Collections Corner
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Collections Corner: New Databases Available in the Library!
Visitors to the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library now have free access to two new databases for researching their family history: American Periodicals (1740-1940): “This database contains 1509 periodicals published between 1740 and 1940, including special interest and general magazines, literary and professional journals, children’s and women’s magazines and many other historically-significant periodicals.” The Louisville Courier Journal Newspaper (1830-1922): “This historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.” Both new resources can be accessed for free while visiting the library (onsite) through your own device,...
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Collections Corner: Licking River Navigator
“The Navigator Containing Directions for Navigating Main and South Licking Rivers together with the Distances from one place of Notoriety to another…” Picture it: 1818, traveling along the Licking River in your flatboat. Unlike the Ohio River, the Licking is more narrow, with many twists, turns, and “ripples” to navigate. Since the Licking is long and splits the state with its course through many counties, a trustworthy guide or map would be your only hope in surviving this type of transport. Then again, you don’t have a lot of room in your small vessel to roll out a map that...
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Collections Corner: 1851 Adair County Voter Record
As we approach primary election season in Kentucky, one can’t help but wonder how our ancestors viewed election season and their right to vote. Rarely do we get a chance to sneak a peek at what they thought, let alone, how they voted. For those with white adult male ancestors in 1850s Adair County, we have quite a treat for you! The front cover reads: New Constitution, Columbia Precinct, District No. 1, May Election, 1851, Adair County Kentucky. Within the back pages, it explains that the Columbia Precinct includes the following Districts: East Fork, Big Creek, Harmony, Neatsville, and White...
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Collections Corner: A Woodford County Family Collection
Let me introduce you to Martinette (Nettie) Viley Witherspoon of Woodford County. Mrs. Witherspoon left behind a wonderful collection that not only gives us a glimpse into her world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but also provides us with an exemplary representation of family history research in its most aesthetic form. Mrs. Witherspoon was born to Catherine Jane Martin and Warren Viley on January 28th, 1851 in Woodford County. Since her earliest scrapbook comes from her youth in the 1860s in the form of an autograph book, let’s call her “Nettie” from now on. We can learn...
