Kentucky Historical Society
John Trowbridge of Lawrenceburg Wins 2011 Kentucky History Award from KHS

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 22, 2011) – The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) honored outstanding achievements in the field of Kentucky history at the 2011 Kentucky History Celebration on Nov. 11 at the Old State Capitol in downtown Frankfort.

Among this year’s winners was John Trowbridge, recipient of the Brig. Gen. William R. Buster Award, presented annually to an individual who has sustained significant contributions to Kentucky’s military history though work, activities or support of museums or history organizations within the Commonwealth. Trowbridge, of Lawrenceburg, was nominated by Jason LeMay.

Trowbridge has spent most of his life in public service. Even during his long military career with the National Guard, Trowbridge was extensively involved with documenting and sharing Kentucky’s military history.

Trowbridge has written a variety of books and articles, has served as a military history consultant to the Jesse Stuart Foundation and has been closely involved with an array of projects that interpret Kentucky’s military history. One project that Trowbridge helped create was a documentary on the Harrodsburg Tankers on the Bataan Death March. He has received 12 awards from historical organizations across the state, including the Bluegrass Genealogy Society’s Editor Award, the Department of Defense (DoD) Award for Best DoD Documentary of the Year, and an audio-visual award from the American Association for State and Local History. Trowbridge also was involved in establishing the Kentucky War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, and he serves as that commission’s vice-chair. He also is command historian for the Kentucky Army National Guard, where he continues to promote the guard’s important history. 

The Kentucky History Awards program, presented annually by KHS, recognizes exceptional achievements in Kentucky history by individuals, business and civic leaders, communities, museums and history organizations throughout the Commonwealth. The program also honors individuals and groups that have demonstrated efforts to promote the preservation, awareness and appreciation of state and local history.
For more information about the Kentucky History Awards visit www.history.ky.gov/historyawards.

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An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, established in 1836, is committed to helping people understand, cherish and share Kentucky's history. The KHS history campus includes the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol and the Kentucky Military History Museum at the State Arsenal. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit www.history.ky.gov.