Digital Commons Network^™

The Making Of A Connection: Exploration/Survey In Whigpistle Cave System, Patricia Kambesis, Joel Despain, Chris Groves

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

The current length of the Flint Ridge-Mammoth Cave System (to be called Mammoth Cave System for the rest of this paper) has been attained by a series of connections instigated by cave explorers/mappers of the Cave Research Foundation (CRF) and Central Kentucky Karst Coalition (CKKC). Between 1961 and 2011, connections have expanded the surveyed extent of the cave system to its current “official” length of 390 miles (650 km). Connections do not happen serendipitously; rather, systematic exploration is the key to successful connections. CRF and other groups working in the Mammoth Cave area have adopted a method of systematic exploration …

Archaeological Evidence Of Historic Mining At Forestville Saltpeter Cave (15ht94), Hart County, Kentucky, Darlene Applegate, Emily L. Duke

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

Forestville Saltpeter Cave is 1.5 km east of Mammoth Cave National Park on the WKU Green River Preserve. Historically, miners removed sediment from the cave to extract saltpeter for the production of gunpowder. Though dozens of peter-mining sites are known in western Kentucky, Forestville Saltpeter Cave is only the third site investigated by archaeologists. Intensive surface survey documented evidence of mining activity in the cave: working bays, rock piles, tally and other marks, tool marks, inscriptions, and lighting material. The mining likely occurred during the early nineteenth century. The operations were extensive throughout all passages and extracted 856 cu m …

From Board Games To Tobacco Products: U.S. Patents Related To Mammoth Cave, Margaret M. Gripshover

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

The archives of the U.S. Patent Office off er a unique window into the location, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of millions of inventors. What might the Patent Office records tell us about Mammoth Cave? A search of patents issued since 1836 resulted in 34 inventions that mention Mammoth Cave in their descriptions. Of these 34 patents, four were for technical aspects of cave environments such as ventilation, six were games or educational products, and 23 were related to Mammoth Cave Twist, a brand of chewing tobacco. The first Mammoth Cave-related patent was granted in 1915 for a board game and …

Remote Sensing Of Forest Trends At Mammoth Cave National Park From 2000 To 2011, Sean Taylor Hutchinson, John All

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

The influence of climate change and other environmental stressors on the health of midlatitude forests is an important, yet understudied topic for resource managers. Using vegetation indices derived from satellite remote sensing, slight changes in photosynthetic activity can be detected at the spatial scales needed for long-term forest monitoring. This study used remote sensing and geographic information systems to track the photosynthetic activity within Mammoth Cave National Park from 2000 to 2011. Relationships are examined between climate variables and the vegetation indices for the forest as a whole and at selected areas within the park.

Mammoth Cave In Poetry: Davis Mccombs’ Ultima Thule, Judith Hatchett

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

Davis McCombs, former Mammoth Cave park ranger, received the Yale Younger Poets Award for Ultima Thule, his collection of poems based on his experiences in and with Mammoth Cave, not only of his actual experiences as ranger and cave explorer, but also of the history of the cave, including poems in the voice of Stephen Bishop, cave explorer, cave guide, and also a slave. The detail of McCombs’ examination produces what poet W.S. Merwin called “a grave, attentive holding of a light.” In a sense, his poetry illuminates the cave the way ancient torches and modern lighting have done. This …

The History And Conservation Of Saltpeter Works In Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, George M. Crothers, Christina A. Pappas, Christian D. Mittendorf

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

Remains of the saltpeter mining operation in Mammoth Cave are a significant feature of several cave tours and figure prominently in the history of cave use. We undertook a comprehensive review of existing historical descriptions and recent archaeological investigations to construct the most reasonable account of how the saltpeter operation worked and assess its current conditions. At least three types of saltpeter vats were constructed in the cave reflecting an increase in the size of the operation and efficiency of processing sediments over time. Remains of three pump towers are also found in the cave in various states of preservation. …

The Mammoth Cave Mushroom Company: A Brief History Of A Short-Lived Venture, Katie Algeo

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

The Mammoth Cave Mushroom Company was formed in August 1881 during a particularly contentious period of family struggle for control of the cave, its resources, and tourism operations. This paper documents the history of the company from original company records and family letters. It places the Mammoth Cave operation within the larger historical context of mushroom production in caves as possibly the first such operation in the United States. It traces developments at the cave during the fall of 1881 as Anthony Muzarelli oversaw preparation of mushroom beds and supporting infrastructure and identifies sources of tension between the new mushroom …

Mammoth Cave National Park's 10th Research Symposium: Celebrating Diversity Of Research In The Mammoth Cave Region, Shannon Trimboli ,Editor

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

No abstract provided.

