Chronicle - Spring '11

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SPRING 2011

KHS Collections on the Road ARTIFAC TS C ROSSING S TATE, INTE RNATIONA L LINES

KHS FOUNDATION

www.history.ky.gov

WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

SHELBY, CLAY ARTIFACTS PROVIDE VIEWS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE


ataste of kentucky

history at the

Food for Thought: “Upheaval: Stories” Wed., May 18, noon Luncheon and discussion of “Upheaval,” the story of struggles in Appalachia, with author Chris Holbrook. RSVP by May 13.

KHS Boone Day Event & Toyota Kentucky Hall of Governors Opening Sat., June 4 Be the first to see the renovated Toyota Kentucky Hall of Governors at this annual event. RSVP by May 27.

Food for Thought: Every Seed has a Story Wed., June 15, noon

100 W. Broadway | Frankfort, KY 40601 502-564-1792 | www.history.ky.gov

Luncheon and discussion with Deborah Larkin, formal herbalist at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. RSVP by June 10.

The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet.

Help KHS reach its annual fund goals. Your contribution supports: • Acquiring, caring for and sharing museum collections. • Creating new programs, like Camp ArtyFact and supporting KHS traditional programs, like the History Mobile and the Kentucky Historical Marker program. • And more! Show your love of history with a gift to the KHS Annual Fund by visiting www.history.ky.gov and clicking Give/Join, or by mail at:

100 W. Broadway Frankfort, KY 40601

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Contents SPRING 2011 F E AT U R E A RT I C L E S

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KHS Collections on the Road

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Isaac Shelby & Henry Clay Artifacts

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KHS Foundation

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A RT I FAC T S C R O S S I N G S TAT E , I N T E R N AT I O N A L L I N E S

P R OV I D E V I E W S B OT H P U B L I C A N D P R I VAT E

W E L C O M E S N E W B OA R D M E M B E R S

IN FULL COLOR “THE KENTUCKY EXPERIENCE," D E R B Y C E L E B R AT I O N W I L L K I C K - S TA RT S P R I N G

B O O N E DAY, H A L L O F G OV E R N O R S R E - O P E N I N G TO TA K E P L AC E J U N E 4 A N N UA L E V E N T W I L L F O C U S O N K E N T U C K Y G OV E R N O R S , R E N OVAT I O N O F E X H I B I T I O N

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KHS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM P R OV I D E S B E N E F I C I A L PA RT N E R S H I P

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BY THE NUMBERS

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K E N T U C K Y P R O S L AV E RY U N I O N I S M D U R I N G T H E C I V I L WA R

K H S J A N UA RY TO M I D - M A R C H AC C O M P L I S H M E N T S

A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H K H S G R A D UAT E E D I TO R I A L A S S I S TA N T PAT R I C K A . L E W I S

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H O M E S C H O O L DAY I S A HOME RUN FOR STUDENTS & KHS

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H I S TO R I A N L OW E L L H . H A R R I S O N R E C E I V E S K H S D I S T I N G U I S H E D S E RV I C E AWA R D

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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: Bicentennial Celebration dress, 1976. This elaborate pageant gown is also known as the “Derby Dress” for its depiction of the Derby horse with the garland of roses. The dress was worn by Sandra Leslie Renfro to Bicentennial Buccaneers Days Coronation Ball in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1976.

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 Laura Coleman Contributors Jody Blankenship, Mike Deetsch, Sara Elliott, Rebecca Hanly, Russell Harris, Sam Richardson, Stuart Sanders, Elizabth J. Van Allen Design Studio Director Scott Alvey Creative Director Charley Pallos Design Kelli Thompson Photography Creative Services James Johnson Charley Pallos Circulation Manager Leslie Miller

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; Terry Birdwhistell, Ed.D., Lexington; 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, Bowling Green; Karen McDaniel, Frankfort; Brian Mefford, Bowling Green; Mike Mullins, Hindman; Patti Mullins, Corbin; Nancy O’Malley, Paris; 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; 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, Lexington J. David Smith, Lexington, pro bono counsel

Spring 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 RES EA R CH E R S A N D H I S TO RY L OV E RS TO REAP B E N E F I T S O F P R O DUC TIV E WINTE R SE ASON important work completed, opportunities abound for KHS collections to help highlight the significant--but little known-role that Kentuckians played in America’s “second War for Independence.” Throughout this issue, you will get a sense of how all kinds of KHS collections are becoming more accessible on-site, on-line and on loan.

Little did we know that the snow scene of the Old State Capitol on the last Chronicle cover was a sign of things to come. In spite of unusually high snow totals across the commonwealth, the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) had a very productive winter! KHS and KHS Foundation Board members, volunteers and staff alike persevered – by making calls for the 2011 annual fund phonathon, cataloging collections, providing group tours, developing programs, producing publications and writing grants, among other activities. Check out the “KHS by the Numbers” feature in the center of this issue to see the progress KHS is making. This year marks the beginning of the Civil War Sesquicentennial commemoration and we are hard at work cataloging thousands of artifacts that will better inform all of us about Kentucky’s unique place in this epic chapter of American history. Speaking of upcoming commemorations, I am proud to report that all of the War of 1812-related artifacts at KHS have now been catalogued. With that

Also in this issue of the Chronicle, we introduce you to Patrick Lewis – a talented Ph.D. student in history and the first graduate assistant for The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. This graduate editorial assistantship is the result of a new partnership between the University of Kentucky, KHS and the KHS Foundation. I think you will also enjoy reading about our latest interns, including our fourth intern through the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities’ “Frankfort Semester Internship Program.” The energy, professional curiosity and fresh perspective that each of these students bring to KHS bodes well for the commonwealth and for the public history field. And now to the more immediate future--please join us this spring as KHS presents the Kentucky Department of Travel’s “Kentucky Experience” and also for Boone Day on Saturday, June 4, as we unveil the new Toyota Kentucky Hall of Governors. As always, thank you for helping KHS provide 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... COMING SOON TO A L O C AT I O N N E A R YO U ! H I S TO RY M O B I L E TO M A K E S TO P S S TAT E W I D E The Kentucky Historical Society’s (KHS) HistoryMobile, a popular mobile museum, is on its way to all 120 Kentucky counties, with the goal of visiting each county by the end of December 2011. The HistoryMobile currently houses a 300 square-foot exhibit on “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln,” which explores Lincoln’s frontier childhood, his career from a log house to the White House and his struggles to end slavery and lead the nation through the Civil War. The Lincoln-themed exhibit will be replaced in 2012, during the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration, with a Civil War-related exhibit. In operation since 1973, the HistoryMobile program is made possible by the generosity of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, the KHS Foundation and the Pilot Corporation. To request more information about the program or to schedule a visit, contact Warren Greer at 502-564-1792, ext. 4479 or by email at warren.greer@ky.gov. The following locations are already confirmed for spring, but more locations are added weekly:

April 27 B. Michael Caudill Middle School, Richmond April 29-30 Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort May 6 Calloway County Middle School, Murray May 7 Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort May 20-21 Battle of Sacramento, Sacramento

Above: On May 19, KHS will screen the Appalshop film, “To Save the Land and the People.”

KHS FILM SERIES CONTINUES THIS SPRING The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will be screening two documentaries this spring as part of its ongoing film series. The first film, scheduled to screen April 21, is a documentary developed by undergraduates at Morehead State University titled “Steve Hamilton: The Father, The Pitcher, The Hero.” The story is about the life and career of former Major League Baseball pitcher Steve Hamilton. Considered a baseball journeyman, Hamilton of Columbia, Ky. and Morehead State University, was also actively involved in the Major League Baseball Players Association. The young documentarians will be at the screening and participate in a question and answer session following the film. On May 19, KHS will screen another Appalshop film, “To Save the Land and People,” directed by Anne Lewis, which tells the history of the early grassroots efforts to stop strip mining in Eastern Kentucky. The program focuses on the Appalachian Group to Save the Land and People, whose members used every means possible – from legal petitions and local ordinances, to guns and dynamite – to fight strip mining. The documentary makes a powerful statement about the land and how we use it, and how its misuse conflicts with local cultures and values. All films are free with admission to KHS and include entrance to the KHS history campus, film, popcorn and soda. For more information about the KHS film series, contact Mike Deetsch at (502) 564-1792 or mike.deetsch@ky.gov.

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IN THE WORKS... O U R C A M P U S O R YO U R S ? K H S M E E T S T E AC H E R S W H E R E T H E Y A R E F O R TA H P R O G R A M S Whether on the road or in Frankfort, enriching teachers’ knowledge of Kentucky history and providing resources for their classrooms is an important part of the Kentucky Hsitorical Society (KHS) mission. Since the 2010-11 school year began, KHS has worked with more than 100 teachers through partnerships provided by the Teaching American History (TAH) grant program. These programs provided workshops and opportunities in school districts across the state and on the KHS campus in Frankfort. Since 2008, KHS has partnered with Central Kentucky Special Education on two projects. One project is aimed at middle school history teachers and the other at high school history teachers. Both groups meet at the Center for Kentucky History on a regular basis as part of their training program. In December, the middle school group completed an artifact activity in the antebellum section of “A Kentucky Journey,” while the high school group viewed the Museum Theatre performance, “Diary of the Depression.” KHS staff also presented an activity on analyzing family correspondence during the Depression.

From left: Lindsey Apple, retired from Georgetown College, Rebecca Hanly with the Kentucky Historical Society and Melissa McEuen with Transylvania University presented to more than 40 teachers at a recent TAH workshop held at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.

