Kentucky's First Ladies in Miniature

First Ladies in Miniature Collection, on loan from the New State Capitol. This exhibit is located adjacent to the Hall of Governors in Commonwealth Hall at the Kentucky History Center. 

The miniatures have been temporarily removed from their permanent home in the rotunda at the New State Capitol during its renovation.

The First Ladies in Miniature is a project of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Kentucky (originally Kentucky Federation of Women’s Clubs), encouraged by First Lady Beula Nunn. It was conceived and coordinated by GFWC Kentucky’s Helen Evans, the original set being presented to the commonwealth in 1971. Evans was a civic activist, teacher, World War II veteran, KET administrator, and director of the Kentucky Lt. Governor’s Mansion and Vest-Lindsey House.

Two types of miniatures form the collection. The first design was a French-style doll made by Dorothy Smith of Louisville. Beginning in 1983, the miniatures are of a slightly different, taller design made by Phoebe McCoy of Catlettsburg. The figures are not portraits of the first ladies, although in many cases hair and eye colors were based upon their subjects.

Each First Lady is represented with a porcelain doll wearing a dress fashionable during her husband’s term. The more recent miniatures are dressed in replica inaugural ball gowns worn by the First Lady. For the Britainy Beshear miniature, the gown was designed by Marilyn Davis and her facial features by Sallie Clay Lanham, both of Frankfort.

This collection exhibits much more than a chronology of fashion.

It commemorates the struggles and successes of some notable Kentucky women, including Kentucky’s first female governor, Martha Layne Collins (1983-1987).