Speakers Roster

For more speakers, Click Here

Speakers

Michael W. Austin Associate professor of philosophy Department of Philosophy and Religion Eastern Kentucky University - Case Annex 268 Richmond, KY 40475 Work Phone: (859) 622-1022 Email: mike.austin@eku.edu	SPORTS For the Respect of the Game Learn how to incorporate growth in character as a part of your children’s participation in sports. Austin, author of Football and Philosophy: Going Deep and Running and Philosophy: A Marathon for the Mind, will explore in this talk how to encourage moral development in young athletes by teaching them respect for themselves, their coach, their teammates, opponents, officials and the game. Why Winning Matters Winning in sports has become something people care about to an extreme. However, when approached in the right way, sports participation can foster not only athletic excellence, but moral excellence as well. In this talk, Austin includes key insights from philosophers and sports ethicists.
Thomas G. Barnes, Ph.D. Extension Professor & Extension Wildlife Specialist Department of Forestry University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40546-0073 Work Phone: 859/257-8633 Email: Tom.Barnes@uky.edu Website: www.tombarnes.org	WILDLIFE Wildflower Myths and Realities Did you know that poison hemlock, which is not a native flower, is so toxic that consuming just three leaves will kill you? Or perhaps you like a dose of “poke salad” in the spring, or go on the annual “dry land fish” hunt. Humans and plants have a fascinating history. We have affected plants through artificial selection (think black tulip) and plants have affected us (think orchid thieves). More than forty percent of our current pharmaceuticals are plant derived, and how many people know that four native wild grapes saved the wine industry in France? Does taking ginseng really work? Barnes will tell many fascinating plant stories and also discuss what is happening to our rare plants in Kentucky. Projection screen required. Caring For Creation: The Scriptures and Environmental Stewardship The world is changing before our very eyes. Kentucky is losing 130 acres per day to development—nationally, four acres per minute are lost—and global warming will alter the environment in ways we never could envision. Who is responsible for this assault on our natural areas and nature in general? Many believe that the Christian and Jewish religions deserve a large part of the blame based upon the biblical concept of man having “dominion” over creation. In fact, there is empirical evidence that supports this thesis, but what is often overlooked is that religion also holds the key to protecting nature. Learn about what scripture really has to say about caring for God’s creation. Along the way we will discover some of the most beautiful natural sights in Kentucky and see why Kentucky has such unbridled natural beauty and diversity. Projection screen required.
Stephen A. Brown Education Specialist Abraham Lincoln Birthplace 250 Park Service Road Hodgenville, KY 42748 Work Phone: (270) 307-0150 Email: KYPrograms@windstream.net Website: Stephen_A_Brown@nps.gov	LINCOLN Abraham Lincoln and the Underground Railroad in Kentucky In this multimedia presentation, Brown will demonstrate the influences of slavery on Abraham Lincoln's early years in Kentucky. A National Park Service research grant made it possible for Brown to document slave-owning neighbors, slave dealers and establish Underground Railroad activity in Kentucky based on escaped slave narratives. Audiences will gain a new perspective of the profound effect that living in Kentucky had on Abraham Lincoln, referenced by his own words in the April 4, 1864, letter to Albert Hodges: "I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I cannot remember when I did not so think, and feel." Projection screen required. Abraham Lincoln: Exploring Greatness Abraham Lincoln's formative years in Kentucky had a lasting influence on his life, shaping him into the man he was destined to become. In this talk, Brown will show the audience a number of resources that lead to this conclusion. Primary documents from recent research on Lincoln's father's land speculation offer insights into the turbulent years spent in Kentucky. Excerpts from a research paper, "The Misunderstood Mary Todd Lincoln," counter charges of insanity and document how her immersion in Kentucky politics proved invaluable to Lincoln's political career. Recent findings about his mother refute common falsehoods and expose the hoax of the only image of her known to exist. Finally, historic photos chronicle efforts to honor the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and demonstrate the importance of his Kentucky roots. Projection screen required.
Kathy Bullock Professor of Music Berea College Department of Music Berea, KY 40404 Work Phone: 859/986-6088 Email: bullockka@berea.edu	AFRICAN AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC African and African-American Musical Connections in Appalachia In this talk/demonstration, Bullock explores the connections between African-American and Appalachian music. Beginning with the African musical heritage, she moves to the United States, revealing the origins of African American folk songs, spirituals, work songs, and blues and their substantial influence on Appalachian culture. Through stories and songs, she invites the audience to explore and participate in the exciting musical experiences shared by African- American and Appalachian cultures. Piano or full-size keyboard. Singing in the Spirit: Roots of African American Sacred Music Tradition Spirituals and gospel music are much more than pleasing songs to listen to—they are powerful representations of the triumphant spirit and faith that have defined African American music and people. Dr. Bullock takes the audience on a musical journey from West Africa, through the middle passage, to the North American shores where the African American culture was forged. Through songs, stories and performance, this participatory program lets the audience experience the beauty, joy and power of this music and culture. Piano or full-size keyboard.
