volunteers “are regulars who take photographs, perform measurements, catalog, and scan and update records for us.” Some volunteers are also subject experts, including a weaver who is helping catalog the Churchill Weavers collection. Over the last year, the museum collections and exhibitions team has focused most of its work on cataloging three highpriority collections, including the War of 1812 collection, the Paul Sawyier collection and the Civil War collection. During this process, they discovered new details that help paint a more complete picture of the artifact and its significance. “That’s the best part of our job,” said Jones, “when we unearth new information that contributes to Kentucky’s history.”
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D I D YO U K NOW?
“ FAUX S AW YIERS ” DIS COVERED Last winter, the Kentucky Historical Society Museum Collections and Exhibition team spent several weeks re-cataloging KHS’s Paul Sawyier painting collection. Sawyier, an impressionist artist from Frankfort, is known for his watercolor landscapes of Central Kentucky and the Catskill area of New York. As the team “waded” through painting after painting of images of the Elkhorn Creek and the Kentucky River, members began to get a sense of Sawyier’s style and technique. That is why when they came across a painting entitled “Main Street at Calvert Corner,” they realized something was not quite right. The lines were not as straight or as crisp as Sawyier’s and the skill level was not the same. After doing some research the team discovered that “Main Street at Calvert Corner” was a copy of Sawyier’s painting entitled “A Rainy Day in Frankfort,” which is also in the KHS collection. Although each painting depicts the same scene it is obvious that they were done by two different people. As the team continued to work its way through the collection, it was able to identify five more so-called “Faux Sawyiers.” Some were even signed with Sawyier’s signature! Who were the artists of the copies? Unfortunately the team was not able to determine that. It is known, though, that Sawyier had students and that there were art classes in the 20th century that copied Sawyier’s work—not for any nefarious reason—but as a learning experience. We will probably never know who the copyists were, but it is fun to put the paintings side-by-side and compare the two. Can you tell which is the real Sawyier?”
A Rainy Day in Frankfort 2008.21.4
In 2011, KHS launched a new database for storing and cataloging object collections. That database is available to the public 24/7 at www.history.ky.gov/objects. One feature of the new software enables viewers to send feedback about the artifacts straight to the curators at KHS. Online visitors can search by keyword or catalog number, order copies of images, e-mail pages to a friend or click “random images” for a surprise assortment of objects. More than 3,000 artifacts are available now, with more added each week.
Main Street at Calvert Corner 1980.40.19
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TH E KH S INTERVIE W SERIES
T H E C I V I L WA R , R E L I G I O N , A N D D E AT H A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H K H S F E L L OW K E N T M C C O N N E L L
A pro-Unionist lithograph which appeared in 1861, “Our Heaven Born Banner,” by William Bauly, depicts the Civil War as not only a patriotic but also a righteous cause. Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Kent McConnell The Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in American history. Yet surprisingly, few historians have studied the subject of death in regard to the war. Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) fellow Kent McConnell is one of them. McConnell received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and teaches history at Phillips-Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H. In a recent interview with Elizabeth J.Van Allen, assistant director of Civil War Governors of Kentucky and associate editor of the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, McConnell discusses his current book project, “A Time Stained God: Civil War Deaths, Religion, and the Remaking of God,” forthcoming from Johns Hopkins University Press. He reveals that dealing with the Civil War dead profoundly altered religious expression and beliefs.
