History Burgoo

Transforming students’ lives through the power of history!

On April 26 and 27, roughly 1,000 students from across the Commonwealth will meet at the University of Louisville for the 51st annual Kentucky Junior Historical Society Conference and Kentucky History Day. 

During their time in the Kentucky Junior Historical Society, KJHS students conduct research individually and in groups, cultivating skills of communication, collaboration and creativity and critical thinking.

Students presenting a project to judges during the 2012 conference.

 

Working in-depth on a personally-chosen project, participants collect oral histories, restore local landmarks, create dramatic interpretations of historical events and develop websites, competing to be one of the top students who will take their project to the University of Maryland in a bid for national honors.

The culmination of a year of work may lead up to just one day, but the impact can transform a student's life.

Take Emma, for example. "This has made a huge impact on Emma’s life," writes her mother, Rebecca. As a young child, Emma had a pronounced speech impediment affecting her confidence speaking in a public setting. Through years of speech therapy and small class settings she was able to present to her classmates, but it was her involvement with Kentucky History Day that changed everything.

"Kentucky History Day gave Emma an opportunity to become an expert in her topic of choice, which in turn, made her feel like she could speak with academic authority. The issue wasn’t about public speaking anymore; it was about sharing her expertise."

To ensure that any qualifying student has the opportunity to compete on the national level, the Kentucky Historical Society subsidizes the cost of each student's trip to Washington D.C. and the University of Maryland.

Donors are the people who make this dream a reality – state funding isn't available to send one single student to National History day.

Join Rebecca, Emma and other supporters of history education on April 24^th as the KHS Foundation, in partnership with the Kentucky Nonprofit Network, participates in Kentucky Gives Day, a special 24-hour day of giving.

During this one-day event you can make a tax-deductible donation to the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, instantly making Kentucky History Day a reality for more students like Emma!

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KJHS is administered by the Kentucky Historical Society, which is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. KHS is committed to helping people understand, cherish and share Kentucky's history by providing connections to the past, perspective on the present and inspiration for the future. For more about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit www.history.ky.gov.

Students! Participate in the 2012 Vice Presidential debate with "Our Voice. Our Future."

Centre College in Danville, Ky., is making history (again!) as the host of the only 2012 vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan, an event the campus hosted in 2000 between Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman. This year, Centre is using technology and innovative social media strategies to give high school and post-secondary students from Kentucky and around the world a chance to experience the debate. 

The “Our Voice. Our Future.” event is a live, interactive webinar that gives teachers and students a front row seat to debate day activities and a forum to give reactions and discuss the general election. “Our Voice. Our Future.” will be broadcast live online in classrooms and on campuses across the country.

The event is made possible by the Global Center for Connected Campuses (GC3), a partnership between Centre College, Connected Nation and 10/20 Digital, which explores innovative and practical ways to use technology in the liberal arts college setting. “Our Voice. Our Future.” will be its first event, giving students access to powerful political thought leaders and a direct channel for communication among peers about the general election via online technology.

Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson (currently Director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University) will serve as a moderator. “We all know how important the 2012 elections are to our nation’s future, especially to students and millennials who will become tomorrow’s leaders,” said Trey Grayson, director of Harvard’s Institute of Politics. “The ‘Our Voice Our Future’ project will help encourage students from across the country to engage in the political process this fall, and I am excited this effort will be initiated from my native state.” 

Kentucky’s current Secretary of State, Alison Lundergan Grimes and Kentucky Educational Television’s Renee Shaw will also moderate the event. “Kentucky is at its best when everyone is engaged,” says Grimes, “and having the vice presidential debate in Kentucky creates a unique opportunity to involve our young people in the election. The ‘Our Voice. Our Future.’ event capitalizes on that opportunity by using technology to bring the democratic process straight into the classroom.”

The 2012 debate will engage K-12 and post-secondary students from Kentucky and other states in technology-enabled debate focused activities. GC3 plans a student-populated round table discussion on the afternoon before the debate takes place, including students drawn from high schools, colleges and universities participating live and online. GC3 and its partners have also provided a wealth of free teaching resources online in advance of the debates.

How can you join the conversation? Register now at www.2012vpdebate.com. Participants are encouraged to submit questions by Oct. 5 to debate@connectednation.org, and follow @ConnectedNation, @CentreC and #CentreVPDebate on Twitter.