Diane M. Calhoun-French Provost and Vice-President, Jefferson Community and Technical College 109 East Broadway Louisville, KY 40202 Work Phone: 502/213-2621 Email: Diane.Calhoun-French@kctcs.edu	Literature The Five Books Every Woman Must Read This talk considers both fiction and nonfiction books — past and present — which have been critical to the lives of contemporary women. Hear Calhoun-French’s choice of the five books every woman must read, then be prepared to share your own selections. Lectern Margaret Mitchell's Tara: Myth and Reality Perhaps no home in American literature is more famous than Margaret Mitchell’s Tara, the home of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind. This slide-illustrated presentation will examine Mitchell’s Tara as well as movie producer David O. Selznick’s interpretation of Tara in the 1939 film of Gone with the Wind. Tara, says Calhoun-French, is an icon that continues to wield its power even today. Lectern
James C. Claypool Prof. Emeritus of History, Northern Ky University, Coeditor, Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky 1004 Park Drive Park Hills, KY 41011 Work Phone: 859/431-1341 Email: jcclaypool@fuse.net	Kentucky History Rascals, Heroes, and Just Plain Uncommon Folks from Kentucky In this new talk, Claypool will profile a choice selection of the many colorful Kentuckians—male and female, noted and notorious—whose stories make our history so interesting and entertaining. The format of the program contains an exciting and stimulating surprise for the audience. Lectern The Derby: A Celebration of Kentucky and its Heritage Claypool traces the origins and development of the Kentucky Derby, the world's most famous horse race and a powerful influence on Kentucky society and culture. He will use memorabilia collected during his 40-year passion for the race. Lectern; electrical outlet; display table Kentucky Blue: The Story of Bluegrass Music This program explores the origins of Bluegrass music—one of the Commonwealth's greatest con-tributions to America's music heritage. Claypool will define Bluegrass, which was "born, bred, and spread from Kentucky" and has evolved into a unique musical phenomenon. He will also play some of the classic tunes and look at the careers of pioneers like the Monroes as well as such current greats as Ricky Skaggs and Rhonda Vincent. Lectern; electrical outlet
Diane P. Coon Independent Scholar and Writer 1020 Ronnie Layne Rd Shelbyville, KY 40065 Work Phone: 502/649-9977 (cell) Home Phone: 502/437-0077 Email: de2perrine@aol.com	History Campaign Songs: The Melodies of Political History How did Abraham Lincoln become Honest Abe? How did William Henry Harrison capture the imagination of the frontier and backwoods folk in 1840 without leaving his own home? In large part, campaign slogans and songs introduced these presidential candidates to Kentuckians and those from the Northwest Territories. Campaign songs have captured the mood of the nation to help elect some presidents -- others such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt used "Happy Days are Here Again" to put an upbeat face on desperate times. In this talk, Coon uses Smithsonian Folkways CDs and campaign song sheets to illustrate a 200-year perspective on presidential campaigns through song and slogan. Projection screen and sound amplification. Elijah Mars: Adventurer, Soldier, Educator Elijah Marrs rose from slavery in Simpsonville, Ky., to recruit a company of black soldiers and become Quartermaster Sergeant in the Colored Troops at Louisville. After the Civil War, he went to Nashville, Tenn., to attend college, then returned to Shelby, Henry and Oldham counties to teach former slaves how to read, write and master arithmetic. In this presentation, Coon shows many of the places Marrs discussed in his autobiography. Table tops for displays; screen and electrical outlet. Knapsacks to Bombers: What We Made During World War II Nearly every village and city of the Ohio River Valley produced munitions and materials needed during World War II. This illustrated talk shows the many different kinds of goods produced and the people who contributed creativity, hard work and ingenuity during a time of great hardship. Table tops for displays; screen and electrical outlets.
