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“They Did This Work”: Black Activism, Education, And The Rosenwald Rural School-Building Program In Kentucky, Le Datta Denise Grimes

Theses and Dissertations--History

This study examines what Black Kentuckians did on their own behalf to educate themselves in the early twentieth century. I argue that Black Kentuckians’ agency and activism formed the bedrock of the Rosenwald movement in Kentucky. From 1917 to 1932, they built 158 Rosenwald Schools across the Bluegrass by welding together multiple strategies of resistance. Such agitation included voluntarily taxing themselves, waging legal battles, deploying military-style fundraising campaigns, and building institutions to support their schools. Seeking first-class citizenship, they also volunteered labor, donated land, and bought supplies to uplift themselves and their community through education. This work took place against …

The Work Of Freedom: African American Child Exploitation In Reconstruction Kentucky, Ashlea Hope Fishburn-Moore

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

On May 23, 1866, two African American children in Christian County, Kentucky, were taken from their parents and apprenticed to a white planter, Elijah Simmons. The two children, Fannie, age eight, and Robert, age four, were expected to serve Simmons for the next thirteen and fourteen years respectively. Fannie was disabled. Denoted in her apprenticeship paper as “deaf and dumb,” the Simmonses did not have to provide for her the way they would a non-disabled child, meaning that they did not have to pay her or provide her with anything upon her release from servitude. Although her story seems in …

The Autobiography Of Daniel Parker, Frontier Universalist, Daniel Parker, David Torbett

Ohio University Press Open Access Books

A vastly informative and rare early-American pioneer autobiography rescued from obscurity.

In this remarkable memoir, Daniel Parker (1781–1861) recorded both the details of everyday life and the extraordinary historical events he witnessed west of the Appalachian Mountains between 1790 and 1840. Once a humble traveling salesman for a line of newly invented clothes washing machines, he became an outspoken advocate for abolition and education. With his wife and son, he founded Clermont Academy, a racially integrated, coeducational secondary school—the first of its kind in Ohio.

However, Parker’s real vocation was as a self-ordained, itinerant preacher of his own brand of …

A Call To Arms: A Comparative Study Of Mississippi And Kentucky Citizens During The Secession Crisis, 1859-1861, Amy Myers

Master's Theses

Many studies of the American Civil War have considered why Mississippi leaders voted to secede, while Kentucky politicians remained in the Union. Scholars have previously focused on political elites to understand the underlying motivations behind each state’s decision. These same scholars have often confined their studies to a synthesis of why secession occurred nationally or at the state level. The question remains as to what the common citizen saw and believed when faced with secession and if their views matched their delegates.

This study utilizes the governors’ papers of John J. Pettus and Beriah Magoffin, the Jefferson Davis papers, and …

Artists - Bowling Green, Kentucky (Sc 3574), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3574. Interviews with Margie Helm, Elizabeth Coombs, and Jane (Hines) Morningstar, Bowling Green, Kentucky, on their knowledge of local artists, particularly women.

College Heights Herald - Bowling Green, Kentucky - Relating To (Sc 3573), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3573. Parody issue of WKU’s student newspaper, the College Heights Herald (“The University Herald”), 18 January 1968, with a front page story purporting to report on the arrest of three local physicians at a house of prostitution.

Bowling Green Rose Society - Bowling Green, Kentucky (Mss 712), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 712. Minutes, correspondence, show programs, and miscellaneous records of the Bowling Green Rose Society. The bulk of the material is from the 1980s and 1990s.

Webster, Pauline (Martin) Tabor, 1905-1992 (Sc 3571), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3571. Audiocassette recording of Bowling Green, Kentucky madam Pauline Tabor Webster’s appearance on The Dick Cavett Show on 8 March 1972.

Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: Obituaries, P (Pace-Phelps) (Mss 701), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Genealogical Records

Obituaries for surnames starting with P (Pace-Phelps) from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: Obituaries P (Phillips-Pyott) (Mss 701), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Genealogical Records

Obituaries for surnames starting with P (Phillips-Pyott) from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

Isbell Family Papers (Sc 3570), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3570. Papers relating to the Isbell family of Warren County Kentucky: 1785 military land warrant to Thomas Isbell; various deeds, notes, receipts, bonds and accounts relating mainly to Temple Isbell; muster notice, 1815; agreements, 1812 and 1815, of Temple Isbell to teach a subscription school; 1843 letter of D. E. Isbell, Gasconade County, Missouri, with family news; and family records from the Bible of John K. Isbell.

Gerard Undertakers, Bowling Green, Kentucky - Burial Records Book, 1887-1917 (Mss 577), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Scan of Box 9, Folder 2, Manuscripts Collection 577. This is a record book of F. C. Gerard, Undertaker (later Gerard & Gerard), Bowling Green, Kentucky, recording burials from January 1887-September 1917. Entries show the deceased’s name, age, race, residence, date of death and burial, place of burial, and cause of death.

Gerard Undertakers, Bowling Green, Kentucky - Burial Records Book, 1890-1896 (Mss 577), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Scan of Box 9, Folder 1, Manuscripts Collection 577. This is a record book of F. C. Gerard and Brother, Undertakers, Bowling Green, Kentucky, recording burials from December 1890 through February 1896. Entries show the deceased’s name, age, race, residence, date of death and burial, place of burial, and cause of death.