In November, January, February and March, KHS staff traveled to Knott County to work with teachers from that district on various techniques of analyzing primary sources. To supplement the history content at the workshops, a variety of sources from the KHS collections on the topics of World War I, coal mining, the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement helped teachers make connections between those major U. S. events and the role that Kentucky played, as well as how those events affected individual Kentuckians. KHS staff are also making plans for a field study of Kentucky sites relating to immigration for a summer tour for teachers from the Covington Independent school district. To find out more about resources for Kentucky educators, visit www.history.ky.gov/teachers.

www.history.ky.gov

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IN THE WORKS... S T U D E N T S TO S P E N D H OT S U M M E R DAY S I N C O O L P L AC E C A M P A RT Y FAC T R E T U R N S I N J U N E

K E N T U C K Y H I S TO RY AWA R D S S H OW C A S E AC H I E V E M E N T S I N H I S TO RY N AT I O N W I D E N O M I N AT I O N S D U E J U LY 1 5 The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is seeking nominations for the 2011 Kentucky History Awards. Nominations are due by July 15. The Kentucky History Awards program recognizes individuals, groups and projects that demonstrate tremendous efforts to promote the preservation, awareness and appreciation of state and local history.

This June and July, the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will host its fourth offering of Camp ArtyFact. Participants in camp explore the KHS history campus and collections and then create their own works of art. Through hands-on activities like sculpting, painting, drawing and theatre, children discover Kentucky’s history, culture and traditions. Using collections from “A Kentucky Journey,” “Hall of Governors,” the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library and the Old State Capitol, students will create original works of art in response to the material culture and other objects on view. This unique program introduces children to Kentucky history while also giving them an outlet to respond to what they have seen and learned. KHS hosted its first Camp ArtyFact last summer. Since then, the Society has hosted one other camp—in fall 2010—and will host its third during spring break 2011—April 4 through 8. This summer’s classes will take place June 20 through July 29, with the exception of July 4—8, and run between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The camp is open to students ages five to 13, and campers will be divided into two different age groups. Registration and class information is available online at www.history.ky.gov/camp. To inquire about Camp ArtyFact, contact Mike Deetsch at 502-564-1792 or mike.deetsch@ky.gov.

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KHS accepts nominations for the Thomas D. Clark Award of Excellence; the Award of Distinction; the Frank R. Levstik Award for Professional Service; the Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History Award; the Brig. Gen. William R. Buster Award and the Volunteer Group Award. Additional awards are presented for educational programs, including school or public programs, museum exhibits, audiovisual projects, history projects and preservation projects, and publications, including those about state or local history, newsletters or journals, brochures, pamphlets, posters or catalogs, online indexes or websites. History award winners will be recognized at the Kentucky History Celebration, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 at the Old State Capitol in downtown Frankfort. For more information, contact anng.johnson@ky.gov, or call 502-564-1792. Information, including nomination packets, will also be posted in the coming months at www.history.ky.gov/historyawards.


K E N T U C K Y ’ S C I V I L WA R D E S T R U C T I O N A LT E R E D L I V E S F O R E V E R The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is working to make the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War a broad commemoration that encompasses many themes, including how the conflict affected the Kentucky homefront.

While there are a myriad of stories that emerge from the experiences of Kentucky civilians, perhaps none are as compelling as the stories of the people who endured the Battle of Perryville, the commonwealth’s largest battle. On Oct. 8, 1862, more than 7,500 Union and Confederate soldiers were killed and wounded in the five-hour fight at Perryville. The burden of caring for the injured fell upon the 300 residents of Perryville as well as citizens in other nearby communities.

The soldiers swept Bottom’s farm clean, and his barn was burned to cinders when struck by an artillery shell. Bottom lost nine cows, 30 sheep, thousands of pounds of pork and bacon, 3,000 bushels of corn, 50 bushels of oats, two horses and 22 tons of hay. For the first time ever, the Bottom family had to buy food to eat. With hundreds of dead Confederates covering his farm, Bottom, his neighbors and slaves interred many on a small rise on the northern end of his farm. The Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site evolved from this cemetery.

At Perryville, every home, barn, business and Bottom never recovered --economically outbuilding was converted into a field hospital, or psychologically --from the horrors and and nearly every resident was affected. Of these destruction of the Battle of Perryville. One residents, however, perhaps none suffered more Perryville resident said that Bottom was “broken than Henry P. Bottom, a 47-year-old farmer and Henry P. Bottom, age 90. Perryville in spirit from that time on until he died.” justice of the peace. The battle raged across his Battlefield State Historic Site property, and his home, commemorated with a Today, KHS, the administrator of the Kentucky Civil state historical highway marker, was literally caught in the War Sesquicentennial Commission, hopes to remember crossfire. After the battle, the house was a hospital and one residents like Henry Bottom, who are forgotten casualties of witness saw a pile of amputated arms and legs that stood “four Kentucky’s Civil War. For more information on KHS and the or five feet high” in one corner of the yard. Sesquicentennial, see www.history.ky.gov/civilwar.

www.history.ky.gov

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IN FULL COLOR K E N T U C K Y E X P E R I E N C E , D E R B Y C E L E B R AT I O N W I L L K I C K - S TA RT S P R I N G

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IF YOU MISSED THE “KENTUCKY EXPERIENCE” exhibit at the World Equestrian Games last fall, you will have another chance to see it when it opens for a four-month run at the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) in May. The exhibit opening on Saturday, May 7, coincides with the Governor’s Derby Celebration, an annual event which this year is moving from the Capitol grounds to downtown Frankfort. Food, music, children’s activities and exhibitions will all be part of the day-long mix. “There will definitely be something for everyone on May 7,” said Kent Whitworth, executive director of KHS. “Downtown Frankfort will be the place to be on Derby morning.”

GOVERNOR’S DERBY CELEBRATION The Derby Celebration has been a Kentucky tradition for more than 30 years, although its format has changed over the last few years to reflect the more austere state budget. Having the event downtown will allow visitors to experience the ArtWalk, the Center for Kentucky History and other area attractions. Downtown Frankfort Inc. is planning entertainment for the day, including concerts on the Old State Capitol lawn. Area restaurants and food vendors will provide breakfast and state employees will serve coffee. In addition to an opportunity to see “The Kentucky Experience,” KHS will also offer children’s activities including Derby hat-making and hobby horse races. And if the weather doesn’t cooperate on Derby day, guests can still stay dry. The Old Governor’s Mansion, adjacent to the Center for Kentucky History, is also expected to be open for tours, along with the Governor’s Mansion.

“THE KENTUCKY EXPERIENCE” “The Kentucky Experience” is a colorful 120-panel photo exhibit that covers every region of the commonwealth, from the lakes in the west, to the mountains in the east and everywhere in between. KHS, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Travel, will begin installing the panel exhibit on May 2 and it will open to the public on Derby day. “The Kentucky Experience” provides an overview of all that Kentucky has to offer,” said Trevor Jones, director of KHS museum collections and exhibitions. The exhibit will be placed in the Keeneland Changing Exhibits Gallery at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Jones said it will completely fill that 15,000 square foot space. “The Kentucky Experience” will stay at KHS until mid-August, when it will be replaced with a Kentucky Folklife Program exhibition. Jones said the Kentucky Department of Travel is providing funds to ship the exhibit panels, construct the walls, purchase installation supplies and even provide labor to install the exhibition. Downtown Frankfort is also host this year to the annual Derby Celebration, for the first time in eight years.

HATS OFF TO S PRING!

The arrival of springtime in Kentucky means the Derby can’t be far behind! The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is kicking off its own Derby events this year with a return of the popular Hat-ATude event, scheduled for Thursday, April 28. Polly Singer, of Polly Singer Couture Hats and Veils, will showcase her creations at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Singer is creating a special line called “Kate,” based on the fascinators that Kate Middleton, future wife of Prince William, has sported and made popular in England. Traditional food and drink will be served. A fashion show, featuring outfits from Bella Rose, of Lexington, will also be part of the evening’s event. Tickets are $18 for KHS members and $23 for non-members. Contact Julia Curry at 502-564-1792 for reservations. www.history.ky.gov

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B O O N E DAY, H A L L O F G OV E R N O R S R E - O P E N I N G TO TA K E P L AC E J U N E 4 A N N UA L E V E N T W I L L F O C U S O N K E N T U C K Y G OV E R N O R S , R E N OVAT I O N O F E X H I B I T I O N

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Toyota Kentucky Hall of Governors computergenerated image courtesy of Solid Light, Inc. Louisville, Ky.


THIS YEAR, BOONE DAY, an annual membership recognition event at the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), will allow KHS members and friends of the Society to take a first look at a new Toyota Kentucky Hall of Governors exhibition. The exhibition is scheduled to open on Boone Day, Saturday, June 4 at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in downtown Frankfort. Re-opening the Toyota Kentucky Hall of Governors exhibition on Boone Day closely mirrors both the beginning of the Boone Day tradition and the existence of the exhibition itself. In Vol. 101, No. 1, 2 of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, “A History of the Kentucky Historical Society” summarizes the roots of Boone Day and the Hall of Governors. On June 7, 1897, Gov. William O. Bradley presided over the first annual meeting that reestablished KHS after it was nearly abolished in 1889. Gov. Bradley requested that the Society’s portraits of Governors Letcher, Metcalfe, Scott, Powell and Blackburn be assembled for display. This would be the precursor to today’s Hall of Governors. Later, this annual June meeting would become known as Boone Day. GROWING EXHIBITION NEEDS SPACE, PROTECTION Portraits are commissioned during each governor’s term, and are hung when he leaves office. However, space is limited in the existing exhibit and its current configuration does not allow for the addition of more portraits. The previous exhibition allowed visitors to view the portraits and read a brief selection of biographical information about each governor. The renovated exhibition, however, will add more information, along with displays of selected artifacts from the KHS collections. “The current display does not meet our mission of engaging people in the exploration of the commonwealth’s gubernatorial history,” said Scott Alvey, director of the KHS design studio. “Changing that configuration provides KHS with an opportunity to encourage the growth of the Society’s collections that relate directly to Kentucky’s governors.” “We want to encourage the inquisitive nature of history by presenting a variety of materials to spark our guests’ interest,” Alvey continued. “One of our main audiences is school