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Van Allen: Could you briefly describe the focus of your study? How does your work differ from the way past historians have interpreted religion and its influences on society during and after the Civil War? What have they overlooked? What have they over-simplified? McConnell: Perhaps the simplest answer to the question is that my research examines social interactions with dead bodies from the antebellum period to the nation’s centennial celebration. In particular, I have concentrated on the ways in which religious thinking and practices toward dead bodies changed during this era, which is unique in the history of the United States. Obviously, in the midst of this period was the American Civil War. The conflict challenged and sometimes dramatically changed the ways in which the Civil War generation thought about God and death and impacted the manner in which the historical significance and meaning of destructive forces were defined. There are two areas of historical interpretation in which I think my work largely differs from previous treatments of the war. First, most approaches toward the subject of “Civil War religion,” to date, have largely concentrated on how religious thinking affected the lives of soldiers, civic leaders, or the ideological forces shaping the war. My approach to the topic inverts this methodological framework. I’m primarily interested in seeing how the experience of war affected or shaped religious experiences and ideas. Whereas previous historians of religion and the Civil War have largely pursued topics related to the head, I look at issues of the heart. How did the experience of the war—a war that many proclaimed to be originated by a benevolent God—change American religious attitudes among those who experienced its unimaginable destructive forces. Second, while it might seem unimaginable given the number of Civil War fatalities, until recently no professional historians focused a major study on the topic of death. Drew Gilpin Faust’s recent book, “This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War” (New York, 2008), is likely just the beginning of many studies devoted to this particular topic. Van Allen: How does the subject of death provide a lens on shifts in American religious attitudes? What kind of contradictions did death raise? McConnell: As many scholars previously have suggested, attitudes toward death are a social construction in which dead bodies become a type of intermediary medium between the here and now and the afterlife. The bodies of the deceased, to one degree or another, take on a significant amount of religious symbolism and are mediums by which humans express some of their deepest and unspoken theological beliefs.
Graves of Confederate dead with board markers, Oaklawn Cemetery, Richmond, Va., 1865. Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
They, therefore, are quite a useful tool in gauging American religious life. As to the second question, the contradictions are many. The nearly irreconcilable idea that the loving, personal and benevolent God of evangelical Protestantism would allow for such human slaughter on the battlefields is perhaps the most poignant among them. We have to remember that, by 1864, many Americans were calling Ulysses S. Grant a “butcher” and that they characterized the trench warfare of the time as “murder.” For numerous Americans, these genuine sentiments seemed at odds with earlier proclamations of Christian soldiering and God’s purposeful use of war as a “remission of sin.” Van Allen: How did the Civil War reconstitute existing structures of religious authority and help to overturn orthodox ideas about God’s relationship to history? McConnell: Most immediately, many Americans saw the office of the cleric a bit differently than they had in previous eras. Clergy, while still remaining wildly prominent and important personalities in postbellum America, were criticized for actions and ideas that seemed out of touch with the modern world. This was particularly true among liberal Protestants, who could no longer palate lingering vestiges of Calvinist orthodoxy when it came to ideas about God and history. But people challenged religious authority in many other ways, beyond the traditional avenues of religious expression. In particular, the great interest in spiritualism that emerged after the war was one way in which Americans sought to pursue www.history.ky.gov| 23 www.history.ky.gov 23
McConnell interview cont. freely their desire to tap into deeper religious experiences than those churches and synagogues provided. This interest in spiritualism emerged among individuals and families who desired to reconnect with those lost in the war or elsewhere in the past. Spiritualism challenged the structures of religious authority at the time and raised questions about who could make claims about the afterlife. These are examples of the ways in which Americans used their religious lives in their attempts to negotiate the aftershocks of the Civil War.
Van Allen: Why is it important to study how every generation of Americans memorializes the war-time dead? McConnell: I think it is important to understand that what we claim about the dead of past generations and hold as “truth” is rooted as much in our own cultural values and present needs as in historical realities. Studying the destructive forces of the Civil War reveals how brutal and inhumane this war was. Americans should take this reality seriously because it not only bespeaks of the latent forces within human beings but also of the possible calamities that occur when democratic societies fail to compromise. In the end, the study of the war-time dead should caution us against the immediate use of force to accomplish political and social ends. We should always strive to realize these ends through other means, particularly when the price to be paid in human life will be high.
FOLLOWING UP...
(top left) The Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution held a ceremony in the Cralle-Day Garden, remembering those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. (right) Mallory Clouse, honorary state president Kentucky Society Children of the American Revolution presented a check for the KHS children’s gallery guide to Jody Blankenship, director of the KHS education department. (bottom left) KHS participated in a Civil War exhibit this year at the Kentucky State Fair.
