Kentucky Historical Society
KHS Film Series to Premiere April 8

KHS Film Series to Premiere April 8
Series will feature three Appalshop films

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 31, 2010)—A Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) film series will premiere with a showing of “Coalmining Women” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 8 at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort. The series will feature three short Appalshop films.

In “Coalmining Women,” female coal miners explain what led them to seek employment in this male-dominated industry—and the problems they encounter on the job. Women are shown performing a variety of labor-intensive tasks, breaking the stereotype that they are incapable of these traditionally masculine jobs. Directed by Elizabeth Barret, the 1982 film traces the significant contributions that women have made to past coalfield struggles and the importance of their newer position as working miners.

New York University filmmaker and professor of film and television George Stoney calls the film “powerful and insightful.”

Tickets to the film series are $4 for KHS members and $8 for the general public. Admission includes popcorn, soda and entrance to the KHS history campus.

The second film in the series, “Stranger with a Camera,” will be shown on Thursday, May 13. Also directed by Elizabeth Barret, this film uses the murder of filmmaker Hugh O’Connor by his Appalachian landlord to explore the complex relationship between those who make films to promote social change and the people whose lives are represented in such productions. “Strangers and Kin,” the third film in the series, will be shown on Thursday, June 10. This film is directed by Herb E. Smith and explores how stereotypes are created, reinforced and used to rationalize exploitation.

These film screenings are part of a larger series of Thursday evening programming at KHS.  Other Thursday evening events at the KHS history campus include a family-history mini-series and Hat-A-Tude, an event set for April 22 that highlights fashions from the Kentucky Derby.  Visit www.history.ky.gov and click News and Events for up-to-date information on other KHS events and programs.

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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, Old State Capitol and Kentucky Military History Museum at the Old State Arsenal.  For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit the Web site at www.history.ky.gov.