Several men stand amongst the rubble of a building after a fire that burned the town of Clay, Ky.
When courthouse fires destroy records, can genealogists still find answers? 🔍
New Kentucky Ancestors blog reexamines Peter Little of Morgan County and shows how tax rolls, land records, and census clues corrected his long-accepted death date.
https://ow.ly/HK3s50YpE2U
#Genealogy
On March 9, 1976, an explosion in the Scotia mines killed 15 people. Two days later, a second explosion occurred, killing an additional 11 people. Join us as Dr. Brian McKnight examines the lead-up to the explosions and why they occurred. FREE event March 21, 2026.
history.ky.gov/events/remem...
William Goebel was shot on his way into the Old State Capitol after a fiercely disputed election. Sworn in on his deathbed, he became the only U.S. governor ever assassinated in office. Read our newest blog:
➡️https://history.ky.gov/stories-and-blogs/william-goebel-the-man-behind-the-statue
Small wooden canary bird cage with vertical and horizontal bars containing two white ceramic bottles inside. From KHS collections, 2004.45.1
Mar. 9, 1976, explosion at Scotia Mines, Oven Fork, killed 15. Two days later, a second explosion occurred, killing an additional 11. Dr. Brian McKnight leads a program on March 21 examining explosions and why the explosions occurred.
RSVP:
https://ow.ly/ceOn50XXuOM
164 years ago, Union soldier Jessie Hyde passed through Bowling Green, during the Civil War. He commented, “This was one of the rebels’ strongest points of defense,” and that “Bowling Green was, undoubtedly, a beautiful place before the commencement of the war.”
#76for250 @america250.bsky.social
222 years ago, Chief Justice John Marshall wrote a biography of George Washington at the request of Washington’s nephew. The included maps capture an in-progress snapshot of the country as it was during the Revolutionary War, before KY was a state.
➡️https://ow.ly/LLXG50Y1jSG
@america250.bsky.social
Kentucky schools: Free KHS field trips are coming in 2026 for America 250! Funded by the Elizabeth Lloyd “Libby” Jones Student Scholarship Fund, this program expands student access to Kentucky history. Teachers can learn more at history.ky.gov.
16.02.2026 18:01 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
172 years ago, Craig Newton published a defense of his actions to reduce the sentence of abolitionist Delia Webster, a teacher who helped enslaved people cross the Ohio River. She served two-year sentence in state penitentiary.
➡️https://ow.ly/piua50Y1jHx
#76for250 #America250KY
Thank you, Linda May, a retired teacher who volunteers as a virtual transcriber, reviewing and reproducing manuscripts. Linda lives in Indiana but has ties to Kentucky and wants to expand public access to our collections through our digital catalog.
https://history.ky.gov/participate/volunteer
In 1954, Muhammad Ali lost his prized red Schwinn bike. That twist of fate led him to the Columbia Gym at Spalding University in Louisville, where he met Joe Martin, a local police officer and boxing coach and thus built an iconic career in boxing. 🥊
https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/892
Upcoming funding deadline #skystorians. KHS is accepting applications for the KHS research fellowship program, which offers access to an array of KHS archival and museum collections across topics and time periods. Spring deadline is MARCH 1, 2026. 🐎 📖
history.ky.gov/khs-for-me/f...
*LAST CALL
Join KHS Oral Historian, Michael Kilmore, for a VIRTUAL workshop explaining the oral history grant application process and answering your questions.
Feb. 18, 11 am - 12:00 pm EST
Feb. 19, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm EST
Register here:
https://ow.ly/tSMS50XWWRZ
LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEER JUDGES: 👀
National History Day in Kentucky regional competitions begin soon, and you can help make a difference by volunteering as a judge for competing students.
Register here:
➡️https://register.nhd.org/Contests
Learn more:
➡️https://history.ky.gov/nhdky
190 years ago, Thomas and Eliza Jan Harrison sold a home to Dennis Doram in Boyle County, an African American family in Danville. Dorams purchased their own freedom, became successful business owners, and were wealthy landowners.