Berry Craig Assoc. Professor of History, West Kentucky Community and Technical College 409 Highland Street Mayfield, KY 42066 Work Phone: (270) 247-8960 Email: bcraig8960@newwavecomm.net	We Love Him Now Lincoln the Unloved Today, no son of Kentucky is more famous or more widely revered than Abraham Lincoln. Yet during his lifetime, Lincoln was so unpopular in his home state that a young hothead from Lexington called him “an infernal old Jackass.” Lincoln won the 1860 presidential election despite receiving less than one per cent of the vote in Kentucky, and in 1864 Kentucky gave him the lowest vote of any state. In this talk, Craig will explore the reasons for Lincoln’s deep unpopularity on his home turf. Lectern Kentucky Politics: Bombast, Burgoo, and Bourbon Time was, Kentucky politics was dominated by the three Bs—Bombast, Burgoo, and Bourbon. Craig begins this talk by examining each of these spicy ingredients in turn. He ends by relating a tale that combines all three and brings to mind the famous remark about Kentucky politics being “the damnedest.” After all, asks Craig, where else could a man running for governor drink too much, throw up in public, and still get elected? Lectern The Coward Jack McCall In 1876, a 25-year-old drifter killed Wild Bill Hickok with a shot to the back of the head while the famous lawman was playing cards in a Deadwood, South Dakota saloon. Craig will tell the story of Wild Bill’s killer, a Kentuckian who has gone down in history as “the coward Jack McCall.” Born near Jeffersontown in 1859, McCall headed west when he was 19. A Deadwood jury acquitted him of Hickok’s murder, but he was retried in Yankton, South Dakota in 1877, found guilty, and hanged. Lectern
Richard Domek Professor of Music, University of Kentucky School of Music, University of Kentucky Fine Arts 105 Lexington, KY 40506 Work Phone: 859/257-1966 Email: dicty@uky.edu	Music Eubie Blake and American Ragtime J. Hubert "Eubie" Blake lived a hundred years (1883–1993) and made the most of it. As a composer and pianist—one of the most exciting of all time—he embodied the birth and development of ragtime and jazz. Domek will explore Blake’s life and play his music, in the process revealing some of the keyboard "tricks" that helped make it so appealing. Lectern; microphone; a tuned piano (not an electric piano). More Ragtime and Stride Piano The contributions of America's ragtime composers need more than one presentation to do them justice. This program can serve as a sequel to Ragtime and Stride Piano, or can stand on its own as a fascinating taste of the music of the great Scott Joplin and others, including Eubie Blake, Tom Turpin, and one of today’s finest composers, William Bolcom. Also in the picture: stride pianist Fats Waller and the "inventor of jazz" himself, Jelly Roll Morton. Domek will tell stories of the composers and pieces along with his performances of the music. Lectern; microphone; a tuned piano (no electric piano). Ragtime & Stride Piano: Elite Syncopations, Fascinatin' Rhythms Ragtime piano music swept the country early in the twentieth century. Domek, a ragtime pianist, will explain and demonstrate why this fresh music so delighted Americans. In an easy-to-understand presentation, he will cover the musical trademarks of ragtime and its jazzy offshoot, stride piano. He will also review contemporary reactions to ragtime. Lectern; microphone; a tuned piano (no electric piano).
Ronald Elliott Kentucky Author 317 South Sixth Street Bardstown, KY 40004 Work Phone: (502) 349-9480 Email: authoron@yahoo.com	History Through the Eyes of Lincoln With this modern-day photographic journey, Elliott will take you along to many Lincoln venues -- from his birthplace near Hodgenville; the Knob Creek place, scene of Lincoln's earliest memories; farms in Indiana and Illinois; his Springfield home and office and, finally, to Washington, D.C. The program includes comments on the significance of each location and many little known, and fascinating, facts about our 16th president, including new light on Lincoln's reasons for leaving Kentucky and the one-an-only challenge to Honest Abe's reputation. Franklin Sousley. American Hero You've seen the picture -- the image of the U. S. Marines raising the Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima may very well be the most famous photograph of all time. Did you ever wonder who those six men are or ponder that each was some American woman's baby boy? Or, does it matter who they are? Becasue when we view the famous photograph all we see is simply American teamwork and victory, the names do not matter. However, each of these men does have a unique story. Elliott will share one of those stories in this talk, that of Fleming County resident Franklin Sousley's Kentucky childhood and family.
Daryl L. Harris Assistant Professor Department of Theatre & Dance, Northern Kentucky University FA 205 Nunn Dr. Highland Heights, KY 41099 Work Phone: (859) 572-1472 Email: harrisda@nku.edu	African-American Culture Lift Evr'y Voice and Sing For African Americans throughout Kentucky and the country, spirituals were the soundtracks upon which the Underground Railroad movement rolled. Freedom songs later helped to pave the way toward true liberation. Because of its particular geographical and political positioning, Kentucky gave birth to its own unique musical expressions. Not all African Americans in Kentucky were enslaved; therefore the reservoir of folk culture from which they drew their characteristic forms of expression was rich and deep — often without fixed boundaries between the sacred and the secular. In this talk, Harris takes the audience on a musical history tour through hurt, healing and happiness. Lectern; microphone. Wanted: Freedom—Dead or Alive! This talk explores and honors the lives and legacies of Kentucky travelers on the Underground Railroad. While Harris focuses primarily on the celebrated Kentucky do-or-die freedom seeker Margaret Garner, whose life inspired the novel Beloved, he also looks at other people from Kentucky who sought freedom by any means necessary: some via the Underground Railroad, other via the “Train to Glory.” Rare newspaper “wanted” notices for runaways provide fascinating insight into these courageous individuals. Lectern; microphone. Someone’s in the Kitchen with Dinah Inspired by John Fox Jr.’s account of Aunt Dinah, an African American woman who came to Kentucky from Virginia more than a century ago, Harris explores the contributions of African American women to the traditions of Southern culinary excellence. In his introduction to The Blue Grass Cook Book (published in 1904 and written by his mother), Fox described Aunt Dinah’s dishes as "of a flavor and fragrance to shatter the fast of a pope . . . Without (Aunt Dinah) would the master have had such hospitality? Would the guest have found it so hard to get away?" Discover the legacy of "those turbaned mistresses of the Southern kitchen." Lectern; microphone.