Graduate Student Research Meeting Minutes, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting minutes.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 88, No. 32, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Crumbie, Trey. P is for Priest – Michael Williams, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Campus Center
• Marnon, Christian. Gift of $120,000 to WKU Expected to Benefit Geology Department – Richard Reynolds
• Burton, Kristina. WKU Improv Group Still Bringing the Laughs – Happy Gas, Theatre & Dance
• Holloway, Kaely. WKU & ALIVE Center Offer Scholarship that Incorporates Community Service
• Vogt, Darren. Editorial Cartoon Media Banned from Football Clubhouse
• Shut Out: Football Program Bars Media Access to National Signing Day Banquet
• Stukenborg, Sarah. Safe Rides Program Continues This Semester – Student Government …

Milliken, Edna Beatrice (Myers) Moore, 1921-2005 - Collector (Sc 571), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "additional files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 571. Typescript of original 1827 indictment for dueling of Samuel Houston in Simpson County, Kentucky; typescript of original letter, September 1865, from Henry Grider, Bristow, Warren County, Kentucky, to his niece, Katherine, Happy Camp, California, commenting on the Civil War and its effects. Original letter housed in Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort.

The Evolutionary Role Of Physician Assistants Across The United States, Canada, And The United Kingdom, Brayden J. Gerrie, Elizabeth A. Holbrook

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 6(1) : 1-8, 2013. With physician shortages looming ominously on the horizon, healthcare systems across the globe are awaiting a surge of eager young doctors to enter the field. Much to the dismay of these systems, it does not appear that there will be a collective sigh of relief in the coming years. Fortunately there still remains a promising position to fill the gaps and potentially overcome the growing inundation of patients, shortage of general practice physicians, and ever growing underserved rural populations: the position of physician assistant (PA). Through this review, the evolution of …

Parsley, Rachel, B. 1991 (Fa 593), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid and full-text scan of paper and two transcripts (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Folklife Archives Project FA 593. Paper titled “Folk Medicine in the Mammoth Cave Area” written by Rachel Parsley for a folk studies class at Western Kentucky University. Parsley details folk remedies and folk medicine of the communities in the Mammoth Cave Region of south central Kentucky. Parsley’s research centers around interviews with her father, Andrew G. Parsley, Jr., and an Edmonson County resident, Bertha Skaggs, a well-known local practitioner of folk remedies. In addition to her interviews, Parsley relies on information collected by a …

Wallace: The Review, And Wallace: The Preview, Charles H. Smith

DLPS Faculty Publications

In this essay commemorating the one hundred year anniversary of his death, Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) is remembered for his main contributions to biogeography, and pointed to as a possible source of inspiration for future work in that field. As one of the science’s “fathers,” Wallace established both methods for study and a long-lived geographical systemization of animal distribution patterns. His efforts, moreover, may yet have the potential to inspire further new studies in the subject.

Understanding And Managing Karst Water Resources In Belize: Case Studies Of Both Past And Present In A Changing Climate, Jason S. Polk, Leslie North, Ben Miller, Jonathan Oglesby, Kegan Mcclanahan, Lowell Neeper, Aaron Holland, Bernie Strenecky

Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences Faculty Publications

Belize is a developing country that faces water resource issues in the forms of both quality and quantity, stemming from a long history of environmental stress and population threats, from the ancient Maya to present. Belize’s karst landscape, which comprises a large part of the country from the coast to the Maya Mountains, is characterized by springs, caves, sinkholes, and aquifers systems formed from the dissolution of carbonate (limestone, dolomite) rock. This research presents several different case studies, spanning from the ancient Maya and issues with drought to modern communities that rely on groundwater resources quickly being depleted. Past drought …

A Further Look At The 1858 Wallace-Darwin Mail Delivery Question, Charles H. Smith

DLPS Faculty Publications

Recent investigations have led to a conclusion that Alfred Russel Wallace probably mailed his ‘Ternate’ paper on natural selection to Darwin a month later than some have thought, thus freeing Darwin from possible accusations of plagiarism. Further examination of the question suggests this conclusion is premature, as the evidence in favor of the later mailing date appears to be shakier than first thought.