children, and not many of those guests realize the changes that have occurred within the executive branch of our state government, and the types of people who have held the office. We are adding artifacts, oral histories and a timeline to supplement the portraits, which will help our guests discover a deeper story of Kentucky’s governors.” Trevor Jones, KHS director of museum collections and exhibitions, said KHS has a number of items owned by governors in the collections. But he expects the exhibition will also include pieces that have a broader connection to Kentucky history—such as campaign materials and ballots, which illustrate the political process. Alvey said that protecting the portraits was another impetus for reconfiguring the exhibition. “Because the portraits are in a main corridor of the building, they are subject to touching or even damage,” he said. “But during a recent assessment, further conservation on the portraits was not advised. If further repair is not an option, protecting the portraits becomes even more vital. To maintain a high level of conservation, we are adding protective barriers, cases and appropriate lighting.” BOONE DAY: A LONG-STANDING KHS TRADITION The annual succinctly-named KHS Boone Day event commemorates June 7, 1769—the date on which Daniel Boone looked across the Cumberland Gap into the land that was to become Kentucky. This long-standing KHS tradition is open to Society members and special guests, and offers attendees an opportunity to reconnect with the Society and with each other. “We have members who look forward to the special events of the Boone Day celebration,” said Leslie Miller, KHS membership associate. “We enjoy having them come back year after year.” This year’s program will feature the exhibition opening, a luncheon and presentations by keynote speakers, among other activities. Invitations for the event will be mailed to members in early May and reservations are required by May 27.

www.history.ky.gov

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KHS Collections on the Road KENTUCKY EXPERIENCE, DERBY CELEBRATION WILL KICK-START SPRING

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t

he Kentucky Historical Society’s (KHS) Collections Committee may not be well-known, but its decisions have an impact on communities and organizations near and far. The collections committee is charged with evaluating loan requests that can result in the Society’s artifacts traveling worldwide. Recently, the committee approved a loan request from the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Representatives from the museum requested use of the Battle of the Thames Drum, which is currently on display in the Society’s exhibition, “Kentucky’s Military Treasures.” The drum was taken from the British by Richard M. Johnson’s regiment of Kentucky volunteers at the Battle of the Thames. The Canadian War Museum plans to display the drum in its exhibition, the “Four Wars of 1812,” slated to open in May of 2012. The exhibition examines the war from the perspective of British, American, Canadian and First Peoples participants. In its written request, museum representatives noted that the drum is “an important example of material culture that will contribute to the success of the exhibit.” Deborah Rose Van Horn, KHS registrar, oversees the KHS loan program, said the drum will be back in Kentucky prior to the anniversary of the Battle of the Thames. The loan to Canada is one of several KHS has recently approved. The collections committee process is virtually unknown to those outside the museum field. It takes place without fanfare behind the doors of KHS, but its impact on communities and organizations is tangible.

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It will help get KHS on the map internationally. D E B VAN H ORN K H S RE GI STRAR

Above: Battle of the Thames drum, ca. 1812. Col. Richard Mentor Johnson’s Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers took this drum from the British at the Battle of the Thames in 1813. Left: Carpet bag, ca. 1865. This carpet bag is one of two from the Kentucky Historical Society’s collections that will be on exhibit at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.

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“I don’t think the public is necessarily aware of the process,” said Van Horn. “It does happen more behind–the-scenes here.” The KHS Collections Committee is comprised of members from nearly all areas of KHS, including curators, archivists, oral historians, representatives from the Kentucky Folklife program, content specialists and more. It meets twice monthly, and together, the members determine whether or not loans will be approved. The committee also discusses which artifacts KHS will accept from donors and updates the overall KHS collections policy. Van Horn said the committee takes into account a number of factors when determining whether or not to approve a loan. Security, lighting, storage and the length of the request are just a few of the factors considered. Each loan request must be accompanied by a standard facility report, which Van Horn says is necessary “to make sure artifacts will be well cared for.” Van Horn prepares an out-going loan request for the committee and makes a general recommendation, which is then placed to a vote. KHS has had as many as 40 loan requests in a year, but Van Horn says the average is closer to 20. www.history.ky.gov

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The typical length of a loan is less than two years, but the longevity depends upon the artifact. For example, textiles, which are susceptible to light and humidity, must be rotated frequently in order to preserve their integrity. Such is the case with a loan recently approved for the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pa. The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding and awareness of the U.S. Constitution. The Center has requested to borrow two carpetbags from the KHS collections. They plan to place the carpetbags in the exhibition, “The Story of We, the People.” The exhibit case that the carpet bag will be featured in focuses on the Reconstruction-era amendments and the injustices, inequalities and increasing acts of violence still faced by freed slaves,” noted Alex Podmaska McKechnie, public relations coordinator for the National Constitution Center. “The carpetbag was a common form of luggage at the time. It is used to illustrate the idea of the carpetbagger -- northerners who moved to the south after the Civil War. Some moved south to help the former slaves, while others saw opportunity and a means to exploit the south,” she explained. The Center had earlier borrowed two busts (Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay) from the Society for inclusion in their “Ancient Rome & America” exhibition in 2010. McKechnie said they found one of the busts in the Society’s online catalog. Following that loan, the Center built a relationship with KHS and “reached out to Deb Van Horn” when they were searching for the carpetbags. Rifles from the KHS collections will also make their way to Tennessee this spring. The Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum in Harrogate, Tenn. is requesting to borrow a Henry repeating rifle and a Triplett and Scott rifle from April 4, 2011 through March 15, 2012. Many of the loans that KHS approves are for use in-state, such as one recently approved request from the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville. The Derby Museum is launching an exhibit this year on the history of the National Guard’s involvement in the Kentucky Derby. Museum officials have requested Kentucky Active Militia patches, a chrome M-1 helmet and a uniform coat, belt and pants from the KHS collections. The Derby Museum’s exhibit is scheduled to run from mid-March through mid-to-late July. An unusual KHS artifact is also on display at the Union County Public Library, in support of Union County’s

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Bicentennial Celebration. The artifact is a fragment from a canon that was used in a ceremonial tribute to Abraham Lincoln, when the president visited Morganfield in the 1800s. “We feel the display…will be a great addition to our 200th birthday celebration,” wrote a library representative. Van Horn said she believes that loaning these artifacts to other organizations is a good way to raise the visibility of KHS. The Society does request that credit be given to KHS while the objects are on display. The loan program also dovetails perfectly with the Society’s new strategic plan, which emphasizes the need for KHS to reach people in every region of the state through its programs and services. Seasonal hours last winter allowed staff to create digital records of more than 670 KHS artifacts, making information and images of those artifacts available online. The ultimate goal is to increase public access to the collections on-site, online and through out going loans. Van Horn said she believes the increase in online information may result in an increase in loan requests. Having the information online allows individuals to “become more aware of what you have,” said Van Horn. “It gives us a chance to put some of those items out there.” The KHS collections are vast. In fact, less than five percent of the Society’s collections are on public display at any one time. “We do try to rotate things,” said Van Horn. “Just because it’s not out now doesn’t mean that it won’t ever be out.” The emphasis on loaning items to other educational and history organizations is ultimately good for KHS, according to Van Horn. “It will help get KHS on the map internationally,” she said. “And since we are the state’s home for history, we do have a lot of variety in our collections.” 3

Henry Repeating Rifle, ca. 1864.

Kentucky Active Militia patch, ca. 1943.

Canon fragment, 1840. This cannon was used to signal a salute during a campaign visit Abraham Lincoln made to Morganfield, Ky. When fired, the canon broke into two pieces and this is one of the fragments.


K H S I N T E R N S H I P P R OV I D E S B E N E F I C I A L PA RT N E R S H I P K H S A D D S T W O N E W FAC E S TO I T S R O S T E R

THIS WINTER AND SPRING, the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) has added two new faces to its roster—if only temporarily. Justin Maynard, an intern for museum collections and exhibitions, and Marcy Werner, an intern for the library and special collections, joined KHS staff members in January. “The KHS internship program provides undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students with an opportunity to receive hands-on experience in the disciplines of public history, museum studies, folklife, library science and archival management,” said Jody Blankenship, KHS director of education. “This program benefits the interns by providing a meaningful learning experience and aids KHS in continuing to accomplish goals set forth in the organization’s strategic plan. Providing opportunities for these students also benefits the commonwealth by helping to create Kentucky’s next generation of public history professionals.” KHS plans to host interns each semester in the academic calendar—fall, spring and summer. Stipends provided to KHS interns are funded, in part, by the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation. Maynard, a senior at Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky., is majoring in history and social science with a minor in sociology. “With these backgrounds, I have learned much about past and present social, economic and political strife, and have some insight as to where such issues may be headed,” said Maynard. So far during his time at KHS, Maynard has photographed and cataloged items in the Churchill Weavers collection under the guidance of Jennifer Donovan Spence, project assistant.