Jonathan Jeffrey Special Collections Librarian, Western Kentucky University 110 Riverwood Bowling Green, KY 42103 Work Phone: 270/745-5265 Email: jonathan.jeffrey@wku.edu	Lincoln Memorials Memorializing Mr. Lincoln In this illustrated presentation, Jeffrey examines the monuments that Americans have erected to honor their greatest president, Abraham Lincoln. The emphasis will be on memorials in Kentucky, Lincoln’s home state, and will include art, the built environment, and the cultural landscape. Lectern; screen (or large, light-colored wall) for slides. Libraries for All: The Carnegie Experiment in Kentucky Believing public libraries were "the best agencies for improving the masses of the people," the wealthy industrialist Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of more than 2,500 libraries. Twenty-seven of those were in Kentucky. Jeffrey will assess their impact on the state’s culture, and ask why Kentucky lagged so far behind Indiana and Ohio in taking advantage of Carnegie’s largesse. Lectern; screen (or large, light-colored wall) for slides. Duncan Hines: A Culinary Entrepreneur In this talk, Jeffrey explores the culinary odyssey of Duncan Hines, a Kentuckian who became one of the most recognized names in advertising history. A native of Bowling Green, Hines' name appeared on products ranging from ice cream to charcoal grills, and it's still on the most popular of those products—packaged cake mixes. Lectern; screen (or large, light-colored wall) for slides; display table.
John E. Kleber Emeritus Prof. of History - Editor, The Kentucky Encyclopedia and The Encyclopedia of Louisville 1727 Larkmoor Lane Louisville, KY 40218 Work Phone: (502) 458-7372 Email: jekleb01@louisville.edu	Meet Mr. Lincoln Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln Kentucky was much more than simply the birthplace of our sixteenth president. Kentucky and Abraham Lincoln had profound effects on each other. The state played a significant role in his journey to the White House and his path through the Civil War. It held his earliest memories, provided his political mentor, several close friends, and his wife. Kentuckians were outraged by federal policies during the Civil War and Lincoln was not popular, but today we are proud to claim this giant of American history. With John Kleber as your guide, meet the remarkable Mr. Lincoln. Lectern. "I am Bound for the Promised Land": Kentucky's Early Settlers Kentucky was the first state west of the Appalachian Mountains. To early settlers who followed Daniel Boone through the Cumberland Gap, it was a mythical land of milk and honey. Land disputes and harsh frontier life were the reality, but while the myth lasted thousands came to Kentucky for economic opportunity, open space, and the sheer joy of the gamble. It was truly the first American frontier. Kleber will explore who came here, why they came, where they settled, and what changes they wrought. Lectern.
James C. Klotter Professor of History, Georgetown College, State Historian of Kentucky 1087 The Lane Lexington, KY 40504 Work Phone: (859) 277-4572 Email: fredak@aol.com	History A Power Trio: Henry Clay, Mary Todd, and Honest Abe Lincoln called Clay his beau ideal of a statesman. What influence did Clay have on Lincoln? How were the two men similar and how were they different? And what role did Mary Todd play in both men's lives? Klotter will focus on this power trio's personalities—their beliefs, their successes, their tragedies, their humor, all the while emphasizing their Kentucky connections. Lectern; microphone. The Truth About Kentucky Do myths about Kentucky still lurk out there? In this talk, Klotter examines some of the historical "truths" many people think are correct, and looks at the origins and accuracy of such stories. Among the subjects viewed under the historical microscope are Native-Americans, slavery, the Civil War, Appalachia, literature and politics. Lectern; microphone. Kentucky in World War II As the number of surviving World War II veterans shrinks with each passing day, Klotter says we should pause to remember that momentous conflict and those who fought it. World War II was a watershed event in the Commonweath’s history, and this talk looks at those who fought abroad, those who did their part at home, and the price paid by both. Klotter will examine the results of the war and conclude with an intriguing look at post-war predictions of the future. Lectern; microphone.