Why I like National History Day

Below is the first in a series of blog posts by Kentucky National History Day student Hellary Zhang about her experience participating in the program. For more about the Kentucky Junior Historical Society and how to participate in NHD, visit www.history.ky.gov/kjhs. 

 

I was initially drawn to the National History Day (NHD) program because I felt that it was a departure from what I was learning in my AP World History class. To me, AP World History was essentially the cramming of 10,000 years of history in two semesters. Even though history had always been one of my favorite subjects, the daunting curriculum was enough to make my head spin. I not only had to memorize significant people and events, but I also had to be able to analyze each event’s causes and effects. I had to recognize changes and continuities spanning different periods of history and different continents of the world.

NHD was different in that I could pick any topic (as long as it fit the theme, of course) and truly go in depth with my research and understanding. I was no longer attempting to understand sweeping generalizations and trends, but was pursuing a deeper understanding of a single phenomenon. I had months to thoroughly research my topic, as well as the historical context surrounding it. By the time I put my project together, I had a mental map of the causes, occurrences, and effects of the topic I had studied. To me, NHD was another way in which I could pursue my interest in history, as well as challenge myself in a more engaging activity than my day-to-day coursework.

Hellary Zhang, Junior, duPont Manual High School.

“Emancipation in Kentucky: A Key Turning Point” Teacher Field Study Bus Trip Highlights State History

Research shows that individuals learn history best at places where it happened, so this year’s Kentucky History Education Conference (KHEC) had an added feature for the first time: The following day, July 13, KHS offered a field study bus trip to sites in Kentucky associated with African American emancipation.

The theme for the bus trip was chosen for several reasons. First, the effort to end slavery in Kentucky fit well with this year’s KHEC theme: “Turning Points in History.” Second, emancipation is an area of our state’s history that has received little attention -- yet emancipation and race are subjects that are still relevant in our society and schools today, and the more historical knowledge an educator brings to these issues, the better prepared he or she is to discuss them intelligently and confidently with students. Students also seem to make a better connection to history when given local examples in the classroom. Finally, these intriguing and significant sites, all with historical connections, were within close geographical distance to one another, allowing the tour to be completed in a day. 

33 teachers, some from as far away as Ballard County in the west, Pike County in the east, Boone County in the north and Wayne County in the south, signed up for this additional learning experience that included stops at White Hall State Historic Site, (home of emancipationist Cassius Marcellus Clay, near Richmond); Berea, site of the abolitionist community founded by native Kentuckian John G. Fee; and Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park in Jessamine County, site of a Union quartermaster center that turned into an African American soldier recruiting and training center once they were finally allowed to enlist in Kentucky in the spring of 1864.

After a short briefing at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History that included a provided folder of primary sources for each site, the bus was loaded up and heading to White Hall. The heavy rain we encountered did not dampen the spirits of the teachers as they absorbed the interesting life of Cassius Marcellus Clay and his family. Next, it was off to Berea for a brief view of the John G. Fee monument, then to Boone Tavern for an engaging historical performance of Fee by Kentucky Humanities Council’s Chautauqua performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush and, of course, a delicious lunch. The day’s final stop, Camp Nelson, included a short video and a visit to the museum gallery in the interpretive center, to learn more about the lives of Kentucky African American soldiers and their refugee families. To end the visit, Hasan Davis, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, performed an inspiring first-person account of Angus Augustus Burleigh, a runaway slave, United States Colored Troops soldier at Camp Nelson and Berea College graduate.

The day of historic site visits and learning proved to be a big hit with the participants. On the return trip to Frankfort, they filled out response cards that encouraged them to reflect on what they learned during the day by answering a few thinking prompts: “Today I was surprised to learn....” and “I can make a connection about the content I learned to my grade level by telling my students about....” Estill County High School teacher Danny Wood even commented, “The trip was great. It was the best ‘in-service’ I've been to in 25 years of teaching. I loved it and will look forward to future trips. The primary sources folder is interesting and useful. The living history actors were really great! Overall, I don't believe it could have been better! Please keep doing these.” It was evident by their answers that the day was successful in providing educators with their own learning experience about an important aspect of Kentucky’s rich history!

For more about teacher professional development services at KHS, visit www.history.ky.gov. For photos from 2012 KHEC and the field study bus tour, visit the photo album on the KHS Facebook page.

