Kentucky Historical Society Invests in Organizations through Local History Trust Fund
FRANKFORT, Ky. (January 2021) – The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) announced the 2021 recipients of the Kentucky Local History Trust Fund grants, a funding pool that supports the efforts of local history organizations to preserve and share Kentucky stories.
Organizations in 13 Kentucky counties received grants totaling $30,936.42. Individual amounts range from $1,200 to $2,500 for projects related to research, exhibition expansion, technology updates, and programming.
The Kentucky Local History Trust Fund grant recipients are as follows:
The Berry Center (New Castle, Henry County), $1,100.
The Self-Directed Tours Project will develop and implement self-directed tours at The Berry Center, resulting in an interchangeable collection of displays and educational posters. This will enrich the public’s understanding of The Berry Center’s mission and draw visitation to the town of New Castle, Our Home Place Market, and The Berry Center Bookstore. These new tours will emphasize the message of “good farming as the proper use and care of an immeasurable gift.” (Wendell Berry)
The SEEK Museum (Russellville, Logan County), $1,940.
The Welcome Video Project will purchase the equipment necessary to create and implement an introductory video for visitors to the Bibb House, the first building of the SEEK museum.
Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County (Hopkinsville, Christian County), $2,500.
The Kentucky New Era-Wood Family Archive Project will establish a climate-controlled repository to house the extensive collection of the Kentucky New Era newspaper. The publication was established in 1869 and continues to document the lives and events of Hopkinsville and Christian County. Project funds will unify a scattered collection and preserve the bound volumes of these newspapers.
The Lincoln Museum (Hodgenville, LaRue County), $335.
The History and Heritage: Collection Management in the Digital Age Project provides training and support for updated collections management procedures. Funds will purchase staff training in collections management programs to develop a collections management plan focused on greater accessibility.
The Kentucky Local History Trust Fund is a tax option allowing Kentuckians to donate a portion of their state income tax refund. As the administrator of the fund, KHS has awarded over $65,500 to nearly 50 local history organizations across the Commonwealth.
Allen County Historical Society (Scottsville) $1200
Funds will help prepare for the restoration of a former Louisville & Nashville locomotive to its original L&N color scheme. The project is part of a larger restoration of the Historic 1886 L&N Depot in Scottsville.
Archdiocese of Louisville Archives (Jefferson County), $2500
Funds will support the expansion of the Archdiocese of Louisville History Center Exhibits through the purchase of new custom-made cases.
Behringer-Crawford Museum (Covington, Kenton County), $2474.34
Funds will allow for the purchase of a large gun safe to preserve approximately ten, newly acquired Civil War-era weapons and for weapons safety and handling training provided by the Kenton County Sheriff’s office.
Capital City Museum (Frankfort, Franklin County), $2500
Funds will be used to produce new and updated interpretive signage at Fort Hill, and Fort Boone historic sites in Franklin County.
Friends of Cherokee State Resort Park (Aurora, Marshall County), $2500
Funding will support programming related to the history of segregation in public accommodations.
Harrodsburg Historical Society (Mercer County), $2500
Funding will support the creation of the temporary exhibit, “Harrodsburg Stories: A Community Collection,” focusing on the importance of artifacts and community collecting to ensure that stories of the area are preserved and shared.
Lexington History Museum (Lexington, Fayette County) $2500
Funds will be used to create the inaugural exhibition at the Rankin House, the Lexington History Museum’s new home. The exhibition will focus on the early owner of the home, Rev. Adam Rankin.
McCreary County Museum (Stearns) $2489.98
Funds will be used to update the McCreary County Museum’s Collection Management System and purchase laptops to catalog and maintain records of the museum’s archival collection.
McDowell House Museum (Danville, Boyle County), $1218.95
Funds will be used to upgrade technology for the filming and distribution of virtual field trips for McDowell House’s educational team.
Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site (Tompkinsville, Monroe County), $1825
Funds will be used to create and install 11 new interpretive signs at the site.
River Discovery Center (Paducah, McCracken County), $2463.15
Funds will be used to purchase educational materials, including historic games, for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) programming at the Center.
Shelby County Historical Society (Shelbyville), $2500
Funds will be used to purchase a large case and pedestal for rotation exhibitions at the Shelby County Historical Society.
Western Kentucky University Foundation on behalf of the Kentucky Museum (Bowling Green, Warren County), $2465.00
Funds will be used to conserve the skirt of a circa 1898 wedding dress may be the Mrs. A. H. Taylor Company of Bowling Green.
Whitehall House and Gardens (Louisville, Jefferson County), $1800
Funds will be used to hire an independent researcher to investigate the early residents of Whitehall in order to provide a more complete story of the home, its inhabitants, and the neighborhood.
For more information, visit history.ky.gov.
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The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is an agency in Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet. The KHS campus has three sites in historic downtown Frankfort: the Old State Capitol; the Kentucky Military History Museum; and the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History serving as KHS headquarters with a signature museum, exhibits, library, research facilities, object & archival collections, museum store and more.