➡️https://ow.ly/AgHT50Y1juh
#76for250 #America250KY
What happens when a high-stakes Kentucky scandal meets the world of undercover female spies?
The newest podcast from Kentucky Chronicles features Professor Elizabeth De Wolfe to discuss her book Alias Agnes.
🎧 https://youtu.be/ycB9D4J_2QQ
#KYHistory #TrueCrime #WomenInHistory
💜Check out our Black History Highlights series this month on the KHS Instagram page:
➡️https://www.instagram.com/kentuckyhistoricalsociety/
Each Tuesday in February, we will share an inspiring story from Kentucky history. #BlackHistoryMonth
162 years ago, a muster roll was created to document African Americans who joined the United States Colored Troops from 7th, 8th, and 9th KY Districts.
➡️https://www.kyhistory.com/digital/collection/MS/id/957/rec/6
#76for250 #America250KY @america250.bsky.social
In 1844, seamstress Jane Stephens Stout boldly campaigned for James K. Polk, in Henry Clay territory. Her handmade banner urged voters to switch sides, and showed how public, spirited, and risky political life was in the 19th century.
Read the blog:
https://ow.ly/mCOV50XvPKQ
National History Day in Kentucky regional competitions begin soon, and you can help make a difference by volunteering as a judge for competing students.
Register here:
➡️https://register.nhd.org/Contests
Learn more:
➡️https://history.ky.gov/nhdky
148 years ago, Robert Doram wrote to his mother about his experience at Fort Concho, Texas, and his service in the 10th US Cavalry, a unit of African Americans, known more commonly as “Buffalo Soldiers.”
#76for250 #America250 @america250.bsky.social
Group of diverse adults posing together at the Kentucky History Awards event hosted by the Kentucky Historical Society.
*LAST CALL:
Nominate a dynamic history organization in your community that is doing great work for a Kentucky History Award. Deadline closes on January 30, 2026.
Apply here:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ow.ly/KHht50XWHpX
Speech of Hon. Lazarus W. Powell, on the state of the Union: delivered in the Senate of the United States, January 22, 1861.
Powell served as the 19th Governor of Kentucky from 1851-1855 and then as a U.S. Senator from 1859-1865.
https://www.kyhistory.com/digital/collection/RB/id/7643/rec/54
Interested in oral history grant funding? 💸
Join KHS Oral Historian, Michael Kilmore, for an informative VIRTUAL workshop explaining the application process and answering your questions.
Feb. 18, 11 am EST
Feb. 19, 5:30 pm EST
Register here:
https://ow.ly/33F850XWWCU
164 years ago, Mary Ann Clark was taken prisoner by the Union Army and was discovered to be a woman disguised as a man serving in the Confederate Army. She was quickly released, but rejoined as “Lt. Henry Clark.”
#76for250 #America250 @america250.bsky.social
Each year, KHS sponsors the Kentucky History Awards, recognizing the achievements of history-related organizations and the people connected with them. Nominate an organization in your community:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ow.ly/JQve50XWHpW
Continental Army veteran Samuel Gerock took part in the Battle of Princeton, fought #onthisday in 1777.
Explore his wartime papers, presented as proof of his military service for his 1818 pension application, with our online interactive: https://bit.ly/41Q99lg
Make a difference and volunteer as a judge for students competing in National History Day in Kentucky. Find the Kentucky contest date and location that works best for you.
https://register.nhd.org/Contests
Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Month, Jeff Damron!
Jeff is a retired attorney who has been volunteering as a moderator on our Kentucky Ancestors Facebook page since 2024. He enjoys spending time with his grandchild and helping families with their genealogy.
Fight hunger in Franklin County! Martin Luther King Jr. Day is all about serving and meeting the needs of your community. KHS and America250KY are collecting food pantry donations at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History from Jan. 12-24, Tues. – Sat. 10 am-5 pm.
https://ow.ly/4nOr50XNmjL
250 years ago, Simon Oxer took an Oath of Allegiance. It is likely related to Oxer’s service in a militia during the Revolutionary War, rather than US citizenship.
#76for250 #America250 America 250KY America250
