Kentucky Junior Historical Society

The Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS) is an outreach program of the Kentucky Historical Society that encourages the youth of Kentucky to appreciate and understand the people, places and events that have given Kentucky its own unique place in history. Since 1961, KJHS has operated through a network of chapters, which are generally organized at the school level and led by a teacher.

Each KJHS chapter is given the flexibility to pursue the projects and activities that interest its members. The KJHS state office offers several events throughout the year in addition to those planned by sponsors. In the fall, regional rallies are held at several historic sites across the state, bringing together members from area chapters for a day-long experience including games, presentations and tours. The culminating event of the year is the the Kentucky Junior Historians Conference, held in the spring in Frankfort. View a list of the 2009 KJHS Convention prize winners.

KJHS membership is open to any Kentucky student, grades K-12. While most members are part of a chapter, students may also join as individuals if there is no chapter in their area. Individual membership dues are $5 per student per year, while chapter dues are $3 per student per year.

A chapter may be formed with an adult sponsor and at least three members. Most chapters are organized at the school level and led by a teacher, although sometimes several schools in a county combine to form a single chapter. One need not be a teacher in the public or private schools to sponsor a KJHS chapter. Homeschool teachers, Boy and Girl Scout troop leaders, 4-H leaders, local historical society members or interested citizens also make excellent KJHS sponsors. View the 2009-2010KJHS Sponsor Handbook.

In addition to these events, membership benefits include:

Subscription to Timeline, an e-newsletter for KJHS members.

View the winter 2009 Timeline.
View the fall 2008 Timeline.

A membership card that entitles the member to free admission to the KHS history campus and free or reduced admission to many museum's and historic sites around the state. View a complete list of participating sites.

Sponsors receive a free one-year membership in the Kentucky Historical Society.

Kentucky Junior Historians Conference
A two-day event, the Kentucky Junior Historians Conference, held May 7-8, 2010, will combine the Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS) convention and Kentucky's National History Day (KNHD) state contest. The KJHS convention will take place on Friday, May 7 and will consist of a quick recall tournament, tours and activities, election of officers to the KJHS student board, workshops and a Friday night dance.

The KNHD state contest, a project competition for 6-12 grade students, will be held on Saturday, May 8. Students must have advanced from one of the eight district contests in order to compete at the state contest.

An awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon will be held for students who competed that day and for youth division participants (4th-5th grade students) whose projects were submitted prior to the event.

Conference cost is $10 per student for those who did not pay the flat fee to participate.


View a complete list of KJHS chapters.

Check out KJHS from a student's perspective on this myspace page.

For more information about KJHS, contact Tim Talbott at 502-564-1792, ext. 4428, or Tim.Talbott@ky.gov.