Confessions of a Costumed Interpreter

Historic Locust Grove is a Regency style home built around 1792 in Louisville, Kentucky. Home to the Croghan family, this National Historic Landmark welcomed three presidents, the famed members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and General George Rogers Clark. Owned by William Croghan (a surveyor and one of the wealthiest men in Kentucky) and his wife Lucy Clark Croghan (the sister of George
Rogers Clark and William Clark), Locust Grove was a major gathering place in Kentucky. Today, Historic Locust Grove hosts many events including: 18th Century Market Faire, Antique Fair, 18th Century Thunder Revolutionary War Encampment, patriotic picnics, lecture series, KJHS club, and an opportunity for visitors to tour the home and experience the magic of an 1800’s Christmas celebration.

On December 9-10, 2011 I participated in Candlelight Christmas at Locust Grove. Candlelight is a popular event at Locust Grove, during the second week of each December, where visitors connect with history through costumed interpreters (CI) like me! The house is decorated in Regency Style Christmas splendor while visitors participate through dancing, playing card games such as Whist, and conversing with the interpreters.

About three and a half years ago, my best friend introduced me to the world of costumed interpreting opportunities at Historic Locust Grove. To prepare for my CI role, I attend monthly meetings to learn from other interpreters and guest speakers. The group also learns current events of the early 1800’s, clothing styles, children’s activities, food preparation and presentation, day to day activities, and conversation points to use to engage visitors in enjoyable topics. Select members also participate in rehearsals of Regency period dances. Through the CI meetings I have made friends my age, and have met seasoned interpreters who have amazing storytelling talent and a passion for history.

When I began costumed interpreting I portrayed Eliza Croghan, the youngest daughter of William and Lucy Croghan of Locust Grove. However, she was only eight years old and I had recently turned 14 years old and grew six inches, which squashed the believability of me being a little girl. I was then given the character of Ann “Nany” Clark. Nany was the youngest daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Clark, the wealthiest family in Kentucky and the niece of George Rogers and William Clark.

To research my new character I discussed my “family” with the other interpreters, and researched and shared my new knowledge from the internet and meetings with local historians, on the CI blog. My favorite parts of the CI learning process are researching clothing styles and the dancing practices. Due to my recent growth spurt, a new dress was in order. I purchased authentic period fabric at the Jane Austen Festival (hosted annually at Locust Grove) and a friend sewed the dress for me in Regency style. To complete my transformation, my mom fixed my hair in “the latest Regency fashion,” and I wore my great-grandmother’s cameo necklace, which is almost a hundred years old, strung on a beautiful ribbon.

The final touches were placed around the grounds, the halls were “decked” with holly and greenery, the luminaries were lit, showing the way to the house, and the cold air urged the visitors toward the music and candlelight filled house. A large crowd of my family, friends, and members of my KJHS group arrived to enjoy an evening of history and treats from 1809. I spent most of the night dancing with short breaks to “introduce” myself to the guests. Both evenings went by so quickly and were full of music, dancing, and storytelling. Now, I can’t wait for next year!

Written by Clare Egan (KJHS Board Historian)

a.k.a. Nany Clark

For more information on Historic Locust Grove and costumed interpreting go to www.locustgrove.org or call (502)897-9845.

For more information on the Kentucky Junior Historical Society contact Cheryl Caskey at cheryl.caskey@ky.gov.

Exploring the KJHS Archives (conclusion)

While exploring the KJHS archives I have come across every sort of document, photograph, and artifact but there is one last untapped resource I had yet to explore: oral history.

During the last few weeks of my internship, I had the pleasure of interviewing a past KJHS member, Sarah “Suzie” (Orrahood) Hall who, in 1971, was the second female president of KYHA (Kentucky Young Historians Association - it wasn’t known as the Kentucky Junior Historical Society until 1976). Sarah was very active during high school in her Owensboro KYHA chapter, organizing projects to clean up local cemeteries and entering projects into the essay contest at the state convention.

Campaigning for state office was always one of Sarah’s favorite activities in KYHA. She campaigned very hard in high school to be elected state historian, then state secretary, until finally she became state president in 1971 in the twelfth grade.  Sarah’s campaign slogan was “A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits.” Becoming president was one of Sarah’s fondest memories, and one of her greatest achievements.

After leaving KYHA, Sarah continued to be active in the organization by mentoring women that also wanted to become state president. Sarah continued her interest in the past by majoring in history at Western Kentucky University and eventually practicing law. Sarah said that she became a lawyer because the campaigning in KYHA inspired her to pursue that profession. In the 90’s Sarah would return to the Kentucky Historical Society to provide legal council.