“Interns are essential to our collections work, not only because they make it possible for us to catalog and interpret a greater number of collections, but also because KHS is committed to training a new generation of museum professionals,” said Trevor Jones, director of museum collections and exhibitions. “Our interns receive broad training in museum work and we do our best to mentor and train them to assist museums in Kentucky and around the country.” Werner, a graduate student at the University of Louisville, is currently completing a certificate in public history. Werner has a bachelor’s degree in photography and video from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in critical and cultural studies from the University of Louisville. “Because of Marcy’s ability to quickly learn new skills and her amazing knack for multi-tasking, we are able to answer oral history reference requests in a timely way; to continue digitizing oral history collections on a consistent basis; to catalog a few hundred of our almost 9,000 oral history interviews and to begin working with recently inventoried manuscript collections to create new collections-based displays for the public in the library,” said Sarah Milligan, program administrator for the Kentucky Oral History Commission. “We have also been able to heavily research our oral history collections for potential use in the upcoming Hall of Governors exhibition.” Werner said her time at KHS has already been an eye-opening experience regarding the possibilities that may be out there upon my graduation. “I am looking forward to delving into more nooks and crannies of KHS along the way and gathering the hands-on experience that is just not possible in a classroom setting,” she said. www.history.ky.gov

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BY THE NUMBERS K H S J A N UA RY TO M I D - M A R C H AC C O M P L I S H M E N T S

670+

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Number of new artifact records prepared for the Digital Collections Catalog— available at www.kyhistory.com

31,000+

Number of records transferred to a new— and user-friendly!— collections database

12

450+

Number of high-resolution digital photographs taken of artifacts ranging from tiny cuff links to giant flags

4

Teacher professional development workshops

Number of portraits of Kentucky Governors cleaned, measured and photographed

67

160+

Groups scheduled in advance for visit February to mid-March 2011

Number of boxes of Churchill Weavers textiles cataloged and placed safely in storage

Counties completely cataloged

Hours of oral history audio recordings digitized

14 16

280+

Rentals scheduled during winter months at KHS

55

31

Number of artifacts on loan throughout the country Number of War of 1812 artifacts located, measured, described and photographed

2,485

Rolls of microfilm representing county records, church records and manuscript collections, cataloged

50

Interviews conducted with master tradition-bearers and their apprentices

6,091

Total visitation Jan/ Feb 2011

(4,708 total visitation Jan/Feb 2010)

500+ Oral history interviews cataloged


3,332

30

7

Museum Theatre outreach participants

Museum Theatre outreach performances

New markers ordered

5

10

Kentucky Historical Markers dedicated this winter

Replacement markers ordered

2,500+

100

KHS members who stay connected to their Kentucky roots by subscribing to Kentucky Ancestors

1,800+

Supporters called during 2011 KHS Foundation Phonathon

290+ Libraries and institutions across the U.S. and abroad that make the Register part of their collections.

Boxes of the pamphlet collection rehoused

Grant proposals submitted by the KHS Foundation to support 5 KHS progams

5

Kentucky venues hosted the KHS traveling exhibtion, “Made to be Played: Traditional Art of Kentucky Luthiers”

5

8

29

Civil War related Legislative Moments produced

Issues of the Register published since last May

3550

2

Girl Scout workshops

Number of hits in past 90 days on History Burgoo, the KHS blog—available at www.historyburgoo.com.

www.history.ky.gov

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Isaac Shelby & Henry Clay Artifacts PROVIDE VIEWS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

from right: Originallly owned by Isaac Shelby’s father, this razor and its case were used by the future governor during the American Revolution. Family tradition says that Isaac Shelby carried this watch during the War of 1812. Oliver Hazard Perry gave Isaac Shelby this telescope following the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

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t

he Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is home to a wide array of artifacts. Some carry great material value, while others, more mundane in nature, speak to the day-to-day life of our forbears. Both types of artifacts help provide a more complete picture of the history of our state and its occupants. KHS has items from two of the commonwealth’s most well-known historical figures, Isaac Shelby and Henry Clay. These pieces of the past provide insight into the lives of these men. ISAAC SHELBY When Isaac Shelby wrote his autobiography, he gave his two terms as governor of Kentucky only one sentence. The rest was devoted to telling the story of his military career that launched his political career. Shelby was not formally educated and was not a particularly charismatic speaker. Instead, it was his military skill and reputation that sent him to Frankfort as Kentucky’s first governor. Shelby fought in Lord Dunmore’s War in 1774 and in the American Revolution, becoming known as “Old King’s Mountain” for his success in the battle of that name. Shelby ran for governor in 1812 primarily because he wanted to be involved in any military activity that might arise out of the pending conflict with Great Britain. He won the gubernatorial race and soon answered the call to fight the British—at the age of 62! He raised 3500 troops --twice the number requested -- and led them into Canada in July 1813. In October of that year, Shelby and his men fought in the Battle of the Thames, a major battle of the War of 1812. He came home a hero and was recognized by Congress for his valor. KHS has two items in its collections that were either carried by Shelby or were given to him during the War of 1812. The first item is a pocket watch that, according to the family, was worn by Shelby during the Battle of the Thames. He lost it sometime in 1818, but it was recovered by his son, Thomas Hart Shelby. Shelby gave the watch to his son and it is through his descendents that the watch came to KHS. The 18 karat gold piece has a white enamel face and Roman numerals. The second item is a late 18th century naval telescope. It is a brass telescope that collapses into a wooden case with brass end pieces. An inscription on the tube documents the history of the telescope. It reads, “Presented by Com Perry to Govr Shelby/Lake Erie, 30th Sept. 1813.” Following Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory over the British at the Battle of Lake Erie on Sept. 10, 1813 and the American victory at the Battle of the www.history.ky.gov

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Thames in October, Perry presented the telescope to Isaac Shelby. Perry was a volunteer aid to William Henry Harrison, Shelby’s commanding officer. The telescope was made by James Chapman of St. Catherine’s Dock in London sometime between 1774 and 1796. KHS also has artifacts of a different nature that belonged to Isaac Shelby. They include a pair of his pants and his razor with a carrying case. The pants are made of homespun linen and have a fall-front closure with bone buttons. There are also four bone buttons for suspenders located on the front and back of the pants. It was originally thought these trousers were underpants, but a closer examination proved them to be outerwear--probably a pair of work pants. According to a hand-written note by Isaac Shelby that came with the razor and case, these items originally belonged to Shelby’s father, Evan. The elder Shelby carried them during the French and Indian War. They were passed to the younger Shelby who carried them during the Revolutionary War and then used them at his home, Traveler’s Rest. The razor has an iron blade which folds into a wooden handle. On one side of the handle is a hand-carved inscription that reads “I. Shelby.” The carrying case is made of red wool and is hand stitched. It has a flap cover and three individual compartments on the inside. All four pieces are interesting and exciting in their own way. Two are associated with great deeds and victory in war. The other two are more mundane and represent Shelby’s day-today life. The telescope and razor are on display in the Society’s signature exhibition, “A Kentucky Journey,” at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.

has three prints of Henry Clay in the U.S. Senate speaking on the Compromise of 1850; one of which is on display in the “Great Revivals: Kentucky’s Decorative Arts Treasures” exhibition at the Old State Capitol. Two personal items that KHS has are a set of shirt studs and a lock of Clay’s hair. Both have interesting stories. There are three gold shirt studs that have Clay’s name engraved on the front. In a letter from the donor dated Jan. 31, 1952, it states “these studs were owned by a very old negro man. . .he claimed one of his forbears was a body servant to Henry Clay of Virginia and the studs had been given to him, and had been kept by the family through the generations. . .” Clay was born in Virginia and moved to Kentucky when he was 20 years old. The other item is a lock of Clay’s hair that was given to sculptor Joel Tanner Hart. Clay’s hair is attached to a note from Hart and framed together with a paper that contains a lock of Andrew Jackson’s hair. Hart did a bust sculpture of Jackson in 1838 and one of Clay in 1846. Both men gave him a lock of hair at the time and Hart documented the event in notes that contain the hair. The paper containing Clay’s hair states: ““A lock of hair, presented to me by/ the Hon Henry Clay, cut from his/ head by his [illegible], on the day I/ finished modelling his Statue at/ Ashland Ky. being 27th November 1846./ - the great Old Man liked my/ Statue, and bade me ‘great success &/ a hearty ‘farewell’. He to start to N. Orleans next day/ [signed] J. T. Hart.” The frame containing the locks of hair is on display in the Center’s signature exhibition, “A Kentucky Journey.” 3

HENRY CLAY Henry Clay, who once advocated for the war that brought Isaac Shelby out of retirement, is best known for trying to stave off the war that would divide the United States. Clay was a lawyer, career politician and a three-time presidential candidate. As a U.S. senator, he introduced what became known as the Compromise of 1850, a series of resolutions that made California a free state but allowed Utah and New Mexico territories to have slavery. Henry Clay was a favorite son of Kentucky and continues to this day to be one of the better-known politicians of the 19th century. KHS has more than 40 Henry Clay-related objects in its collections, which does not include items in the archival area of KHS. These artifacts range from busts and paintings to commemorative medals and prints of Ashland, his home. KHS

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These studs belonging to Henry Clay were used to fasten the front of a shirt.

These locks of hair from Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay were acquired by the sculptor for Joel Tanner Hart. (KHS Collections)


TH E KH S INTERVIEW SERIES

K E N T U C K Y P R O S L AV E RY U N I O N I S M D U R I N G T H E C I V I L WA R A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H K H S G R A D UAT E E D I TO R I A L A S S I S TA N T PAT R I C K A . L E W I S

THIS PAST SUMMER, with funds from the James Graham Brown Foundation of Louisville and the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) Foundation, KHS established a full-year, half-time graduate editorial assistantship in partnership with the University of Kentucky Department of History and the University of Kentucky Research Foundation. This position provides a significant opportunity for advanced graduate students to gain editorial skills and experience in scholarly publication. While advancing the publication of The Register, this graduate editorial assistantship strengthens the relationship between KHS and the University of Kentucky and supports and encourages the work of scholars as they begin their professional history careers. From a short list of stellar candidates, the first KHS graduate editorial assistantship was awarded to Patrick A. Lewis. Lewis began his relationship with KHS as a research fellow during 2008-09. He is a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky and a former staff member at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in Georgia and Tennessee. Already accomplished as a writer, Lewis is author of “All Men of Decency Ought to Quit the Army”: Benjamin F. Buckner, Manhood, and Proslavery Unionism in Kentucky,” which appeared in the Autumn 2009 issue of The Register. www.history.ky.gov

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In the following interview with Elizabeth J.Van Allen, Ph.D, associate editor of The Register and assistant director of the Papers of the Kentucky Civil War Governors, Lewis shares his thoughts about Buckner and proslavery Unionism in Kentucky during the era of the Civil War and Lewis’ relationship with KHS.

