Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
Kentucky Archives Month Observed in October

Frankfort, Ky.  – Kentuckians throughout the commonwealth will celebrate their rich archival heritage during the first annual Kentucky Archives Month in October.

The theme of Kentucky Archives Month is “Celebrating the Commonwealth Record,” which commemorates the 50th anniversary of Kentucky’s Public Records Law. For the past six years, Kentucky has observed Archives Week through a week-long celebration during October, but this year it has been expanded to a month-long celebration that will be held each October. Kentucky’s Archives Month coincides with a national celebration of American Archives Month.

Almost 300 archival and manuscript repositories in Kentucky hold archival records that document the history of Kentucky. Their holdings include personal papers, photographs, Bibles, diaries, letters and government records, such as marriage certificates and wills. Many of these institutions are hosting special programs, open houses, exhibits and speakers to highlight historical materials available for research in Kentucky archival and manuscript repositories, all listed on the Kentucky Archives Month website (http://archivesmonth.ky.gov). 

The Kentucky State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) will present four Certificates of Merit to commemorate Kentucky Archives Month. Dr. Eugene H. Conner, a retired physician and medical historian, will be honored with a Certificate of Merit for notable service to and advocacy of archives by a private citizen. William J. Marshall, curator of manuscripts at the University of Kentucky; Dr. William J. Morison, director and university archivist at the University of Louisville; and Mary Winter, retired director of special collections and reference services at the Kentucky Historical Society will be honored with Certificates of Merit for Significant Service as an archivist, each having worked 30 years or more in archival repositories in Kentucky.

The Kentucky SHRAB’s documentary, “Finding Our Way Home: Historical Records in Kentucky,” will premiere on Kentucky Educational Television on Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m.  This documentary, featuring several archivists, researchers and historians, highlights the importance of primary source materials.

Kentucky Archives Month is sponsored by the Kentucky State Historical Records Advisory Board, the Kentucky Council on Archives, and the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. For further information, call (502) 564-300 ext. 246.

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