Repository Roundup: Western Kentucky University

Editor’s note: This article marks the beginning of a new How-to series for KAO – Repository Roundup. Kentucky has a great reputation for being ‘Records Rich’ – but we want to know WHERE the records are located throughout the state. We hope to feature libraries and collections throughout Kentucky that will …

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 …

Say Cheese! Second Saturday Talks Photos and Preservation

For July’s Second Saturday, attendees were treated to a tag team presentation by a couple of great local experts. Bill Marshall, Author and Retired Director of Special Collections at the University of Kentucky, joined Jen Duplaga, our KHS Archivist, Special Collections & Digital Programs Administrator, for a two hour exploration …

Colonel James Smith’s Death Verified

By: Martha Ann Atkins, Ph.D Col. James Smith (1737-1813) was a frontiersman, pioneer, explorer, Indian captive, ‘Indian fighter’, Revolutionary War soldier, Pennsylvania State Assemblyman, Kentucky State Assemblyman, Presbyterian preacher, published author and my 4th Great Grandfather. The major events of his life are well-known.[i]  However, the date and location of his …

Book Notes – The Kentucky Barbecue Book

The Kentucky Barbecue Book. By Wes Berry.  (2013.  Pp. 356.  $27.95. Hardcover. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.  663 South Limestone Street, Lexington KY 40508-4008. www.kentuckypress.com) ISBN: 978-0-8131-4179-4. For those of us who survived the Kentucky winter of 2013/14, we continue to embrace every second of summer that is humanly possible. Since …

History Mystery: Summer Picnic or Fair?

This month’s History Mystery takes us to a beautiful summer day of the past. On a grassy hillside, a group of finely dressed ladies and gentlemen are posed, looking relaxed and somewhat happy. As happy as a turn of the century photographer would allow them to look: “OK everyone! Keep …