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Kentucky Historical Society to Honor 20 Awardees at Annual Kentucky History Celebration

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 7, 2025) – The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will celebrate the outstanding contributions of 20 individuals and organizations from across the commonwealth at the annual Kentucky History Awards Celebration, sponsored by Solid Light, Inc., on Saturday, June 7.

This year’s honorees represent a wide array of achievements in the field of history, with award categories spanning education, publication, and public service. In addition to the standard award categories, KHS will present several prestigious special honors named in recognition of Kentucky’s most distinguished historians. Among these are the Dr. James C. Klotter Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History Award and the Thomas D. Clark Award of Excellence.

“These awards reflect the incredible work being done in every corner of Kentucky to preserve and share our rich and complex history,” said KHS Executive Director Scott Alvey. “We are proud to recognize these exceptional individuals and organizations for their commitment to historical scholarship and community engagement.”

This year’s recipients include:

  • Thomas D. Clark Award of Excellence – Livingston County Historical & Genealogical Society
  • Dr. James C. Klotter Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History Award – Dr. Stephen McBride
  • Award of Distinction – Lynn Martin
  • Frank R. Levstik Award for Professional Service – Carol Ely
  • Volunteer Organization – Clay County Historical Society
  • Community Impact Award – Camp Nelson National Monument
  • Publication Award – University Press: Simplicity and Excellence: Elizabeth Kremer from Beaten Biscuits to Shaker Lemon Pie by Deirdre Scaggs and Evalina Kremer Settle
  • Publication Award – Private Press: Churches of Calloway County, Kentucky, 1820-2024 by Calloway County Genealogical and Historical Society
  • Education Award - Public Programming: Harrodsburg 250 Celebration Events – Harrodsburg Historical Society
  • Education Award – Public Programming: Monthly Meeting Programs – Calloway County Genealogical and Historical Society
  • Education Award – Public Programming: 2024 Program Series – Barren County Historical Society
  • Education Award – Preservation: Collection Re-housing Project – Capital City Museum
  • Education Award – Special Projects: Mt. Washington History Walk – Mt. Washington Historical Society
  • Education Award – Multimedia: “Objects from the Outer Branch” Video Series – South Union Shaker Village
  • Education Award – Multimedia: Reflections: Podcast – Patty Peavler
  • Education Award – Exhibit: 120: Cool KY Counties – Frazier History Museum
  • Education Award – Exhibit: Lest We Forget – Capital City Museum
  • Education Award – Exhibit: Berea Black History and Heritage – Our Land of Promise and Berea Arts Council
  • 2024 Gilder Lehrman Kentucky Teacher of the Year – Kendrick Bryan, LaRue County High School, Hodgenville
  • 2024 Richard H. Collins Award – Jonathan S. Jones – “’Died from eating too much morphine’: Researching Opioid Addiction in Civil War-Era Kentucky”

The awards will be presented on Saturday, June 7, at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, serving as the kickoff event for the WesBanco Kentucky History Day. Breakfast and networking begin at 9 a.m. EDT, followed by the awards presentation at 9:30 a.m. Following the awards, a variety of events will take place across the KHS campus, including living history demonstrations, performances, exhibitions, military demonstrations and more. For more information about these events and the Kentucky Historical Society, visit www.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. KHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and has full American Alliance of Museums accreditation.

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