{

I couldn’t be happier about this partnership between the UK history department and KHS. PAT RI C K A. L E WIS KH S G R AD UAT E E D I TORI AL AS S I S TA NT

}

Van Allen: Your work focuses on a Kentuckian who most people have never heard of, a man named Benjamin F. Buckner. Tell us a bit about him. Why should more Kentuckians know who he was? Lewis: Buckner was a Civil War soldier, though he was far more than that. He was a Union army officer from Winchester. His service seems to have been capable, though never particularly distinguished. Most of all, it was brief. Buckner resigned his commission in early 1863, protesting the Emancipation Proclamation and the recruitment of black soldiers. That resignation, really, was the most important part of his military career because it makes us reconsider why the majority of white Kentuckians opposed secession and supported the Union in 1861. The traditional answer has been that Kentucky’s interest in slavery was waning on the eve of the war and they didn’t feel particularly moved to defend it. But Buckner shows us that slavery and Union could and did go together in the minds of many Kentuckians. Van Allen: How has KHS helped you tell Buckner’s story? Will KHS have a role in Buckner’s future, so to speak? Lewis: Buckner has really run through the course of my association with KHS. I first encountered him on a KHS research fellowship while I was writing my Master’s thesis. Buckner raised a battalion of militia in 1870, after the Fifteenth Amendment gave blacks in Kentucky the right to vote for the first time. Long story short, using state guns and acting under state authority, these militiamen violently harassed black

22


voters in Lexington for three years, until a poll tax was put in place to keep poor black voters off of the rolls. The records of this militia organization are housed at KHS, and they shed some fascinating light on the demographics of racial violence after the Civil War. Needless to say, the Klan didn’t keep membership lists, but Buckner’s battalion gave us a snapshot of who was actively out suppressing civil rights in those years. In addition to its collections, KHS has provided a multifaceted platform to get Buckner’s name and story out. I recently had an essay on his military career published in The Register, and I’m now working with the museum collections and exhibitions folks to feature Buckner in the Civil War Sesquicentennial exhibit in the HistoryMobile. I am floored to think that by the end of the year students across the state will be seeing the war through Ben Buckner’s eyes. Including as many people as we can in our discussions about the past, and particularly the “‘felt’ history”— to quote another Kentuckian, Robert Penn Warren—of the Civil War, has always been of the utmost importance to me. So KHS has done quite a bit already, and, of course, working here underwrites my continuing dissertation research. Van Allen: Expand on that last sentence for us. You are the first recipient of the KHS Graduate Editorial Assistantship in partnership with the University of Kentucky (UK). What does that involve? How do you see that advancing the mission of both UK and KHS? Lewis: Absolutely. I couldn’t be happier with this partnership between the UK History Department and KHS. I work about 20 hours per week on the editorial staff of the Register. My primary responsibility is finding reviewers for newly published books, which is fantastic as a graduate student because I stay on top of the latest scholarship in American history, and being in contact with leading scholars across the country means that I am constantly networking. Reviews aren’t everything, though. I’ve taken a hand at almost every stage of the editorial process, from proofreading to locating illustrations. Even having written a couple of scholarly articles, seeing the process from behind the editorial curtain is an invaluable perspective to have. I’ve also come to appreciate the many different roles KHS plays in the state, the ways this one institution brings so many Kentuckians in touch with their past and gives it meaning for their present. Hearing about all the different projects each department is involved in during staff meetings is one of my favorite parts of a work week. But as you suggest, this partnership benefits the entire commonwealth. The few other graduate programs across the country that can offer similar experiences outside of the classroom use that to their great advantage. It is an invaluable recruiting tool that will attract talented students to the UK

department of history and encourage fresh inquiry into the state’s history. To suggest a particularly Bluegrass metaphor, this is to UK’s history department what a new practice facility is to its basketball team. For KHS, this partnership provides not only some much-needed help as the Research & Interpretation staff presses forward into the digital world, with worldwide distribution of The Register on ProjectMUSE and the Papers of the Kentucky Civil War Governors Digital Edition, but also is an investment in the future of the institution. Supporting the career and work of promising Kentucky historians now will pay off with decades of new and innovative ways of thinking about the state’s past and present. As a lifelong Kentuckian who cares about the state’s tomorrow as much as its yesterday, I am very excited about that prospect.

KHS GRADUATE EDITORIAL AS S IS TANTS HIP PROVIDES VALUABLE TRAINING EXPER I EN CE The graduate editorial assistantship is a partnership between the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) and the University of Kentucky’s department of history. This competitive award provides one outstanding graduate student an experiential opportunity that makes use of demonstrated professional skills acquired as part of graduate training: research, analysis and interpretation and communication. It also affords the candidate a high-quality, supervised professional practicum that enhances graduate education in history and future employability. As a half-time member of the KHS Research and Interpretation team, the graduate assistant works directly with editorial staff of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, fulfilling the duties of an apprentice book review editor and gaining facility in the critical selection and acquisition of books for review, selection of referees and management of book reviews-in-process. Finally, the assistant copyedits book reviews and articles for publication. Funding for the 2010-11 assistantship was provided by the James Graham Brown Foundation of Louisville.

www.history.ky.gov| 23 www.history.ky.gov 23


H O M E S C H O O L DAY I S A HOME RUN FOR STUDENTS & KHS

APPROXIMATELY 250 HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS and their families attended the Kentucky Historical Society’s (KHS) first-ever Homeschool Day on Wednesday, March 23. Exploring Kentucky was the theme for the day and the students did just that during their visit to the KHS history campus. They investigated the signature exhibition, “A Kentucky Journey,” at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, experienced guided gallery visits at the Old State Capitol and watched live museum theatre productions. Some students also participated in optional workshops, including Hands-on-History and History Comes to Life, which allowed students the opportunity to see, touch and even smell objects from the past. “I was overwhelmed, in a good way, by the number of guests we had at the event,” said Mike Deetsch, KHS interpretive education administrator. “Many of the parents and children I spoke with during the day appreciated KHS offering a program specifically for them.” Deetsch said the most frequent question from guests was “When are you doing this again?”

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In fact, plans are already underway for another KHS Homeschool Day, possibly as early as this Fall. “As far as the programs were concerned, I think all parties involved were pretty happy,” said Deetsch. “Of course, we don’t want to offer the exact same programs each time, so we’ll have to see how we can change that.” To find out about KHS offerings for homeschool families, visit www.history.ky.gov/homeschool.


H I S TO R I A N L OW E L L H . H A R R I S O N RECEIVES KHS DISTINGUISHED S E RV I C E AWA R D ON A CRISP AUTUMN AFTERNOON, at 2 p.m. —as the guest of honor had specified—a conference room at a neatlykept retirement home was filled with professors, executives, immediate family and a female high-school student who was there to see her celebrated great-uncle’s latest triumph. It was a combination of family and workplace reunion, with a large portion of nostalgia and present-day thanks also in the mix. On Oct. 20, 2010, Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) Executive Director Kent Whitworth and a delegation of scholars presented the Society’s Distinguished Service Award to Lowell H. Harrison, Ph.D., in Owensboro, Ky. Whitworth was joined in the presentation by John E. Kleber, Ph.D., editor of The Kentucky Encyclopedia and KHS Executive Committee representative; James Russell Harris, senior associate editor of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society and a former graduate assistant for Harrison; and a group of Harrison’s colleagues from Western Kentucky University (WKU), as well as some of his family and friends. Harrison is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished historians of the commonwealth. A professor at WKU from 1967 to 1988, he has, through his many students and a dizzying spectrum of authoritative writings, materially shaped the way Kentucky history is researched, written and understood. He is the author or editor of 11 scholarly books, more than 100 articles and uncounted scores of book reviews, introductions, editorials and booklets. His books, noted for crisp writing and keen analysis, include “John Breckinridge: Jeffersonian Republican,” 1969; “The Civil War in Kentucky,” 1975; rev. ed., 1986;: “George Rogers Clark and the War in the West,” 1976; “A Kentucky Sampler: Essays from the Filson History Club Quarterly, 1926-1976,” 1977; “The Antislavery Movement in Kentucky,” 1978; “Western Kentucky University,” 1987; “Kentucky’s Road to Statehood,” 1992; [coeditor] “The Kentucky Encyclopedia,” [coauthor] “A New History of Kentucky,” 1997; and [editor] “Kentucky’s Governors,” 1985, which was revised and expanded as Kentucky’s Governors: Updated Edition, 2004. One of his best-known and highest-acclaimed works is “Lincoln of Kentucky,” 2000, an innovative interpretation of the president’s life-long relationship to his native state and his fellow Kentuckians. In addition, Harrison has enhanced the mission of KHS in many ways. He has served on the editorial advisory board of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, authored numerous articles for that journal, and twice won The

KHS staff and Executive Committee member present historian Lowell H. Harrison with the Distinguished Service Award. From left to right are: Russell Harris, senior associate editor of The Register; Kent Whitworth, executive director of KHS; Dr. Lowell H. Harrison; and Dr. John E. Kleber, KHS board member. Register’s Richard H. Collins Award, an annual prize for the journal’s best article, as determined by a panel of scholars independent of the Society. He has also served on KHS committees and has spoken at numerous Society programs, such as an address in the 1980s, “We Are All Historians,” at a gathering of genealogists and academics in which he called for cooperative inquiry and harmony between seekers of Kentucky’s heritage. A native of Russell Springs, Ky., Harrison attended the elementary and secondary school components of what became WKU where, following service as a combat engineer in World War II, he graduated with a degree in history. He had completed that degree by correspondence while on active duty in war-torn Europe, even writing his final history exam among curious GIs in a commandeered German basement. Graduate study at New York University and, on a Fulbright scholarship, the London School of Economics followed. Next, he taught and headed the history department and the College of Social Sciences at what is now West Texas A&M University. He has said that he left Texas because he was offered a deanship--more of the administrative work that was cutting into his research and writing. In 1967, Harrison returned to WKU as a professor and graduate advisor. He retired from teaching in 1988, but continued to research and publish works on Kentucky history. The KHS Distinguished Service Award is presented to those individuals whose contributions to Kentucky history have advanced the threshold of historical knowledge and have broadened history education. Recipients of the prize must have furthered the KHS mission to provide connections to the past, perspective on the present and inspiration for the future. Recent recipients of the Award include members of the Society’s Executive Board and KHS Foundation, as well as celebrated historians, collectors and some long-term Society employees. www.history.ky.gov