Lynwood Montell Emeritus Professor of Folk Studies Western Kentucky University 1853 Cobblestone Ct. Bowling Green, KY 42103 Work Phone: (270) 796-1907 Email: LLMontell@insightbb.com	Ghoul talk More Kentucky Ghost Stories Much of Kentucky's rich historical legacy is preserved in ghost stories, including those related to the Civil War, ancestors, graveyards, murder victims, haunted spots on the landscape, haunted houses, and ghostly lights and screams. Montell's talk will also discuss the historic value of hearing and preserving Kentucky's verbal legacy. Lectern; microphone. Kentucky Medical Doctor Stories Montell, a noted folklorist, is recording stories told by physicians across the Commonwealth. They are sharing stories about their personal practices—and other doctors—that provide often humorous insight into Kentucky’s medical profession then and now. The stories describe, among other things, house calls, sexual attraction, wrong decisions, nurses, personal ailments, folk healing practices, and animals. Lectern; microphone. One-Room School Days Stories told by former teachers about the one-room school era are truly insightful and relative to life and times prior to television -- and even after, in many instances. Teachers and students walked along dirt or muddy roads, crossed creek beds or rode horses or mules to reach the secluded areas that were home to one-room schoolhouses. In this talk, Montell relays these stories he collected, which describe school-day events, teacher-student relationships, students' personal relationships, lunch-time foods and activities, stories about other teachers and the importance of one-room schools as viewed by their teachers. Lectern; microphone. Kentucky Lawyer and Judge Stories Lawyers and judges know how to spin a good yarn. The people and events they talk about in their stories usually fall into such categories as blunders, humorous episodes, family disagreements, homicide, the bench and the bar, animals in court, and divorce. Thanks to these stories and commentaries, the legacy of lawyers and judges throughout Kentucky will live on. Lectern; microphone.
Gurney Norman Kentucky Laureate and Kentucky Writer 445 Bristol Road Lexington, KY 40502 Work Phone: (859) 266-6374 Email: gnorman@uky.edu	Writing New Fiction: A Reading Kentucky Poet Laureate Gurney Norman will present a one-hour reading from his firthcoming books Ancient Creek and Other Folktakes, as well as excerpts from his novel in progress Crazy Quilt. Ancient Creek is contemporary fiction in the guise of a folktale from the Kentucky/Appalachian tradition. An evil king seeks to erase the community memories of local people for whom storytelling has been the sustaining source. The resistance to the Empire's oppressive rule is led by Jack, the hero of the traditional Jack Tales. Crazy Quilt continues the adventures of Wilgus Collier, the young protagonist of Norman's book of short stories, Kinfolks. In Crazy Quilt, Wilgus is a middle-aged editor and publisher of a small weekly newspaper in Kentucky. At age 53, he reflects on his own life transition and social changes in contemporary America.. Projection screen; microphone, and projector (video/DVD). Literary Kentucky In "Literary Kentucky," Norman will present a one-hour discussion of contemporary Kentucky literature and its place in American society. Following a brief survey of Kentucky's literary history, he will focus on the younger generation of writers who have emerged in the past two decades. Themes will include the late 20th century Appalachian literary renaissance, the emergence of the Affrilachian poets, the influence of communications technology on recent Kentucky writing, and the importance of local storytellers and memory keepers. The discussion will be interesting to readers, teachers and writers seeking to know more about Kentucky's literary tradition. Projection screen, microphone, and projector (video/DVD).
Paul M. Pearson Director, Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine College Thomas Merton Center 2001 Newburg Road Louisville, KY 40205 Work Phone: (502) 452-8177 Email: pmpearson@bellarmine.edu	A SPIRITUAL ATTRACTION Thomas Merton - Poet, Monk, Prophet Merton is arguably the most influential American Catholic author of the 20th century. His autobiography, the Seven Storey Mountain, has sold more than 1 million copies and has been translated into more than 15 languages. This talk will give an overview of Merton's life and thought incorporating photographs and other images from the archives of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University, the official repository of Merton's literary estate. Power point projector, stand and screen. A Meeting of Angels: Thomas Merton and the Shakers Thomas Merton, the celebrated Trappist monk and writer who lived for more twenty years at the Abbey of Gethesmani near Bardstown, felt a strong attraction to the Shakers. In the 1960s, he visited the Shaker village at Pleasant Hill several times, took many photographs, and wrote an article about the village. He also wrote the introduction to a book by Shaker scholar Edward Deming Andrews. Pearson will explore Merton’s attraction to the Shakers—what particularly interested him about the Shakers, and the connections he made between them and his own religious order. Power point projector, stand and screen. A Hidden Wholeness: The Zen Photography of Thomas Merton In 1968, the year of his death, Merton traveled extensively—to Alaska, New Mexico, California, and Asia. He took many photographs during these journeys. Some, says Pearson, are merely travel photos. But others express Merton’s interior journey as he attempted to capture, through the eye of the camera, places and people that had a profound effect on him. These photographs, which embody Merton’s spiritual vision and vision of the world, cause us to pause, to stop, to see what is right in front of us every day. Power point projector, stand and screen.