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FOLLOWING UP... T R AV E L B AC K I N T I M E W I T H C I V I L WA R TO U R Recent visitors to the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) history campus may have been lucky enough to experience a brand new tour offering. “A Capitol Divided: Civil War Beginnings at the Old State Capitol” has been presented on Saturdays in June, July, August and September. KHS Educator Greg Hardison developed the tour which incorporates object observation, audio recordings, live theatre and visual components, and will evolve over the next four years as the official commemoration of the Civil War sesquicentennial continues. Old State Capitol visitors were invited to step back in time 150 years to 1861, and were led through the Old State Capitol by an educator and characters giving personal accounts of the time. In the House chamber, they heard speeches and even had a chance to participate in secession debates. “We’re trying a lot of different things with this tour, testing the audience’s comfort level. It’s an inquiry-based tour, and it’s always evolving,” said Hardison. People are encouraged to return multiple times over the next four years to learn more of Kentucky’s Civil War story, with new characters, collections and audio introduced. Student programs specialist Adam Luckey has been pleasantly surprised by the range of history enthusiasts that have taken the tour so far. “We get people who know a lot about the Civil War, then we get those who are learning and being immersed in it for the first time, and I see it become a personal experience. Even those from outside the state or country can feel what was happening around them at this time 150 years ago. It is fascinating to observe. Some will say ‘I had no idea Kentucky was so divided.’” For more information about “A Capitol Divided: Civil War Beginnings at the Old State Capitol,” e-mail greg.hardison@ky.gov. This tour is currently being updated and will be available again in March 2012.
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FOLLOWING UP... SOCIAL MEDIA With advancements in technology and increased Internet usage, global customer service and communications standards are changing at a rapid pace, and the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) strives to stay ahead of the curve. Two years ago, KHS delved into the world of social media with presences on Facebook, Twitter and History Burgoo (the KHS blog).
The most popular and widely used social media platform is Facebook, where individuals create personal profiles and share their interests and comments with friends. The Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS) both have pages that individuals can “like” to receive updates on events, programs and general day-to-day operations. KHS communications staff post text updates, photos and links to other websites of interest several times per week. Individuals can then comment on these posts, ask questions or share them with others.
KHS staff, interns and volunteers all participate in “blogging,” or writing personal journal entries that are available online at www.historyburgoo.com. History Burgoo is a great place to read first-hand accounts of what is going on behind-the-scenes at KHS. Recently, membership coordinator Leslie Miller wrote about the September 11th memorial ceremony in the CralleDay Garden, education intern Derrick Ranostaj shared an interview with a former KJHS president and Folklife Program director Bob Gates chronicled his road trip to a conference in Minnesota. Turn to page 32 for another example from the KHS blog. An up-to-date website is also critical, and KHS staff modify www.history.ky.gov daily with new event information, news releases, catalog entries, program information and graphics. Visitors to the website can access this information, subscribe to e-newsletters or donate to the KHS Foundation Annual Fund from their computers or mobile devices any time 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Perhaps the greatest advantage to social media is that KHS can receive feedback and answer questions from visitors instantly. Social media users can share experiences and suggestions with the click of a mouse and a few key strokes. KHS has never been more connected to what educators, genealogists and students need and expect from a visit to the history campus.
Twitter allows users to share information in short bursts of 140 characters or less. To receive updates from KHS, log on to www.twitter.com/kyhistsoc” and click “follow.” KHS’s Twitter followers will find a little bit of everything here: historical facts, event reminders or last-minute changes, recent genealogical articles and research, industry news and more. During National History Day in June, the education team also “tweeted” pictures of KJHS members and announced national award winners as-it-happened from Washington, D.C.
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FOLLOWING UP... New Project brings CI V I L WA R - ER A K E N T U C K Y to L i g h t The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) recently received a $210,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to develop the “Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition.” The “Civil War Governors of Kentucky” is a multi-year documentary-editing project dedicated to locating, imaging, transcribing, annotating and publishing documents associated with all five of the state’s Civil War governors, consisting of three Union governors (Beriah Magoffin (1859-62), James F. Robinson (1862-63), and Thomas E. Bramlette (1863-67)), and two provisional Confederate governors (George W. Johnson (1861-62) and Richard Hawes (1862-65)). This edition will focus on the period between November 1860, the date of Lincoln’s election as president, and the end of December 1865, roughly corresponding with the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery. Each of these national milestones signaled a pivotal change in Kentucky’s political and social order. “Civil War Governors of Kentucky” will provide new ways to look at the society of this era. These funds are made available through the NEH Scholarly Editions and Translations program, and will allow project staff
to conduct research and perform editorial processes necessary to develop the “Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition.” “We couldn’t be more thrilled by this award,” said Darrell Meadows, Ph.D., director of KHS’s research and interpretation division and director of the new digital documentary edition. “NEH funding for ‘Civil War Governors of Kentucky’ will not only allow us to make significant progress toward the completion of the project, which promises to be a significant legacy of the Civil War Sesquicentennial in Kentucky, but it furthers the Kentucky Historical Society’s mission to advance new scholarship in Kentucky, regional and national history.”