Bowling Green-Warren County (Kentucky) Rural Church Survey (Mss 705), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 705. Survey forms, historical data, and photographs documenting rural churches in Bowling Green and Warren County, Kentucky.

Eastwood Baptist Church - Bowling Green, Kentucky (Sc 3569), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3569. “History of the Eastwood Baptist Church,” by Lyn Allison Yeager, 1978, and associated material including organizing documents and minutes, 1953-1955; photocopies of photographs; early membership data; clippings; and collected anecdotes.

Gossom, Cora Eliza, 1866-1926 (Sc 3566), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3566. Scrapbook, together with clippings and ephemera contained therein, of Cora Gossom, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Although many of its pages are missing, the book is a “Mark Twain’s Scrapbook,” containing pages coated with a light adhesive that required a slight application of moisture instead of glue. The contents relate primarily to news and local social events of interest to Cora, including her own debut. Loose items include a humorous novelty card warning of “fishing pox” and a postcard extolling William Jennings Bryan.

Gossom, Lelia Emmaline, 1865-1937 (Sc 3562), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Autograph album of Lelia E. Gossom, Bowling Green, Kentucky, containing entries by friends, family, and schoolmates at Bowling Green Female College.

Nicholls Family Papers (Sc 3563), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3563. Correspondence and papers of Emma (Gates) Nicholls and her husband James M. Nicholls, a merchant of Calhoun, Kentucky who also served as McLean County Clerk. Includes mercantile accounts, legal papers and obituary of James Nicholls; Emma’s temperance pledge and WCTU leaflet; letters to her regarding some inherited Texas land; a photocopy of a family photograph; and a letter to Emma from her husband’s former store clerk repaying money improperly taken. Also includes Emma’s letters to her two daughters at school consoling them over illness caused by a vaccination; and invitations to the …

Bowling Green-Warren County Girl Scout Council (Mss 711), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 711. Minutes and miscellaneous records of the Bowling Green-Warren County (Kentucky) Girl Scout Council. Includes minutes and planning documents for the Caveland Girl Scout Council covering 14 counties in south central Kentucky.

Girl Scout Troop No. 1 - Bowling Green, Kentucky (Mss 710), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 710. Minutes and records for Bowling Green, Kentucky’s Girl Scout Troop No. 1. Includes some individual records, troop certificates, and a play script.

Gates Family Letters (Mss 398), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 398. Letters and papers of the family of Thomas and Nancy Gates, Calhoun, Kentucky. Most of the letters are courtship letters to daughter Nellie, with other letters from family in Connecticut, New York, and elsewhere.

Morton, Lilith - Keepsakes, 1884-1907 (Mss 701), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Genealogical Records

Keepsakes related to Lilith Morton of Mortons Gap in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Click on "Additional File" below to see more information about Lilith Morton and the keepsakes.

Morton, Mandelbert Mansfield - Relating To (Mss 701), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Genealogical Records

Material related to Mandelbert Mansfield Morton, father of Lilith Morton.

Morton, Lilith - Letters To, 1902-1914 (Mss 701), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Genealogical Records

Letters addressed to Lilith Morton of Mortons Gap in Hopkins County, Kentucky, 1902-1914. Click on "Additional File" below to see more information about Lilith Morton and the letters.

Morton, Lilith - Letters To, 1901-1902 (Mss 701), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Genealogical Records

Letters addressed to Lilith Morton of Mortons Gap in Hopkins County, Kentucky, 1901-1902. Click on "Additional File" below to see more information about Lilith Morton and the letters.

Morton, Lilith - Letters To, 1897-1900 (Mss 701), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Genealogical Records

Letters addressed to Lilith Morton of Mortons Gap in Hopkins County, Kentucky, 1897-1900. Click on "Additional File" below to see more information about Lilith Morton and the letters.

Republican Party - Estill County, Kentucky (Sc 3553), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3553. Miscellaneous correspondence relating to the activities of the Estill County, Kentucky Republican Committee. Topics discussed include the election of Governor Edwin Morrow, assessment of post-World War I political sentiment, investigation of political campaign expenditures, party publications, and the coming 1920 election. Also includes a blank form for polling voters in the county school districts.

Garrard, James, 1749-1822 (Sc 3557), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3557. Appointment of Isaac Lansdale as Justice of the Peace for Washington County, Kentucky, signed by Governor James Garrard, 2 April 1799. The state seal of Kentucky is affixed.

Rider, Kessel Payne, 1911-1982 (Sc 3551), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3551. Correspondence and papers related to Louisville, Kentucky accountant Kessel P. Rider’s campaign for election to the city’s Board of Aldermen. Includes invitations to candidates’ events, congratulatory letters, and Rider’s Notary Public certificate.

Owsley, William, 1782-1862 (Sc 3556), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3556. Letter, 9 February 1841, from William Owsley, Frankfort, Kentucky, to U.S. Representative John B. Thompson, Washington, D.C., asking Thompson’s assistance in securing an appointment as Indian agent for Samuel Tillett of Garrard County, Kentucky.