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KHS Foundation Provides Margin of Excellence NEW BOARD MEMBERS, OFFICERS INSTALLED FOR 2011

t

he Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) Foundation elected new officers and incoming directors at its fall and winter meetings. Throughout its 20-year history, the KHS Foundation has been fortunate to attract to its board of directors a group of outstanding leaders from a variety of distinguished professional, educational and civic backgrounds who embody a passion for advancing history in Kentucky The KHS Foundation welcomes several returning board members for additional three-year terms, including its entire officers committee for a continuing year of service. The KHS Foundation also welcomes three new directors, who bring enthusiasm, experience and knowledge to the Foundation Board. Appreciation goes to Lucy Breathitt, former White House social secretary and wife of Governor Edward T. “Ned� Breathitt, for her service and support during her term on the KHS Foundation Board of Directors. Warren Rosenthal continues his dedicated service to the Society and Foundation as an emeritus director of the KHS Foundation. The KHS Foundation Board of Directors oversees and assists with all fundraising activities of the Kentucky Historical Society. Most of the programs, exhibitions, services and research initiatives of KHS are made possible through private support via the KHS Foundation.

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JOH N R. H ALL P RESIDENT

As retired chief executive officer and chairman of Ashland Inc., John R. Hall is a advocate for education, arts and community organizations throughout Kentucky. He has served as a director of the KHS Foundation since 2001 and president of the board of directors since 2008. He is also involved with the Commonwealth Fund for KET, the Bluegrass Community Foundation and Vanderbilt and Transylvania Universities. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Hall is past president of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Donna, reside in Lexington, Ky. and Naples, Fla. The Halls are trustee members of the Abraham Lincoln Society, the major donor recognition circle for the KHS Foundation. Their gifts have supported several programming initiatives at KHS, including the KHS History Mobile and Annual Fund.

ANN ROSENSTEIN GILES FIRST VICE P RESIDENT

Ann Rosenstein Giles brings extensive marketing experience to her role on the KHS Foundation Board of Directors, having worked as an advertising executive in New York before returning home to her native Kentucky. She is founder and president of AJ Marketing Partners, a marketing communications consultancy in Lexington. Giles joined the KHS Foundation Board in 2007 and serves as first vice president. She chairs the Foundation’s marketing committee and serves on the financial management and officers committees. Giles received her bachelor of arts degree from Transylvania University and her master’s of business administration from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Giles is a trustee of Transylvania University, and serves as past president of the Child Development Centers of the Bluegrass. She has a longstanding interest in Kentucky history and preservation. She and her husband, Bill, reside in Lexington. Giles and her family joined the KHS Foundation Abraham Lincoln Society in 2007.

H ENRY C.T. “TIP ” RICH MOND III SECOND VICE P RESIDENT

Henry C.T. “Tip” Richmond is a wealth transfer specialist in the Lexington office of the law firm of Greenebaum, Doll, and McDonald. Richmond’s practice consists primarily of advising on trust and estate matters, gift and estate tax planning, and closely-held business matters, including succession planning. He is listed among the “Top 50 Attorneys in Kentucky,” by the Kentucky Super Lawyers list. Richmond received his www.history.ky.gov

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undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, his J.D. degree from the University of Louisville School of Law and an LL.M. (Tax) from the Miami School of Law. He served on active duty and in the reserves of the United States Army for 24 years. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Lexington. Richmond serves on the KHS Foundation’s officers, financial management and board development committees, which he chairs this year. He has been a director of the KHS Foundation since 2001 and has been actively involved in the Thomas D. Clark Education Challenge for the Foundation since its inception.

BUCKNER WOODFORD IV TREASURER

Buckner Woodford lends his time and financial leadership to the KHS Foundation Board of Directors after retiring from the helm of Kentucky Bank and Kentucky Bancshares after a 37-year career. He has been a director of the KHS Foundation since 2006. This past year he has been active in researching his own family history through the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library and Special Collections archives. Woodford is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and Harvard University, where he obtained his master’s in business administration degree. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Paris. Woodford is also treasurer of the Bluegrass Community Foundation Board of Directors. He is chair of the KHS Foundation financial management committee and serves on the officers committee. He has been active in the KHS Foundation’s Thomas D. Clark Education Challenge, helping to coordinate the fundraising efforts among Kentucky’s banking community. Woodford was president of the Kentucky Bankers Association from 1991-1992.

KENT WH ITWORTH SECRETARY

Kent Whitworth joined the Kentucky Historical Society in January 2004 as its executive director. A native Kentuckian, he previously served as director of the East Tennessee Historical Society from 1995 to 2003 and as director of Blount Mansion, a nationally registered historic landmark in Knoxville, Tenn. Whitworth has degrees in history from Asbury College and Middle Tennessee State University. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Frankfort.

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Whitworth is active in Leadership Kentucky, the Kentucky Mansions Preservation Foundation Council, the Mary Todd Lincoln House and the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH). He is a member of the Kentucky Museum and Heritage Alliance (KMHA), the State Historical Administrators and the Kentucky Historic Properties Commission. He is a frequent speaker at local, regional and national history conferences and oversees all operations and administration of the Kentucky Historical Society.


NEW BOARD MEMBERS ROBERT M. “MIKE” DUNCAN

Mike Duncan joins the KHS Foundation Board of Directors’ Class of 2011 after lending his time, talents and leadership to the Kentucky Historical Society Executive Committee for eight years, where he served as president in 2008-2009. Duncan is president of Inez Deposit Bank in Inez, Ky. He is chairman of Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes. He is past president of the Republican National Committee, past chairman of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset and past chairman of the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program. Duncan has also served as president of the Kentucky Bankers Association and as a director of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank. He and his wife, Joanne, reside in Inez.

CRIT LUALLEN

Crit Luallen rejoins the KHS Foundation Board of Directors having served a full, nine-year term from 2000 to 2009. She is the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Auditor of Public Accounts, her first elected office after a distinguished and lengthy career in a variety of public positions. Luallen has served as the secretary of the Kentucky Governor’s Executive Cabinet, the State Budget Director, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet, secretary of the Kentucky Tourism Cabinet, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of the Arts and special assistant to the governor. She also served as president of the Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership. She played a leadership role in developing the Governor’s School for the Arts, developing and securing passage of the historic higher education reforms of 1997 and securing funding for the building of the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Luallen is a native of Frankfort and a graduate of Centre College where she serves on its board of trustees. She and her husband, Lynn, reside in Frankfort.

BOSWORTH M. TODD

Bosworth Todd is chairman emeritus of Todd-Veredus Asset Management, LLC, a Louisville-based firm. He is a native of Frankfort, Ky., and a longtime resident of Louisville. He holds a chartered financial analyst designation, and was director of the Investment Counsel Association of America. He served in the U.S. Air Force and started his investment career at Hilliard Lyons before founding his own firm in 1967. Todd is currently a director of First Capital Bank of Kentucky in Louisville and director of American Life and Accident. He serves on the board of advisors of the University of Louisville College of

www.history.ky.gov

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Business. He is a founding director of the St. Francis School in Goshen, the Wellspring House in Louisville and the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression. Todd holds degrees from the University of Kentucky and Harvard University, where he earned his master’s in business administration. He writes and speaks on topics related to the economy and the stock market. He has interests in Kentucky and Kentucky history. He and his wife, Sue, live in Louisville.

Since 1991, the KHS Foundation has raised more than $16 million in support of the Kentucky Historical Society and its programming, collections and capital projects. The KHS Foundation Board of Directors thanks all members and donors who have supported KHS during the Foundation’s 20-year history.

RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS

In addition to the continuing officers and new directors listed here, the KHS Foundation welcomes returning board members: BRUCE COTTON

NANCY LAMP TON

L E X IN G TO N

L O UIS V IL L E

JAMES T. CRAIN Jr.

ELIZ ABETH LLOYD “LIBBY” J ON ES

DENNIS DORTON

ANITA MADDEN

TH OMAS P. DUP REE Sr.

GERALD L. SMITH , P h.D .

FRANK H AMILTON

CH ARLES STEWART

JAMIE H ARGROVE

WILLIAM STURGILL

L O UIS V IL L E

MIDWAY

PA IN T S V IL L E

L E X IN G TO N

L E X IN G TO N

L E X IN G TO N

G E O R G E TOW N

F R A N KF O RT

L O UIS V IL L E

L E X IN G TO N

RAY M OND R. H ORNBACK, Ed .D. L E X IN G TO N

Continuing emeritus members are: JO M. FERGUSON L O UIS V IL L E

MARGARET PATTERSON F R A N KF O RT

JOH N P STEWART, M.D. F R A N KF O RT

WARREN W. ROSENTH AL L E X IN G TO N

ROBERT RICH

J. DAVID SMITH

Serves on the Foundation Board of Directors, ex-officio, as president of the KHS Executive Committee.

Serves as pro-bono counsel to the KHS Foundation Board.