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FOLLOWING UP... c - s pa n V I S I T S F R AN K F O RT The first week of August, C-SPAN’s Local Content Vehicle (LCV) film crew made Frankfort, Ky. the fourth stop of its 2011 tour. A three-member team of video journalists equipped with the latest in digital editing technology interviewed local authors and toured historic sites throughout the region.
K H S E m p l oy ee R e c o g n i z e d f o r Pr o f ess i o n a l Ac h i e v e m e n t Robert Gates, director of the Kentucky Folklife Program, was recently recognized for professional achievement during Kentucky’s Public Service Recognition Week. Gates received the honor during an awards ceremony in early October. Kentucky’s First Lady Jane Beshear made the presentation. “There are hundreds of stories that tell how government programs have improved people’s lives,” Mrs. Beshear said. “But it is truly the people behind the programs—our valued public employees— that are the key to good government. Their work is never-ending, and I am honored to be able to recognize them for their outstanding efforts.”
C-SPAN video journalist Adrenne Hoar interviews KHS’s Leslie McWhorter in the Old State Capitol. Completed segments aired August 27 – 29 as “Frankfort Weekend” on C-SPAN’s Book-TV and American History TV. Curator Sara Elliot tells the story of assassinated Gov. William Goebel, interpretive education administrator Leslie McWhorter recounts the history of the Old State Capitol and museum collections and exhibitions director Trevor Jones takes viewers behind the scenes inside collections storage and previews the Kentucky Military History Museum, which is reopening at the State Arsenal in November. During the visit, updates were made to the C-SPAN and Kentucky Historical Society’s social media pages, like Twitter and Facebook. Mark Farkas, C-SPAN executive producer & LCV project manager said that the LCV tour gives them the opportunity to connect with an audience “not only on air, but also online and through social media as well… We want to get outside of Washington, D.C. and get into places we that don’t normally do programming.” Video clips and photographs are available online at www.c-span.org/LocalContent/Frankfort. Other local points of interest featured include the burial site of Daniel Boone, Buffalo Trace Distillery and Lexington’s Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate. A total of eight southeastern cities will be profiled over the course of the year.
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The Kentucky Folklife Program is an interagency partnership between the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Arts Council. Gates founded the initiative approximately 20 years ago. The Kentucky Folklife Program documents, conserves and presents Kentucky’s folk traditions. Public Service Recognition Week was created to highlight stories of employees who have positively impacted the lives of their co-workers, customers and community. Nominations were accepted throughout the year in six categories: customer service, courage, leadership, professional achievement, teamwork, and community service or volunteerism. More than 100 nominations were submitted, involving more than 230 employees. All nominations were reviewed by a selection committee, and three finalists were chosen in each category. Award recipients were honored by having a personalized engraved brick placed along Ambassador Avenue outside the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.
FOLLOWING UP... C o n s i d e r K H S f o r Yo u r N e x t M e e t i n g o r R e c e p t i o n M a n y V e r s at i l e S pac e s a r e Ava i l a b l e Searching for a cost-effective and attractive location to hold a meeting or conference? Check out the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) history campus! KHS has many different spaces – both indoor and outdoor – available for large and small events. In 2010, KHS hosted more than 55 rental events, encompassing everything from small group meetings to large wedding receptions and parties. The history campus is centrally located between Lexington and Louisville, with convenient access from the interstate. Lonna Boisseau, administrative specialist with the Kentucky Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, said her group rents space at KHS two or three times a year. Most often, they hold meetings for the Kentucky Diabetes Network, a statewide coalition. “I really like coming there because of the convenience,” said Boisseau. “The area is large and it’s easy to set up. “ Some of the spaces available for rent in the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History include: Hilary J. Boone Commonwealth Hall The Center for Kentucky History’s central atrium which features a formal staircase. This space is an ideal setting for after-hours events and can accommodate up to 200 people.
