A. Collections and Libraries

KHS has extensive archival, library and museum collections that document the people, organizations and businesses of the commonwealth. It maintains online catalogs for offsite research, provides fee-based research services for people who need more information and cannot visit KHC&M, and has a full research library for onsite visitors. Collections include, but are not limited to, manuscripts, photographs, oral histories, artifacts, periodicals and publications. KHS collections attract scholars from around the world and around the state. Kentucky family history is a special area of emphasis.

B. Programs

KHS serves a broad audience and gears its programming to its different segments.

Public Programs: KHS presents several types of programs for adults and children at KHC&M, including, but not limited to, exhibits (both permanent and temporary), film screenings, talks, workshops and camps.

Student Programs: Field trips to KHC&M are the primary means through which KHS engages K-12 students. However, KHS also works with students and teachers through the Kentucky Junior Historical Society, a club-based program; and National History Day in Kentucky, an individual or group contest-based program where students conduct original research on a specific theme and present their findings for judging and potential advancement to a national contest. KHS in-school programs include Traveling Trunks, topic-based lessons and activities; Museums to Go, mobile panel displays; and HistorySmarts, combining history with a related hands-on arts activity. Teacher Programs: KHS museum educators provide such teacher professional development opportunities as the annual Kentucky History Education Conference and specific-topic workshops throughout the school year.

Community Engagement: KHS has several community engagement programs. One of the most popular is the Kentucky Historical Marker program, which allows communities to identify and commemorate their own histories. KHS also administers the Local History Trust Fund, a tax check-off where Kentucky state taxpayers contribute to a grant pool for history-minded organizations in the commonwealth; and administers the Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC). KOHC provides several types of grants to encourage the collection and preservation of historically valuable interviews.

C. Publications

The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society: KHS has published the state’s scholarly quarterly continually since 1903. It features articles that focus primarily on Kentucky history and includes an extensive book review section. Kentucky Ancestors: KHS started this publication in 1965 to provide articles for and resources to people researching family history in Kentucky. Originally a quarterly print publication, Kentucky Ancestors transitioned to an online publication in 2013. Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition: This online “publication” contains thousands of documents that the Kentucky Governor’s Office generated or received between 1860 and 1865. They show what life was like for public officials and everyday civilians during wartime. KHS staff and graduate assistants are annotating each one with biographical information and adding metadata to help create a research platform that will allow people to access, understand and analyze the information in new ways.

D. Fellowships and Awards

Research Fellowships: KHS offers short-term fellowships (one to four weeks) to promote scholarship on any facet of Kentucky’s history. They are available to independent scholars, college and university teachers, graduate students and scholars working in disciplines related to an aspect of Kentucky history. Kentucky History Awards: KHS sponsors annual awards to recognize outstanding achievements by historians, public history professionals, volunteers, business and civic leaders, communities and historical organizations throughout the commonwealth. Internships: KHS internships offer hands-on experience in a variety of areas to help undergraduate and graduate students aspiring to a career in museums or history attain their goals. KHS designs internships to help meet specific organizational needs, but often can tailor individual projects to an intern’s skills, interests and academic requirements.