C OV IN G TO N

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L E X IN G TO N


FOLLOWING UP... DIALING IN ON SUCCESS 2 0 1 1 P H O N AT H O N O F F E R S C H A N C E TO R E C O N N E C T This year marked the fifth anniversary of the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation’s annual phonathon. For eight nights, 49 Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) staff and board members volunteered by calling more than 1,800 of the Society’s supporters from across the nation. In addition to raising more than $33,200 to date, phonathon offered KHS staff the time to reconnect with friends and donors. “Giving is personal,” said Sam Richardson, development associate for KHS. “Members and donors get the chance to talk to the people behind the programs and services that KHS provides. By speaking one-on-one, we learn what we are doing well and what we need to do better.” Trevor Jones (pictured), director of KHS museum collections and exhibitions, said that he had the chance to “talk to donors and members about what they like about KHS, and it made me feel proud about all the good work we do.” This year, KHS volunteers participated in nightly contests, bringing out the competitive side of callers. “The positive energy from our volunteers makes for a fun evening in the call room,” said Richardson. “Without our staff and board members volunteering their time, we could not succeed.” Phonathon may be over, but it is never too late to support the KHS Annual Fund. Thanks to donors, the Society’s Foundation is well within reach of meeting the 2011 Annual Fund goal of $250,000. These unrestricted funds are critical to the Society during difficult economic times. Donations to the Annual Fund have helped fund educational programs, community outreach initiatives and the acquisition of history and genealogy books. There are several ways to donate: • Donate securely online at: www.history.ky.gov. Click the Give/Join link. • Mail your tax deductible contribution to: KHS Foundation 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY, 40601 • Call the development office at 502-564-1792. www.history.ky.gov

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FOLLOWING UP... K H S PA RT N E R S H I P W I T H B A L AG U L A T H E AT R E P R OV E S S U C C E S S F U L G R O U P S J O I N T H R O U G H L OV E O F L I T E R AT U R E , H I S TO RY A N D T H E AT R E

KHS Museum Theatre Specialist Adam Luckey, right, performing in “The Woman in Black.” Hosted in partnership with Natasha’s Bistro and Bar and The Balagula Theatre Company, one night’s proceeds from the performance benefitted the KHS Foundation. The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) and The Balagula Theatre company joined forces to celebrate literature, history and theatre with a special showing of “The Woman in Black” in January at Natasha’s Bistro in Lexington. Proceeds from one night’s performance of the play benefited the KHS Foundation. The Balagula Theatre’s production of “The Woman in Black” is adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt from the novel by Susan Hill. The novel, released in 1983, is a fictitious tale about a menacing spectre that haunts a small English town. It was made into a TV movie in 1989, and is currently in production, starring Daniel Radcliffe. In the stage adaptation, Arthur Kipps, performed by KHS Museum Theatre Specialist Adam Luckey, enlists the help of an actor to help him tell the story of the “Woman in Black,”

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which he hopes will help him exorcise his ghosts. The twoman show relies on imaginative storytelling, actors’ versatility and subtle flourishes of technology to celebrate the relationship among literature, historic storytelling and theatre. Natasha Williams, who directed the play, described the partnership best in her notes from the playbill. “In tough economic times that affect all organizations depending on philanthropy, partnerships have proven to increase sustainability and to enhance the outreach to different members of the community,” she wrote. The collaboration led to a sold-out show to benefit the KHS Foundation, and several exciting future opportunities. To find out more about Natasha’s Bistro and Balagula Theatre, visit www.beetnik.com.


FOLLOWING UP... K E N T U C K Y O R A L H I S TO RY C O M M I S S I O N AWA R D S G R A N T S The Kentucky Oral History Commission, which is administered by the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), awarded the following grants this past winter: EKAP Oral History and Cyber Artist Network Project Award recipient(s): Joy Gritton and Gloria Stepp This project seeks to document the individual lives and work of Eastern Kentucky women artists and their contributions to their communities. The proposed 20 interviews will focus on the artists’ struggle for social change in their communities and have been selected to represent a diversity of ages, artistic mediums and geography within the region. Photography will also be incorporated. All new research will be incorporated into a website in the hopes of fostering an inter-generational mentoring of women artists. Beyond Entrepreneurship: Examining Alternative Economic Practices in Eastern Kentucky’s Craft Industry Award recipient(s): University of Kentucky Research Foundation Project directors: Michael Samers and Amanda Fickey This grant funds part two of a previously funded KOHC proposal. The project seeks to document entrepreneurs in the Eastern Kentucky craft industry. The research is proposed to document the need for support in the development of future arts and crafts initiatives that benefit both artists and organizations. It seeks to document the alternative economic practices within these groups in relationship to the industry leaders in order to share an understanding of the practices which craft producers engage in on a daily basis. ACLU of Kentucky Oral History Project Award recipient: ACLU of Kentucky Project director: Michael Aldridge This project’s purpose is to document the history of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, founded in 1955. The ACLU of KY has defended the civil rights and civil liberties of Kentuckians for more than five decades, but the complete picture of its founding is clouded by a lack of documentation. The project seeks to gather and preserve the stories of those who led the ACLU of Kentucky in its early years and those who have had a hand in its growth over the past 55 years. Romano Mazzoli Oral History Transcription Project Award recipient: University of Louisville Research Foundation

Project director: Caroline Daniels This project will help fund transcriptions for the interviews conducted in an earlier KOHC funded project grant to document the life of Romano Mazzoli. The interviewees discuss Rep.Mazolli’s work in his local and Washington offices, interactions with constituents and colleagues and his role on the national stage. War on Poverty Oral History Project: Transcription Award recipient: University of Kentucky Research Foundation Project director: Doug Boyd This grant award is to fund transcriptions from the War on Poverty Oral History Project and documents the War on Poverty in the Appalachian Region of Kentucky. Topics include the Appalachian Volunteers, Head Start programs, the Volunteers in Service to America, the Community Action Program, conflicts between natives and “outsiders” and charges that volunteers were spreading communism, among other things. This project seeks to document many different facets of that major economic and cultural initiative. Common Threads and Ties that Bind: Memories of Washington County, Kentucky Project director/recipient: Gwinn Thompson Hahn Common Threads is a collection of 84 hours of recorded interviews that are scheduled to be published as a book in April 2012. The interviews, which began in 1974, preserved historical and cultural elements and changes in the area. The oral histories and memories of the interviewees span the 18th20th centuries. Stories from the Balcony Part II Project director/recipient: Joanna Hay The Stories from the Balcony Oral History Project documents the Grand Theater in Frankfort, Ky. during the days of segregation. These interviews have been recorded on digital video by filmmaker and community scholar Joanna Hay who will continue work transcribing the collection with assistance from this grant award. For most of its history, African American movie-goers could only sit in the balcony of the Grand Theater. As one of the few public places that African Americans were allowed to go, the balcony holds a unique place in the memories of members of the black community. The KOHC granting program has been awarding funding for oral history projects since 1976. KOHC currently provides grant funding for project grants, transcription grants and preservation grants. The deadline for grant applications is Oct. 15 annually. For more information, see www.history.ky.gov. Click on oral history. www.history.ky.gov

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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.

OLD STATE CAPITOL TOURS

In April, May and June, the schedule for these tours is as follows: Wednesdays – 3 p.m. Thursdays – 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Fridays – 3 p.m. Saturdays – 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Old State Capitol Delve into the politics and everyday life of the tumultuous 19thcentury by touring this National Historic Landmark that served as Kentucky’s capitol from 1830 to 1910. Tours begin at the Center for Kentucky History. Free with admission. Contact Leslie.McWhorter@ky.gov.

APRIL KHS MUSEUM THEATRE

“I’m in Kentucky: An Excerpt from the Frontier Journal of Daniel Trabue” Thursdays at regular intervals between 10:00 and 3:00 Schools and walk-in guests are invited to explore frontier Kentucky through the persepective of an early settler. 5 minutes. Free with history campus admission. Contact Greg Hardison at Greg.Hardison@ky.gov. “Nothing New for Easter: Shopping for Civil Rights” Saturdays, 1 and 4 p.m. Meet Mattie Eleanor Lewis, a young Kentuckian growing up amidst the struggle for civil rights. Will you join her cause or will you stand in the back? 10 minutes. Contact Greg Hardison at Greg.Hardison@ky.gov.

GIRL SCOUT WORKSHOP

“Puppets, Dolls and Plays” Saturday, April 2, 9 a.m. to noon Girl Scout Brownies will participate in an interactive theatre performance of the Appalachian folktale “Jack and the Robbers,” create a limber-jack and a yarn doll and learn how ordinary stories come to life. The workshop fee includes a Try-It badge, a KHS badge, craft materials, a snack and admission to the KHS history campus. For registration and pricing information, contact the Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road Council at tapquestions@gswrc.org or 859-293-2621. Minimum 20 Brownies, maximum 60.

HISTORY SPEAKS!

“Principles Opposed to the Public Peace: Kentuckians’ Reactions to John Brown’s Raid” Thursday, April 7, 6:30 p.m. Old State Capitol John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry had far-reaching repercussions. Kentucky, due largely to its geographic location and economic and social ties to the institution of slavery, made it wellknown in the weeks and months after Harpers Ferry that they would

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not tolerate abolitionist agitation within the state’s borders. Join Tim Talbott, coordinator of Kentucky Historical Society’s student and teacher outreach programs, as he discusses his research on how this national event affected the commonwealth. Free.

GETTING TO KNOW GENEALOGY

Thursday, April 7, 5:30 to 6 p.m. Martin F. Schmidt Research Library It’s the most popular hobby in the U.S. Everyone is talking about it and Ancestry.com even advertises on TV. But what is involved, why would anyone want to start trying to find family they have never met and how do you get started anyway? Drop into the KHS library after work for a brief overview of the resources available and discover the wonderful world of family history.

FAMILY-HISTORY WORKSHOP

The Cemetary Preservation Program at KHS Saturday, April 9, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This session will focus on the resources available to family historians and cemetary preservationsts through KHS: tracking databases KHS maintains, advice on lgal issues governing property and descendent rights, stone cleaning and rubbing techniques and cemetary mapping practices.

ELKHORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

Thursday, April 14, 6 to 8 p.m. Join us for a special benefit program for the Elkhorn Elementary PTO! Experience activities and games designed to transport you back in time and participate in special tours presented by Elkhorn Elementary teachers. Discover for yourself the mysteries of history., as you examine touchable artifacts and become a history detective for the night.

KHS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD MEETING Friday, April 15, time TBD

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

From One Soldier to Another Wednesday, April 20, noon Pvt. Henry B. Mattingly was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery during the battle of Jonesboro in 1864. Sgt. Major (Ret.) Jose Rosario, a 2010 KHS History Award winner, details his two-year mission to bring recognition to Mattingly, the longforgotten war hero, and have “Medal of Honor” inscribed on his final resting place. Reservations required by April 15. $18 for KHS members and $23 for all other patrons. Contact Julia Curry at 502-564-1792 to make reservations.

KHS FILM SERIES

“Steve Hamilton: The Father, The Pitcher, The Hero” Thursday, April 21, 6:30 p.m. This story is about the life and career of Steve Hamilton, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, a Columbia native and an alumna of Morehead State University. FIlm directors will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A session. All films are free with admission to the Kentucky Historical Society and include entrance to the KHS campus, film, popcorn and soda. For more information about the KHS film


C A L E N DA R OF EVENTS series contact Mike Deetsch at (502) 564-1792 or Mike.Deetsch@ky.gov.

HAT-A-TUDE

Thursday, April 28, 6 to 8 p.m. Show off your hat-a-tude, and get in the Derby spirit with KHS! Join Polly Singer of Polly Singer Couture Hats and Veils for a preview of Spring derby fashions. Reservations required by April 21. Tickets: $18 for KHS members, $23 for all other guests. Contact Julia.Curry@ ky.gov or call 502-564-1792.

KJHS CONFERENCE/KENTUCKY HISTORY DAY

April 29-30 Cultivate a passion for history in your student! Join KHS for the Kentucky Junior Historical Society Conference and Kentucky History Day. To compete in the Kentucky History Day competitions at the state level, students must have advanced from one of eight districts unless competing in the youth division. Find out more at www.history.ky.gov/kjhs.

MAY MUSEUM THEATRE

“I’m in Kentucky: An Excerpt from the Frontier Journal of Daniel Trabue” Thursdays at regular intervals between 10:00 and 3:00 Schools and walk-in guests are invited to explore frontier Kentucky through the persepective of an early settler. 5 minutes. Contact Greg Hardison at Greg.Hardison@ky.gov. “Look for My Picture: Raising the Flag with Franklin Sousley” Saturdays, 1 and 4 p.m. Raise the flag during World War II and share the story of a Kentucky boy who became a part of an American icon. 15 minutes. Contact Greg Hardison at Greg.Hardison@ky.gov.

HISTORY SPEAKS!

“Democracy’s Lawyer: Felix Grundy of the Old Southwest” Thursday, May 5, 6:30 p.m. Old State Capitol The epitome of the “American democrat,” Felix Grundy was a central political figure in the first post-Revolutionary War generation. A rival of Henry Clay, a famous defense lawyer and the Secretary of State under Martin Van Buren, this Kentucky raised political giant exemplified early 19th century America. Join author Roderick Heller as he discusses the first comprehensive biography of Grundy since 1940. Free.

GETTING TO KNOW GENEALOGY

Thursday, May 5, 5:30 to 6 p.m. Martin F. Schmidt Research Library Genealogy is the most popular hobby in the U.S. But what is involved, why would anyone want to start trying to find family they have never met and how do you get started? Drop into the KHS library for a brief overview of the resources available and discover the wonderful world of family history.

“THE KENTUCKY EXPERIENCE” OPENING

Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you missed this exhibition at the World Equestrian Games, see it at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History from May to August!

GOVERNOR’S DERBY CELEBRATION

Saturday, May 7, 8 a.m to noon Spend the morning of Derby Day in downtown Frankfort! Enjoy free family activities, outdoor concerts, demonstrations and displays by local artists and more.

FAMILY-HISTORY WORKSHOP Preserving Your Family Treasures

Saturday, May 14, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Every family has treasures: Grandma’s bible, Great grandmother’s coverlet, letters and diaries, china and glassware. We all worry about storing, displaying and using these family heirlooms. Two KHS curators will discuss basic techniques for handling, storage and preservation of artifacts and paper materials.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“Upheaval: Stories” Wednesday, May 18, noon Set in Eastern Kentucky, these eight interrelated stories portray a region and its people as they struggle in the face of poverty, isolation, and the devastation of land and resources. Author Chris Holbrook, a native of Knott County, Ky., is now an English professor at Morehead State University. Book signing will immediately follow the program. Reservations required by May 13.* $18 for KHS members and $23 for all other patrons. Contact Julia Curry at 502-564-1792 to make reservations.

KHS FILM SERIES

“To Save the Land and People” Thursday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. This documentary tells the history of an early grassroots effort to stop strip mining in Eastern Kentucky. All films are free with admission to the Kentucky Historical Society and include film, popcorn and soda. For more information about the KHS film series contact Mike Deetsch at (502) 564-1792 or mike.deetsch@ky.gov.

GIRL SCOUT WORKSHOP

Local Lore Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m. to noon Girl Scout Juniors will discover the history of Kentucky’s capitol as they explore maps and photographs from the KHS collections and learn how the city of Frankfort became the town it is today. The workshop fee includes a Try-It badge, a KHS badge, craft materials, a snack and admission to the KHS history campus. For registration and pricing information, contact the Girl Scouts of the Wilderness Road Council at tapquestions@gswrc.org or 859-293-2621. Minimum 20 Juniors, maximum 60.

www.history.ky.gov

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C A L E N DA R OF EVENTS J UNE KHS MUSEUM THEATRE

“Which Side Are You On? The Unions of Bloody Harlan” Thursdays at regular intervals between 10:00 and 3:00 Listen to a Union organizer explain the hardships of life in a 1930 coal camp and decide if you should side with the Union or support the company. Schools are invited to join us for an interactive economic exercise after the play. 5 minutes. Free with museum admission. Contact Greg Hardison at Greg.Hardison@ky.gov. “Tobacco’s Tale: From Bed to Basket” Saturdays, 11 and 4 p.m. Enjoy a short performance piece preserving the changing rhythms of tobacco farming in Kentucky to the cadence of the auctioneer’s call. 5 minutes. Free with museum admission. Contact Greg Hardison at Greg.Hardison@ky.gov A Capitol Divided Tour: Civil War Beginnings at the Old State Capitol Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. What were the issues that caused uproar and concern before the war? Who were the people that made the decisions that affected the state? Experience the sights and sounds of debates and battles that occurred in and around the Old State Capitol during the first years of the War Between the States. 55 minutes. Free with museum admission. Contact Greg Hardison at Greg.Hardison@ky.gov.

GETTING TO KNOW GENEALOGY

Thursday, June 2, 5:30 to 6 p.m. Martin F. Schmidt Research Library It’s the most popular hobby in the U.S. Everyone is talking about it and Ancestry.com even advertises on TV. But what is involved, why would anyone want to start trying to find family they have never met and how do you get started anyway? Drop into the KHS library after work for a brief overview of the resources available and discover the wonderful world of family history.

BOONE DAY / OPENING OF “KENTUCKY HALL OF GOVERNORS” EXHIBITION

Saturday, June 4, 11 a.m. Join KHS for this annual event and enjoy the opening of the newlyrenovated “Toyota Kentucky Hall of Governors” exhibition! $18 for KHS members, $23 for all other guests. Contact Julia Curry at Julia.Curry@ky.gov.

FAMILY-HISTORY WORKSHOP

Lineage Society Paperwork: Creating a Legacy for Your Descendents Saturday, June 11, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The session will focus on the preparation and documentation of standardized application forms for membership in Revolutionary War societies, Civil War groups and other patriotic lineage entities. Emphasis will be placed on careful documentation of the lineage application form. Futrell will also discuss the solid proof standards of the First Families of Tennessee’and the Civil War Families of Tennessee.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Every Seed has a Story Wednesday, June 15, noon The heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flowers that we eat, savor, and enjoy each come with unique histories. Join Deborah Larkin, former herbalist at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, as she discusses the importance of preserving and growing heirloom vegetable and herbs. Reservations required by June 10. $18 for KHS members and $23 for all other patrons. Contact Julia Curry at 502-564-1792 to make reservations.

CAMP ARTYFACT

June 20-July 29 Let KHS entertain and challenge your child this summer! Camp ArtyFact is an affordable half-day camp at the Kentucky Historical Society for children ages five to 13. Camp participants will explore the KHS history campus and collections and then create their own works of art. To find out more about camp sessions and to register, visit www.history.ky.gov/camp. Register for the first session by June 11.

TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT WORKSHOP WITH COVINGTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS Tuesday, June 21

PROJECT PAST TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT WORKSHOP June 28-30


KHS Membership Categories: Explorer $30 (65 or older, $25) Complimentary admission, reduced rates on programs and a subscription to the Chronicle Pioneer $45 (65 or older, $40) Complimentary admission for self and one other person, reduced rates on programs and a subscription to the Chronicle and either The Register or Kentucky Ancestors Trailblazer $55 (65 or older, $50) Complimentary admission for self and up to three others, reduced rates on programs and a subscription to all publications—the Chronicle, the Register and Kentucky Ancestors. Ambassador for Institutions and organizations, $60 Complimentary admission for up to six people and all publications—the Chronicle, the Register and Kentucky Ancestors. *Current memberships are valid until expiration date and can be renewed at new levels.

Find out more at www.history.ky.gov and Click Give/Join, or call the KHS membership office at 502-564-1792

The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601


100 West Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 502.564.1792 www.history.ky.gov

SPRING

2011

Next Issue:

I N FUL L COLOR: DE R BY C ELEBRATI ON & BOONE DAY

www.history.ky.gov

The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.


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