On The System Of Knowledge: A Classification Of Studies Within The Field Of Geography*, Charles H. Smith

DLPS Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ua12/13 2013 Sustainability Report [Western Kentucky University], Wku Office Of Sustainability, Christian Ryan-Downing

Sustainability Publications and Resources

No abstract provided.

Ua3/9/7 President's Office-Ransdell Correspondence, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Selected correspondence not duplicated in the Reading File. Contains incoming correspondence and responses.

Ua12/13 Big Red, Small Planet, Christian Ryan-Downing , Editor, Leslie North , Editor

Sustainability Publications and Resources

At WKU, “The Spirit Makes the Master”. Our commitment to continuous improvement is clearly reflected in our sustainability efforts. WKU’s commitment to sustainability, whether demonstrated in campus operations or in educational programs, helps to ensure that our graduates are prepared to address the complicated environmental, social and economic issues we face today. They will be able to think critically, solve problems creatively and be engaged citizens. If that’s all we accomplish then we will have achieved great success. But our sustainability commitment pays dividends, as it also leads us to reduce our environmental footprint, practice social responsibility, and conserve natural …

Ua35/4 2012-2013 Annual Report, Wku International Programs

WKU Administration Documents

2012-2013 report of WKU International Programs & Study Abroad & Global Learning.

2013-2014 Catalog, Wku Graduate School

Graduate School

Graduate School catalog regarding admissions, curriculum and policies.

Ua66/5 Department Of Agriculture 2013 Newsletter, Department Of Agriculture And Food Science

Agriculture Department Publications

No abstract provided.

Kentucky Humanities Council Catalog 2013-2014, Kentucky Library Research Collections

Kentucky Humanities Council Catalog

The Kentucky Humanities Council is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities committed to providing programs and services that facilitate an understanding and appreciation of Kentucky’s cultural heritage and future. The Council’s program catalog features scholars from across the Commonwealth who make presentations on a myriad of humanities topics. Later, costumed actors, who delivered dramatic monologues about Kentucky’s famous, infamous, and composite personalities, were added. The catalog has gone by various titles over the years: Kentucky Humanities Resource Center, Kentucky Humanities Council Speakers Bureau, Whole Humanities Catalog, and Humanities Catalog. This …

Ua3/8/10 President's Office-Meredith Installation, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created and received by the President's Office in preparation of Thomas Meredith's installation as president of WKU.

Ua42/1 Wku Winter Term Annual Report, Wku Summer Sessions & Winter Term

WKU Administration Documents

Annual report of WKU Winter Term course enrollments, college data, course sections and marketing.

Ua35/11 Honors Program, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created by and about the Honors Program. Includes brochures, awards programs, student handbooks, newsletters and research publications.

Ua3/9/3 President's Office-Ransdell Reading File, Wku Archives, Virginia Brothers, Aaron Shuford

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Reading file of outgoing correspondence regarding the administration of WKU, fund raising, thank yous and letters of condolence.

Ua3/8/6 President's Office-Meredith Committees & Task Forces, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Committee and task force files created by the President's Office during Thomas Meredith's tenure as president of WKU.

Ua3/1/2/2 President's Office-Cherry Correspondence - Special, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Special correspondence regarding Western Kentucky University. This series runs concurrently with the General Correspondence and there is no indication of what makes it special. Of special note is correspondence regarding the Student Army Training Corps, World War I veterans and construction of Cherry Hall. Incoming letters are mainly addressed to Henry Hardin Cherry. Responses are made by Cherry and occasionally by faculty and staff. The president's secretary Mattie McLean is the author of some of the letters signed by Cherry.