I asked Sarah why she thought it is important for today’s students to participate in KJHS. Her answer helped to put me to put history into a better perspective. “History is cyclical,” and “only with an understanding of global events in history can children understand what is going on in the nation.” Sarah is a substitute history teacher in Lexington and she is worried that current students might not be able to connect the past events of history with the present.

Sarah is currently organizing a walking tour of an African-American cemetery in Lexington and an outreach program for young African-American school children to visit historic sites. Programs such as this give children a chance to view history in their community.

Interviews help to prove that history isn’t simply just an event—it’s an ongoing process involving the entire community. While interviewing Sarah I remembered a book I read in graduate school called Presence of the Past by Roy Rosenweig. In the book, Rosenweig explains that there are two types of history; History (national and global events that effect us all, that are recorded) and history (events that shape all of our lives, though on a much more local or mundane aspect of life, that aren’t necessarily recorded). For me the connection came when I realized that everything we do is history. The events, documents and organizations that we create as a society may not make the history books, but they are just as important because they shape the lives of future generations of people in our community. Organizations such as KJHS and the Kentucky Historical Society, though created years ago, still continue to influence members of the community through their actions.  

In the case with Sarah Hall, her passion for history still influences the community today. It is this passion that will continue to serve the community, and also inspire other children to pursue their interest in history.

--Derrick Ranostaj

 

Images:

1.) KYHS chapter outside building in Hodgenville, ca. 1963.

2.) 1974 Harrodsburg High School Yearbook of KYHS chapter.

Exploring the KJHS Archives, pt. 4



In April 2012, the Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS) will convene its 50^th Annual Convention at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. While we are celebrating KJHS’s 50^th anniversary on this occasion, the quest to create a program that would connect Kentucky’s youth with their history began a little more than 50 years ago when the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) published a magazine in 1957 called The Junior Historian. Simultaneously, the governor of Kentucky, A.B. “Happy” Chandler, wrote letters to history and English teachers in order to promote interest in forming Junior Historical Society chapters at their schools. Governor Bert T. Combs continued Chandler’s work by helping to pass legislation that created the Kentucky Young Historians Association (KYHA).

In 1961, the first issue of Kentucky Heritage was published. This magazine published the work of KYHA members featuring the projects they created in their chapters. During the early years, KYHA had 720 members and 28 clubs in the state of Kentucky.

The first state convention occurred in 1963, and was held at Franklin County High school in Frankfort. A bit of trivia about KYHA during this time:

·         Membership was open to any student in primary or secondary school in Kentucky.

·         Dues were $0.50 for club members and $1.00 for individual members.

·         The first president was Bill Zarrett, from Bryan Station High School in Lexington.

During this early period, one of the most important achievements was creating the organization’s first constitution. Officers were to be elected at each convention. At this time the state officers included: President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary and Historian.

This constitution did not allow Junior High and Elementary district representatives as state officers. The next constitution was later amended to solve this issue. Not everyone could vote: only members in the first 11 grades of school could vote.  

Kentucky Young Historians would meet yearly at State conventions. These conventions were to be held annually at a place approved by the Executive Committees of the Kentucky Historical Society and the Young Historians Association. In 1962, a new competition was announced for KYHA members to enter: the essay contest. Ribbons were given out for the winners. Starting in 1964, KYHA members were admitted to state historical sites and museums. By 1966, KYHA membership had grown to 5,016 students and 110 clubs.

 
During the 1970’s, the organization continued to grow. In 1976, during the nation’s bicentennial, the Kentucky Young Historical Association changed its name to the Kentucky Junior Historical. KJHS began to sponsor summer programs for its members in the mid 1970’s. One of these programs was  weekend camps at the Wickliffe Mounds, where students learned how to dig for artifacts at an actual archeological site.

The 70’s also saw KJHS form relationships with other state junior historical societies such as the Indiana Junior Historical Society and the Tar Heel Junior Historical Association from North Carolina. The IJHS and the KJHS met frequently during the 1970’s to exchange ideas and form friendships.

During the 1980’s, the state convention flourished with many new events available to students. These included: art, photography, research, scrapbook, video, exhibits, crafts, speeches, performances, and the ever popular History Bowl. By 1987, KJHS consisted of 3,700 students and 175 clubs. 1987 also saw KJHS celebrate its 25^th anniversary and Frankfort was chosen as the site for the state convention.

