This past February the Kentucky Historical Society and the African American Genealogy Group of Kentucky teamed up to host a panel session about Kentucky African American research strategies and resources. The panel was comprised of four experts in the field: Dr. Alicestyne Turley of Berea College, Reinette Jones of the Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, Yvonne Giles – the Lexington “Cemetery Lady”, and Mike Denis of Eastern Kentucky University. 

Throughout the two hours of dialogue and questions, our panel covered various subjects including: Databases, cemeteries, slavery conditions, pre-Civil War free blacks, black slave owners, family, community, sharing enslaved names, census records, emancipation, Abraham Lincoln’s suspected Melungeon roots, prisons and the 13th Amendment.

The first hour covers the introductions and project reviews from the panelists, and the second hour covers individual questions – which are posted at the bottom of the screen during the answers. We know it’s a long session, at 2 hours, but it’s extremely educational and worth the time – don’t miss this amazing opportunity to learn from the experts!