JAMES C. AND FREDA KLOTTER CLASSROOM Ideal for small meetings and seminars. The classroom is located on the first floor of the Center for Kentucky History and can accommodate up to 40 people.
THE BROWN-FORMAN KENTUCKY ROOM This versatile 4,000 square-foot space is perfect for dinners, parties, receptions and meetings. The Brown-Forman Room is adjacent to a warming kitchen and opens into the Cralle-Day Garden, which allows for indoor and outdoor events. The space can also be divided into smaller rooms if the entire area is not needed. Brown-Forman has a large projector screen and access to audio-visual equipment. The room can accommodate up to 200 people in theater style seating or up to 180 for a sit-down meal.
ELIZABETH LLOYD JONES BOARD ROOM Perched on the second level of the Center for Kentucky History. This room is furnished with a counter for refreshments and a 20-foot boardroom-style table. A white board is also available, as well as a projector screen and teleconferencing capabilities. the old state capitol grounds The Old State Capitol is also part of the KHS history campus and the grounds are available for rental for large-scale events as well as smaller receptions.
CRALLE-DAY GARDEN A walled garden located in the heart of downtown Frankfort. The garden is adjacent to the Brown-Forman Room and the Old Governor’s Mansion
For more information about rental opportunities at KHS, visit www.history.ky.gov and click “visit,” then “rental” or contact Nina Elmore, KHS rental coordinator, at 502-564-1792, ext. 4459.
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FOLLOWING UP... K H S C e m e t e ry P r e s e rvat i o n P r o g r a m To U n d e rta k e T w o - Y e a r I n i t i at i v e A i m e d at P r ot e c t i n g C e m e t e r i e s i n E a s t e r n K e n t uck y Thanks, in part, to a $60,000 grant obtained in 2011 by the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, volunteers from Eastern Kentucky will be trained to identify and maintain their local cemeteries. The grant allows staff in the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) Cemetery Preservation Program to begin a two-year initiative designed to identify and record cemeteries, train volunteers in cemetery maintenance, provide public access to statewide cemetery information and designate historically significant cemeteries. The grant was provided by the Steele-Reese Foundation and covers the 54 Eastern Kentucky counties identified by the Appalachian Regional Commission. In addition to training workshops, the grant will allow KHS to implement an “Adopt-a-Cemetery” program, similar to models employed in other states. This program not only teaches participants how to maintain burial grounds, but also provides for a designation system and marker program for “pioneer” cemeteries. “Kentucky’s landscape is literally dotted with family cemeteries that are in danger of being forever lost,” said Ann Johnson, KHS Cemetery Program administrator. “This grant will go a long way toward helping preserve these burial grounds and in honoring the pioneers who are buried in them.” The KHS Cemetery Preservation Program is currently developing a series of workshops in the 54-county region. KHS also has plans to update and publish a cemetery preservation database through the KHS website, history.ky.gov. The Steele-Reese Foundation supports projects in education, health, human and social services, arts and humanities and conservation and preservation.
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C A L E N DA R OF EVENTS For updated calendar information, visit www.history.ky.gov. All events held at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History unless otherwise noted.
NOVEM BER GETTING TO KNOW THE KHS LIBRARY
Thursday, November 3, 5:30 p.m. An informal introduction to the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.
FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOP
Military Records in Kentucky with Brandon Slone Saturday, November 5, 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Examine the chronological military history of the commonwealth from 1792 to 1860, with emphasis on the participation of Kentucky state militia. A discussion of sources housed at the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs Military Records and Research Brand and other state and national repositories will be included. In the afternoon, a member of the KHS reference staff will lead exploration of the resources available online as searchable databases or as digitized source material. Contact KHSRefdesk@ky.gov for more information.
CANDLELIGHT TOUR: SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS OF SERVICE
Thursday through Saturday, November 10 – 12, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly Guests will enjoy live entertainment, view a large Lionel holiday train display, enjoy shopping in the 1792 Store, and more.
USING FOLD3
Thursday, November 10, 5:30 p.m. An informal users group for those that have never used this online subscription and for those who may be familiar with the database but want to learn more.