In the 1990’s, KJHS had several exciting new opportunities. Kentucky celebrated its bicentennial in 1992, and KJHS members participated with local programs and activities. In 1997 KJHS members were introduced to the National History Day program to increase opportunities for competition beyond the state level. At this time KJHS and National History Day were both separate entities. During the 2009-2010 school years KHD and KJHS were combined in order to adhere to National History Day project standards.

KJHS has grown since its creation nearly 50 years ago. While many of the functions of KJHS have changed over the years, its main role hasn’t changed: to provide new ways to help connect K-12 students to Kentucky’s rich history. What’s past is prologue for KJHS. The next 50 years will continue to be very productive and rewarding for KJHS members.

Would you like to help sponsor a KJHS chapter or join? Please contact Tim Talbott at 502-564-1792 ext. 4428, or Tim.Talbott@ky.gov.

-Derrick Ranostaj

Images:

Image 1: Kentucky Young Historians Association chapter certificate.

Image2: Campaign card for the office of second vice president of 1965 KYHA convention.

Image 3: Picture of KJHS chapter, unknown location, ca. 1990.

Image 4: KJHS members at the Wickliffe mounds ca. 1970.

Exploring the KJHS Archives (pt. 2)

Exploring the Kentucky Junior Historical Society archives I found out that it all comes down to the yearly conference in Frankfort. Each KJHS student, teacher and sponsor carefully prepares throughout the year for this event. It’s a time of great excitement and happiness, but also anxiety. These conferences were two days in length, and were typically held at the Farnham Dudgeon Civil Center in downtown Frankfort. All members of KJHS were invited, and most schools sent representatives. Typically students from the 4^th-12^th grades came to these conferences. Currently the conference is held at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. In the future there are plans to hold the convention in Louisville and other locations throughout Kentucky.    

Yearly conferences encouraged students to actively participate by creating projects, voting for their state KJHS representatives and participating in the ever popular History Bowl.

Students created projects and activities including posters, artwork, arts and crafts, plays, songs, photography, research papers, and historic walking tours for their local area. All of these projects had to focus on a historical person, place or thing from Kentucky’s past. Many of the students dealt with popular topics, such as the Civil War, or local history, such as how their town was founded. The projects were then displayed and judged at the conference. Winners received a ribbon and a mention in the KJHS publication Kentucky Heritage.

Kentucky Heritage was published from 1965 until 2007. This magazine contained information on the projects KJHS members completed for each convention. Each issue’s front cover featured artwork drawn by a KJHS member that won an award at the convention. Receiving mention in Kentucky Heritage was a great honor for many KJHS members. Artwork wasn’t the only thing shown in this magazine: research papers, plays and poems were also printed. In 2007, Kentucky Heritage stopped publication. Timeline was created in the late 90’s and had become a replacement for the magazine. Much like its predecessor, Timeline keeps KJHS members informed of upcoming events, workshops, and of course, reminders for the yearly state convention. Two years ago, Timeline switched from print to online-only publication.     

At every conference, students also campaigned for the offices of KJHS president, vice-president, treasurer, historian and reporter. These state representatives would help guide the organization until next year—when they would often seek reelection. Being a state representative for KJHS was a strange mix of politics and history. Not only did these students make decisions for future KJHS members, but they also created an organization that encouraged outreach among students and the community. This certainly proves that young people DO care about their history!

The centerpiece of past conventions has always been History Bowl. History Bowl is a contest between schools that asks questions about Kentucky’s past. It was very fast paced since many of these questions involved quick recall. There were three divisions: elementary, middle and high school, with two to three rounds to identify the final two schools in each division. As you can probably guess, History Bowl is still popular with the students since competing can be a huge boost to student morale.

Of course, not everything was about competition. KJHS conference gave students a chance to mingle with fellow KJHS members. Each convention had a mixer and dance for students to get to know each other. Since many of the members are from all over the state of Kentucky, these opportunities provided a great place to meet each year. I’m sure KJHS members (past and present) will not forget the memories made at KJHS conference.

-Derrick Ranostaj

Photo credits:
Image 1: An example of a KJHS member presenting their project at a convention in 2008.
Image 2: Awards from the 1970 KJHS state convention.
Image 3: Picture of KJHS history bowl, 2008.

How (and why) I became a docent at the Old State Capitol

In the late autumn of 2008 my wife, Jan, brought to my attention a request in the Frankfort State Journal for applications to serve as a volunteer docent at the Old State Capitol. I answered the call and filled out an application. I was approved soon after and in November began my training.

