The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will host a free knowledge-sharing community event in Frankfort, Ky., on Wednesday, February 4, 2015. Help is needed to tell the story of the New State Capitol during its first 30 years.  There will be one open-house knowledge-sharing session from 1:00-4:00 p.m., at the Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda.

KHS staff have selected from the collections photographs illustrating the construction of the Capitol and portraits of legislators and staff who governed between 1900 and 1930.  Many of the images have only basic descriptive information and KHS staff are seeking stories that illustrate the contributions made by Kentuckians throughout the state.

Historians, neighbors, journalists and other community members are invited to share their knowledge of the people and events that shaped the beginning of the 20^th century in Kentucky.

All of the images used in this event have been digitized and cataloged and are available for researchers during and after the event. To view any part of the collection, visit kyhistory.com and click on the Featured Collection. For those who cannot attend, please submit image specific information via the comments section at the bottom of each image. Specific questions about the photographs or the event can be directed to the KHS Reference Desk at 502-564-1792, ext. 4460 or KHSrefdesk@ky.gov.

The Kentucky Genealogical Society joins the Kentucky Historical Society in hosting a series of free genealogy workshops each month at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.

This February, join us in welcoming guest speaker, Nancy O’Malley, as she helps us better understand the early migration patterns into Kentucky – with an emphasis on the experiences of pioneer women on the frontier!

Session 2: Women on the frontier

This session will focus on the experience of women on the frontier, including specific responsibilities they shouldered, challenges and dangers that they faced, means of coping (or not) and their contributions to the shaping of frontier culture and, eventually, civil society.

About the Speaker: 

Nancy O’Malley, Assistant Director of the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology at the University of Kentucky, is a professional archaeologist specializing in the historic era. One of her longterm research interests is the early historic settlement of Kentucky in the late eighteenth century. As an archaeologist, she has focused much of her research on the physical sites (forts, stations) created by settlers and their material culture (artifacts); however, she contextualizes her research with in depth consideration and analysis of archival sources and considers documentary evidence as important to her research as physical artifacts and sites. Genealogy is a key source of information about family dynamics, fictive and kinship relationships, and ethnic/socioeconomic/religious variation that is an important ingredient in reconstructing and understanding frontier society.  

Morning session runs from 10:30-11:30 a.m., followed by a 15 minute break. Second session runs from 11:45-12:45 p.m. Registration for these free workshops is strongly encouraged. However, walk-ins are welcome. 

The African American Genealogy Group of Kentucky and the Scott County Genealogical Society are joining forces to bring J. Mark Lowe to Frankfort for a free afternoon session about researching African American ancestors. 

The session: Finding Black Roots in a White World will be presented at the Kentucky Historical Society, 100 West Broadway, Frankfort KY, from 1:00-4:30 p.m.

The program is FREE, but pre-registration is required. Please e-mail the AAGGKY to register at: aaggky@yahoo.com 

NOTE! This is NOT a KHS sponsored event! Registration MUST go through the AAGGKY!

The Kentucky Genealogical Society joins the Kentucky Historical Society in hosting a series of free genealogy workshops each month at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.

This March, join us in welcoming guest speaker, Gail Jackson Miller, as she tracks down those elusive Kentucky ancestors – including the notorious Harpe Brothers!

Session 2: Murder and Mayhem on the River: The Life of the Harpes

The story of the Harpe brothers who terrorized the frontier of Kentucky and Tennessee from Cumberland Gap to the Green River in the period of 1797 to 1799.

About the Speaker: 

Gail Jackson Miller, CG, is a professional genealogist and lecturer specializing in Kentucky and Tennessee research. Gail has more than 40 years experience in genealogy. She grew up in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky with all of her family lines extending back to the early 1800s in Kentucky or Tennessee. Her personal research continues to enhance her general knowledge of families and records. Gail has over 20 years of professional experience working with clients with Kentucky and Tennessee roots with ties to surrounding states. In 1999, Gail became a board certified genealogist through the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

Morning session runs from 10:30-11:30 a.m., followed by a 15 minute break. Second session runs from 11:45-12:45 p.m. Registration for these free workshops is strongly encouraged. However, walk-ins are welcome. 

Join our Library staff on the 5th Saturday of every month from 2-4PM for tea time and good ole fashioned conversation. Have an ancestor that is eluding you? Confused about which source to use next? Have questions about the proof standard or how to get the kids involved? Bring along your genealogy issues, hot topics or questions and the group will try to help you out. Even if we can’t solve your problem, we promise to provide lots of tea and sympathy!

All research levels welcome – let’s learn from each other’s experiences!

2015 fifth Saturdays include: May 30th, August 29th, October 31st.

Each Genealogy Tea and Sympathy session is free and tea is provided at the event. Please pre-register by calling the KHS Refdesk at 502-564-1792 x.4460 or by e-mailing us at: khsrefdesk@ky.gov