RE-OPENING OF THE KENTUCKY MILITARY HISTORY MUSEUM Friday, November 11, 2 p.m.
KHS ANNUAL MEETING AND KENTUCKY HISTORY AWARDS Friday, November 11, 5:30 p.m. Old State Capitol
KENTUCKY HISTORY AWARDS Friday, November 11, 6 p.m. Old State Capitol
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I Wonder as I Wander: The Life of John Jacob Niles Wednesday, November 16, noon to 1:30 p.m. Join Ron Pen, associate professor of music and director of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music and the Appalachian Studies Program at the University of Kentucky, as he discusses one of our nation’s most influential musicians. A book signing will immediately follow the program. Reservations required by November 11. $18 for KHS members and $23 for all other patrons. Contact Julia Curry at 502-564-1792, ext. 4414 or julia.curry@ky.gov.
USING ANCESTRYLIBRARY AND HERITAGEQUEST
Thursday, November 17, 5:30 p.m. An informal users group for those that have never used these online subscriptions and for those who are familiar with the databases but want to learn more.
THE MAKINGS OF A MASTER: KENTUCKY FOLK ART APPRENTICESHIPS CONCERT
East meets West: Fiddling and Thumbpicking Guitar in Kentucky Thursday, November 17, 7 p.m. Featuring Eddie Pennington, Steve Rector, Roger Cooper and John Harrod with special guest Alonzo Pennington. Arrive early to meet the artists. Free with admission to the KHS history campus.
DECE MBER GETTING TO KNOW THE KHS LIBRARY
Thursday, December 1, 5:30 p.m. An informal introduction to the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.
SATURDAY WITH SANTA
Saturday, December 3, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of holiday fun! Have you photo taken with Santa, decorate holiday cookies and more!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Hindman Settlement School Wednesday, December 7, noon to 1:30 p.m. Established in 1902 by May Stone and Katherine Pettit, the Hindman Settlement School has become a model center for education, health care and social services. Join Mike Mullins, director, as he discusses the work and important role the school has played in the community. Reservations required by December 2. $18 for KHS members and $23 for all other patrons. Contact Julia Curry at 502-564-1792, ext. 4414 or julia.curry@ky.gov.
USING FOLD3
Thursday, December 8, 5:30 p.m. An informal users group for those that have never used this online subscription and for those who may be familiar with the database but want to learn more.
www.history.ky.gov
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C A L E N DA R OF EVENTS FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOP
Digging Deeper for the Gold: Genealogy 201 Saturday, December 10, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Deborah Lord Campisano will offer advice on determining a research objective and preparing a research strategy for solving your family history mysteries. Case study examples will illustrate methods for getting the most from census records and locating vital record substitutes. Campisano will explore different types of court records including wills, administration, court minutes and a variety of land and tax records. Contact KHSRefdesk@ky.gov for more information.
CO M ING IN EARLY 2012 Saturday, Dec. 10
Digging Deeper for the Gold: Genealogy 201 with Deborah Lord Campisano
Saturday, Jan. 14
Preserving Your Family Treasures with Louise Jones and Trevor Jones
Saturday, Feb. 11
“Entangled Lives,� a dialogue between descendants of master and slave presented by Ann Neel and Pam Smith
Saturday, March 10
Navigating Wildcat Turf: Conducting Research at the University of Kentucky
Saturday, April 14 1940 Federal Census
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VISIT KHS: ONLINE ON-SITE ON THE ROAD
winter hours of operation begin Dec. 11, but remember Over 3,000 historical items (and counting!) on view 24/7 at www.history.ky.gov/objects Group visits are welcome with reservations in advance Open to walk-in visitors 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 10, Jan. 14 and Feb. 11 Research resources available online, by phone and by e-mail – KHSRefDesk@ky.gov KHS HistoryMobile and Museums-to-Go in your community
Regular hours of operation resume Saturday, March 10. Visit www.history.ky.gov for details.
100 West Broadway | Frankfort, KY 40601 | 502.564.1792
The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.
100 West Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 502.564.1792 www.history.ky.gov
FALL
2011
Next Issue:
KHS L IBRARY & SP ECIA L COLLECTI ONS 201 2 P R EVI E W O F K H S E V E N TS
www.history.ky.gov
The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.