I was given materials and guides to read and also shadowed a docent during tours. At that time, I worked with Leslie McWhorter, Annie Denny and other full-time educators at KHS. In January 2009, after giving joint walkthroughs of the facility, I was granted the honor of being able to go “solo” and lead my own tours.

My interest in being a docent at the Old State Capitol most likely stems from my overall interest in history, especially Kentucky history. Growing up and attending schools in Franklin County provided me with ample opportunity to be exposed to the stories and tales of the commonwealth. Frankfort, as the capital of Kentucky, provided a political backdrop for much of what went on and continues to go on in the development of our history.

I can remember my first tour of the building on a school trip in the late fifties when I was in the first or second grade. The guides were older ladies (at least they appeared that way through the eyes of an eight year old) that skillfully led 30 or 40 youngsters through the tour. I can remember how we were fearful of the staircase after hearing that no cement, mortar or metal held the stairwell together but it stayed erect because of the great design work that relied on the physics of gravity.  

At the top of the steps was a souvenir stand where I purchased a Kentucky state flag and an American flag. Those flags have long been misplaced but I remember keeping them for a very long time and I could always remember where I purchased them.

I remember that what are now the house and senate chambers were then filled with many of the artifacts that are exhibited in the Kentucky Historical Society’s present exhibits. There, I saw Goebel’s suit coat with the holes made by the entry and exit wounds. We were shown weaponry of all sorts from the different eras of Kentucky history.

Over the years I would visit the Old State Capitol, but not very frequently. There would be an occasional visit to a special exhibit or to hear a choral group during the holidays, plus attending the various festivals that were held on the grounds. But it was those visits during my early school years that stand out and whereby I based my decision to return as a volunteer docent.

Over the past two years I have met people from all over the United States as well as every continent in the world. I have led school groups, church groups and preservation groups. I have served in the upper chambers on Boone Day. But just as important as serving as a docent and attempting to be a good will ambassador for our commonwealth, I have been able to learn more about the history the commonwealth and that of the United States of America.

-Russ Wright

 

Russell Wright is a ninth generation Kentuckian who was born and raised in Franklin County. He is retired from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet with over 35 years experience as an audit manager.

Wright holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting and a master’s degree in public affairs. He is a certified public manager, a certified government financial manager and an enrolled agent (a designation granted by the Internal Revenue Service). He has worked as a tax advisor for several years and practices in Frankfort.

Wright’s interest in genealogy has led him to attend the Kentucky Historical Society’s Family History workshops. He is a member of the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Genealogical Society (KGS) and serves as a director at large on the KGS board.

In addition to volunteering as a docent at the Old State Capitol, Wright also assists at the Kentucky Department of Library and Archives as a narrator for the Kentucky Talking Library Book (KTLB) program. KTLB provides the visually and physically impaired with recordings of books that are by Kentucky authors or books about Kentucky. He also serves as president of the Friends of the Paul Sawyier Public Library and is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Frankfort.

Wright lives in Frankfort with his wife, Jan, and has two sons in their late twenties who live in Frankfort and Lexington. He also has a wonderful American bulldog, Lucy, who is approaching her first birthday.

 

For more information on how you, too, can volunteer at KHS, visit www.history.ky.gov/volunteer or e-mail the KHS volunteer administrator at phyllis.gilman@ky.gov.

Exploring the KJHS Archives

Hello! My name is Derrick Ranostaj. I am a recent graduate from Kent State University with a master’s degree from the School of Library and Information Science. I also have a master's degree in public history. Currently, I am an intern in the Kentucky Historical Society’s education department.

As an intern I am helping to get ready for the Kentucky Junior Historical Society’s 50th anniversary. I am also updating the database used in the history bowl. KJHS is an outreach program that encourages K-12 students to appreciate and learn about the events that have shaped Kentucky’s history. 

My internship allows me to delve into the records of the KJHS archives. As I go through these records I am struck by how passionate and active many of these young KJHS members were in their local groups.

There are a great number of projects that reflect these young scholars' passion in both history and state pride. I hope to share much of this information with you in the upcoming weeks during my internship here at the Kentucky Historical Society.

The 50th anniversary gives us a great opportunity to reflect upon the past, and plan for the next 50 years of KJHS!

If anyone would like to share any past stories, or donate any pictures from the Kentucky Junior Historical Society to commemorate their 50th anniversary, please contact Tim Talbott at 502-564-1792 ext. 4428, or Tim.Talbott@ky.gov.