Susan Reigler Adjunct lecturer - Indiana University Southeast and Spalding University Resident consulting biologis The Stone Cottage, Blackacre 3200 Tucker Station Road Louisville, KY 40299 Work Phone: (502) 267-0195 Email: sreigler@aol.com	State Parks The Not-So-Famous Names Behind Kentucky State Parks Kentucky's large and varied state parks system commemorates many people who had pivotal roles in the shaping the Commonwealth. Eponymous properties include Fort Boonesborough STate Park, Isaac Shelby Cemetery State Historic Site, Lincoln Homestead State Park and John James Audubon State Park. Author Susan Reigler and photographer Pam Spalding traveled the state for more than a year to write The Complete Guide to Kentucky State Parks (University Press of Kentucky). They discovered dozens of fascinating, but not necessarily well-known, characters from Kentucky's past who have been honored with a park name. Reigler will present many of Spalding's photos and tell listeners just who, among others, were General Burnside, William Whitley, Thomas Walker, Jenny Wiley and Levi Jackson. The Kentucky State Parks' Wayback Machine Outdoor recreation, including boating, hiking and camping are all found in Kentucky's state parks. But the parks are also rich in opportunities for exploring Kentucky's colorful history. Reigler, using photographer Pam Spalding's evocative photographs, will provide a trip through time, from the Ice Age as it is preserved at Big Bone Lick, to battles of the Civil War at Perryville and Columbus-Belmont. She'll also take you on the Wilderness Road with Daniel Boone, birding in the woods where Audubon painted and through the rooms and gardens of elegant historic homes such as Federal Hill, Waveland and White Hall. Power Point projector and laptop or computer.
Hugh Ridenour Historian and author 1715 Stagecoach Road Hanson, KY 42413 Work Phone: (270) 825-1533 Email: treetops@spis.net	History World War II Romance: "Love you dearly" In this World War II story, Ridenour dips into a treasure trove of 800 letters to chronicle a young couple’s love. However, D-Day, June 6, 1944, marked the relationship’s tragic end, which is recorded in the widow’s diary. Few hearts will remain untouched after Ridenour’s wife, Carolyn, reads several poignant excerpts from the diary. No equipment required. A Surgeon's Tale: Life and Death in the Orphan Brigade As a surgeon attached to various regiments of the famous Orphan Brigade, Kentucky native John Orlando Scott practiced his trade at numerous Civil War battles, including Shiloh. This talk is based on articles he wrote about his war experiences and on scrapbooks he and his daughter kept. No equipment required. From Pantry to Table: History, Recipes, and other Gifts Hear the saga of the Green family dynasty of Falls of Rough and share Kentucky’s culinary past through an heirloom recipe collection rescued from the pantry of the Greens’ 1839 mansion. Carolyn Ridenour joins her husband for this journey into a bygone time when food preparation required perseverance and talent and setting a fine table was a social necessity. Green family dining items will be displayed. No equipment required.
Mark F. Sohn Food historian and cookbook author - Professor of Educ. Psychology, Pikeville College 119 Honeysuckle Drive Pikeville, KY 41501 Work Phone: (606) 434-2782 Email: mark@marksohn.com	Food Bourbon: A Kentucky Tradition Kentucky produces 95 percent of the world's bourbon, but that's the easy part. In this talk, Sohn will clarify the difference between whiskey and whisky, proof and percent, Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky bourbon, sweet mash and sour mash, straight and mingled straight, and wheated and rye bourbons. He'll tell you how bourbon is made and where you can buy a still that will fit on your kitchen counter. Sohn will share secrets he learned about Kentucky distillers and their Pennsylvania roots, the importance of limestone water and the reason for charred oak barrels -- all information he gathered while writing his manuscript, "Bourbon: A Kentucky Tradition." No equipment required. Appalachian Home Cooking Kentucky's Appalachia is a culturally distinct mountain region. In this talk, Sohn, author of Appalachian Home Cooking, will discuss foods from this area of the state -- stack cakes, soup beans, cracklings and cornbread. His talk will explore the "mountain" ingredients that make up the recipes and menus created in these kitchens. He'll also touch on cast iron cookware, Native American Appalachian food, old-time school lunches and the mountain farm homeplace. Be prepared to discuss your own food experiences with the group. No requirements.
