Kentucky Historical Society
Two Kentucky Historical Society Projects Receive Awards

FRANKFORT, KY (June 2, 2009)— A Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) project and a joint project of KHS and the Kentucky National Guard recently received Leadership in History Awards from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH).  “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln” and “Bataan: The Harrodsburg Tankers—A Time for Courage—A Time for Heroes” received Awards of Merit from AASLH.

“Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln” consists of four interpretive components that explore the importance of Kentucky and Kentuckians throughout Abraham Lincoln’s life, and place the state’s bicentennial commemoration in historical context.  The components include “Beyond the Log Cabin: Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln,” the state’s signature Lincoln exhibition; “Discovering Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln,” a five-panel Museum-to-Go exhibit; and “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln” at the State Fair, an 8,000 square-foot exhibit that 16,000 experienced in August 2008.

A special project of KHS and the Kentucky National Guard, the DVD titled “Bataan: The Harrodsburg Tankers—A Time for Courage—A Time for Heroes” was produced by KHS Senior Associate Editor James Russell Harris, principle historian and writer; Guard representatives Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dewey Pope, director and editor; and Command Historian John M. Trowbridge, research assistant and publicist.  The film presents the ordeals of Harrodsburg’s Kentucky National Guard tank company in combat and prison in World War II.

The AASLH awards program began in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout North America. AASLH presents the Leadership in History Awards to honor significant achievement in the field of local history, and bring public recognition to small and large organizations, institutions and programs that contribute to this arena. The 2009 awards will be distributed during a ceremony at the AASLH annual meeting in Indianapolis this August.

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An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, since 1836, has provided connections to the past, perspective on the present, and inspiration for the future.  KHS operates the Old State Capitol, the Kentucky Military History Museum, and its headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.   Since 1999, the thirty-million-dollar Center has welcomed more than one million visitors.   For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit the Web site at www.history.ky.gov.