KOHC Invites Kentuckians to Celebrate the Commission's 50th Anniversary

FRANKFORT, KY (Aug. 31, 2026) — The Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC) invites Kentuckians to celebrate its 50th anniversary on Oct. 9 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. EDT at the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in downtown Frankfort. This event includes a panel discussion of the KOHC’s history and a closer look at the oral history field’s impact and future. 

“The KOHC was established in 1976, when Kentuckians were encouraged by the energy around America’s bicentennial,” said Scott Alvey, Executive Director of KHS. “This generated tremendous interest in local and state histories, and Kentuckians committed to the ambitious task of collecting and preserving their stories. 50 years on, the KOHC continues to build on its amazing legacy of making thousands of recorded interviews possible.” KHS administers the commission on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

An esteemed panel will lead the hour-long discussion, including Kim Lady Smith, Former Administrator, KOHC; Dr. Doug Boyd, Director, Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky; and Brent Björkman, Director, Kentucky Folklife Program and the Kentucky Museum. 

A half-hour audience Q&A session will follow the panel discussion. 

The event is free to attend, but registration is strongly encouraged for in-person attendance. Those unable to attend can watch a livestream of the panel discussion via KHS’s YouTube channel. 

To register for in-person attendance, go to: https://bit.ly/3UdeZeR

For additional information: https://history.ky.gov/participate/kentucky-oral-history-commission