Bianca Spriggs-Floyd Affrilachian Poet, Cave Canem Fellow, Kentucky writer Workshop trainer, Empowerment Institute 344 Furlong View Court Lexington, KY 40511 Work Phone: (859) 473-4330 Email: biancalynne@gmail.com	Poetry Some of the Bluegrass is Black: The History and Legacy of the Affrilachian Poets in Kentucky In 1991, Frank X Walker coined the term "Affrilachia" to describe people of color living and working in the region of Appalachia. The Affrilachian Poets eventually grew from an informal writing circle on the University of Kentucky's campus in the 1990s cultivated by a burgeoning artistic wave in Lexington and the region. Now, the Affrilachian Poets have more than doubled in size, boasting 24 members. Affrilachian Poet Bianca Spriggs will guide you through the history of the group and discuss the importance of maintaining such abundant diversity among Kentucky writers and audiences. Projection screen, projector, projector stand, lectern, and microphone required. "The Afro that Ate Kentucky" and Other Poems In this talk, Spriggs will provide a themed reading based on cultivating awareness of cultural diversity in the state of Kentucky. Having grown up in the Bluegrass state, Spriggs' work reflects the challenges and triumphs of Kentucky's history as a border state -- the lore, the people and the land. Spriggs will discuss the creative process, how each poem was insprited and edited into a final draft and invite questions and dialogue about the content. She is the author of Kaffir Lily, and her work may be found in Appalachian Heritage Magazine, Torch, America! What's My Name? and New Growth: Recent Kentucky Writings. Lectern and microphone required.
Georgia Green Stamper Kentucky writer, columnist, NPR local commentator 3220 Pembroke Place Lexington, KY 40509 Work Phone: (859) 264-0465 Home Phone: (859) 619-5700 Email: Georgia@georgiagreenstamper.com	Writing Kentuckians are storytellers: So are you writing yours down? Storytelling is bred into the DNA of Kentuckians, or as Stamper puts it, "Storytelling was the only thing that kept generations of Kentuckians from going stark-raving mad during those long, cold winters in the tobacco stripping room." The stories, she contends, play an essential role in binding family and community, and in defining people. With humor and reflection, Stamper reads from her personal stories of place and kin, encouraging her listeners to remember and treasure their own. Lectern and microphone required. Kentucky Woman: You can go anywhere When Georgia wasa growing up in tiny Natlee, Ky., her father told her Natlee was the crossroads of the world. "Because," he said, "you can start there and go anywhere." With the unique mixture of humor and pathos that mark her public radio commentaries, Stamper examines the divergent paths her life has taken from that Kentucky crossroads. Interspersed with readings from Stamper's award-winning essays, this narrative leads the audience from laughter to tears and back again. Lectern and microphone required. Extraordinary Ordinary Kentuckians Stamper, a seventh-generation Kentuckian, is in love with Kentuckians and their unique stories. From farmers in bathrobes who taught her the true meaning of the Christmas story, to a shell-shocked housepainter who took her to Hell on a train, to the 400-pound Nat Lee whose sour mash whiskey won first prize at the World's Fair, Stamper's real-life characters will stir the hearts of Kentucky audiences. Lectern and microphone required.
Larry Thacker Kentucky Author, Director of student success, retention and career services Lincoln Memorial University 112 Edgewood Road Middlesboro, KY 40965 Work Phone: (606) 246-0252 Email: mountainfocusart@gmail.com	History and Folklore Cumberland Gap: Civil War Target Long assumed as a Civil War site for "the battle that never happened," the American icon that is Cumberland Gap was politically, strategically and tactically so much more. Thacker's presentation examines the great reputation the Gap commanded in the minds of both sides of the conflict, building up to and during the struggle. From presidents to generals, from journalists to the everyday citizenry, assumptions and hopes concerning this once "Gateway to the West" ultimately set the stage for endless excitement and disappointment surrounding this natural fortress. Microphone required. Mountian Mysteries: The Mystic Traditions of Appalachia Just as folkloric legends and mountain myths of today are the uniquely evolved cultural products of earlier Appalachian generations, what we experience in today's world makes up what will eventually become the folklore of coming generations. Thacker, a seventh generation Cumberland Gap area native and author of Mountain Mysteries: The Mystic Traditions of Appalachia, examines the folklives and fringe paranormal topics of the past in order to better understand how to search out, preserve and interpret mystery topics in today's busy world. The presentation includes several stories of personal ghost encounters and other brushes with the paranormal -- a constant in the presenter's life. Microphone required.
