Kentucky: State in the United States, located in the southeastern region, known for its bluegrass, horse farms, bourbon distilleries, and college basketball.
Preserving Kentucky's History: A Comprehensive Approach
Kentucky is taking significant steps to preserve and digitize its historical records, with various organizations investing in projects that aim to make these records more accessible to the public. Here's a look at some of the notable initiatives:
Local Efforts
The Powell County Public Library is digitizing its collections, providing free access to historical newspapers, genealogy indexes, photographs, and local history materials. Meanwhile, the City of Covington, Kentucky, is developing a Programmatic Agreement with the Kentucky Heritage Council (SHPO) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), ensuring the effective administration of community development programs while preserving historic resources.
State-Level Projects
The Kentucky Oral History Commission is documenting and preserving the lived experiences of African American coal miners and their families in Kentucky's western coalfields. The Kentucky State Historical Records Advisory Board is conducting a comprehensive statewide survey and guide of archives and manuscript repositories, and has also received funding for the Kentucky State Archives Digital Repository project.
University Initiatives
Several universities in Kentucky have received grants for various projects. The University of Louisville has received funding for the D.W. Griffith Papers, the Letters of Louis Dembitz Brandeis, and the personal papers of eight 20th-century Kentucky women. The University of Kentucky has received grants for the Complete Writings and Selected Correspondence of John Dickinson, the Papers of Henry Clay, and the Lexington Herald-Leader Photographic Collection.
Other universities, such as Berea College and Transylvania University, have received funding for specific projects like the Council of the Southern Mountains Records Project and the Correspondence of Constantine Rafinesque.
Continuing Education and Training
The Kentucky State Historical Records Advisory Board has received funding for continuing education workshop and webinars, as well as for analyzing the current condition of historical records in the state and recommending necessary action. The Filson Club Historical Society has received funds to convert descriptions of manuscript and photographic collections to the USMARC AMC format, and to develop a plan for automating access to its collections.
Future Initiatives
While no Kentucky-specific awards were mentioned in the 2019 National Digital Newspaper Program grants, Kentucky libraries may engage in similar programs. The National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA), based in Frankfort, is preparing a systematic study of the preservation needs of the nation's state websites and plans to prepare a report on these needs.
Together, these projects reflect institutional efforts at both local (libraries), state (Kentucky Oral History Commission), and municipal (City of Covington) levels to preserve and enhance accessibility to Kentucky's historical records through digitization and preservation initiatives.
- In the realm of personal growth and career development, the Kentucky State Historical Records Advisory Board offers ongoing education workshops and webinars to foster skills related to historical record preservation.
- For those seeking employment in the industry, engaging in job-search opportunities within organizations like archives, libraries, or museums involved in education and self-development, such as the Powell County Public Library, may provide relevant experience.
- Higher education institutions like the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky offer substantial learning opportunities through grants funding research on historical records and documents, offering a chance for individuals to develop professional skills in finance, business, and the conservation of cultural heritage.
- The National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA), based in Frankfort, aims for a future where Nations' state websites are systematically studied and addressed for preservation needs, opening up potential career paths for individuals passionate about both technology and history.