Aaron Thompson Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Eastern Kentucky University 172 Wildcat Drive Richmond, KY 40475 Work Phone: 859/622-2076 Email: Aaron.Thompson@eku.edu	Appalachia African Americans' Contributions to Appalachia's Culture This talk looks at the history of African Americans in Kentucky, especially those who settled in central Appalachia. Thompson will talk about his own childhood in Clay County as well as the wealth of tradition and history African Americans brought to the Appalachian region. He will lead a thoughtful and provocative discussion regarding the realities and stereotypes about African Americans and Appalachians and how they intersect. No equipment required. Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: An Appalachian Upbringing How does a child born in a two-room cabin in a Clay County hollow grow up to be a university professor with a Ph.D.? In this talk, Thompson will tell how he did it, with emphasis on the richness as well as the difficulties of his mountain upbringing. He will touch on topics that include Appalachian history and customs, race relations, family influences and education. This uplifting story will be spiced with humor and lessons in life for any Kentuckian of any age. No equipment required.
Jim Tomlinson Kentucky author 7 Fairway Drive Berea, KY 40403-1708 Email: JLTomlinson@gmail.com	Writing A Fiction Writer and His Work: Making Up the Truth Award-winning Kentucky authoer Jim Tomlinson will read from his two collections of stories -- Things Kept, Things Left Behind and Nothing Like An Ocean: Stories -- and discuss the origins and inspirations for his work. Lectern and microphone required. A Second Act After many years as a successful and well-regarded engineer working in the inductry, Tomlinson made the leap 10 years ago to a new career, that of a fiction writer. Today he is a successful Kentucky author, his first book of stories having won the prestigious Iowa Short Fiction Award. With candor and wit, Tomlinson will discuss his journey, how he prepared for the midstream leap, and what inner fears, obstacles and challenges he faced. He will also talk about developing a writer's voice, about where he found early story inspirations, and how he "repurposed" engineering skills to serve the writing craft. Lectern and microphone required.
Jane Genry Vance Professor of English, University of Kentucky, Former Poet Laureate of Kentucky 340 Morgan Street Versailles, KY 40383 Work Phone: (859) 873-5700 Email: jgvance@windstream.net	Poetry What are Poems Useful For? A Talk and Reading Vance says poems are indeed useful. Among her reasons: they're good stories, they are powerful tools for self-discovery, and they help us feel the joy of being alive. She will read one of her own poems to support each of the points she makes. Lectern and microphone. Poems as a Way of Knowing We consider poems more often for their form or style or place in literary history than we do for what we can learn from them. But there is much to be learned. Through deeply imagined personal poems we get a sense of historical personalities and eras. Through poems about visual art we learn to see such art more perceptively. And through ecstatic poems, we can sense the joy of religious ecstasy. Lectern and microphone; carousel slide projector with remote control, projector stand, screen. Creating the Soul of Kentucky: Kentucky Poems Poems by Kentucky poets have helped shape Kentuckians’ perception of their state as a soulful place. In this talk, Vance explores poetry written by William Orlando Butler (“The Boatman’s Horn”) and Theodore O’Hara (“Bivouac of the Dead”) in the early 19th century to the 20th-century works Kentucky poets Robert Penn Warren, Wendell Berry and Frank X Walker. Lectern and microphone.
Michael Ann Williams Head of Deaprtment of Folk Studies and Anthropology Western Kentucky University 814 Cpvington Street Bowling Green, KY 42103 Work Phone: (270) 745-5898 Email: michael.williams@wky.edu	Folk Studies "Live from Renfro Valley": John Lair and Country Music Radio In the 1920s, Kentuckian John Lair moved to Chicago to work in the insurance industry and to his amazement, discovered familiar music playing on radio station WLS. Lair was soon producing his own acts and shows for the station that originated the National Barn Dance. Present during the infancy of country music radio, Lair made a radical leap by conceiving of a radio barn dance broadcast from a "real barn." During the late 1930s, Lair struck out on his own, developing the Renfro Valley complex in Rockcastle County, Ky., country music's first automobile tourism destination. Along the way, he helped jumpstart the careers of several of country music's early stars, including Red Foley, Lily May Ledford and Lula Belle. This talk will explore the impact of Renfro Valley and John Lair on country music history. Multimedia projector required. Sarah Gertrude Knott and the National Folk Festival Sarah Gertrude Knott was born and raised in Kevil, in far western Kentucky, and spent her retirement years in her "Little Green House" in Princeton. In the intervening years Knott founded and directed one of the most influential folk festivals of the 20th century. Inspired by "folk drama" of the Carolina Playmakers, Knott crafted the nation's first multicultural folk festival in St. Louis in 1934. At the helm of the festival for almost 40 years, Knott created an institution that is still alive and well today. In this presentation, Williams will explore the national influence of Knott on the "folk scene" and how her Kentucky roots shaped her conception of the folk festival. No requirements.