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Constance Alexander Kentucky Writer, Columnist 634 Robertson Road South Murray, KY 42071 Work Phone: (270) 753-9279 Email: constancealexander@newwavecomm.com	HISTORY & WRITING Kilroy Was Here: Children on the Home Front in World War II Award-winning writer and columnist, Constance Alexander tells the story of one Kentucky family during World War II. Inspired by a series of oral history interviews, Kilroy revives a bygone era through letters from GIs, a recipe, a jump rope rhyme, and radio ads. Kentucky state historian James Klotter says Kilroy “... wonderfully relates the humor, pathos, the meaning of war in another time, and of lessons to be learned, even yet.” Veteran journalist and World War II veteran Al Smith says that Kilroy signifies “... a first-hand witness to the emotions and artifacts of that era, from ration stamps to Movie Tone news and gold star mothers.” Ms. Alexander’s presentation features excerpts from her book, Kilroy Was Here, and allows time for Q&A about how oral history can be used to capture important family and community stories. Microphone and lectern required. Who Needs June Cleaver? Constance Alexander’s weekly newspaper column has been recognized for excellence by the Kentucky Press Association and the Pew Center for Civic Journalism. This talk provides insights into the role of columnist/commentator and offers perspectives on the shift to a twenty-four-hour news cycle in which local news is relegated to online message boards and blogs. In twenty-one years of writing her popular column, Maine Street, Ms. Alexander has found that readers’ favorites are her tales of growing up in a small town in the 1950s and 1960s. Her presentation features excerpts from her memoir, Who Needs June Cleaver?, which Louisville’s Courier-Journal describes as a “rich collection of commentaries” written in a graceful style with a “well-honed sense of the absurd.” Microphone and lectern required.
Thomas G. Barnes, Ph.D. Extension Professor & Extension Wildlife Specialist Department of Forestry University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40546-0073 Work Phone: (859) 576-6624 Email: TBarnes@uky.edu	WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENT Kentucky's Unbridled and Uncommon Natural Heritage Kentucky has a unique and beautiful natural world. Join us as we travel around the Commonwealth in search of what makes Kentucky unique. Kentucky has more miles of freshwater streams than any state except Alaska, resulting in more freshwater fish than any state except Tennessee and Alabama. The Commonwealth has more natural arches than any state except Utah. View outstanding photography showcasing the best Kentucky has to offer from beautiful mountain vistas to southern swamps, from tiny wildflowers to showy waterfalls, and from large antlered animals to creepy, crawly creatures. Learn about a Kentucky you never knew and why its natural world may be in peril. Wildflower Myths and Realities Did you know that poison hemlock is so toxic that just three leaves will kill you? Or perhaps you enjoy a dose of “poke salad” in the spring, or go on the annual “dry land fish” hunt. Barnes, author of Rare Wildflowers of Kentucky, says humans and plants have a fascinating history: we have affected plants through artificial selection and plants have affected us. Barnes tells many plant stories and discusses what is happening to rare plants in Kentucky. Projection screen required. Caring for Creation: Scriptures and Environmental Stewardship Kentucky's loss of 130 acres per day to development and global warming will alter the environment in ways we could never envision. Who is responsible for this assault on nature? Many believe that the Christian and Jewish religions, which preach man’s “dominion” over creation, deserve a large part of the blame. In fact, there is empirical evidence that supports this thesis, but what is often overlooked is that religion also holds they key to protecting nature. Learn what scripture really has to say about caring for God’s creation, including the unbridled natural beauty and diversity of Kentucky. Projection screen required.
Prince Brown, Jr. 2499 Wenatchee Lane Cincinnati, OH 45230 Home Phone: (513) 624-0954 Email: pbrown6644@aol.com	AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY The Underground Railroad: African-American Self-Liberation in the Kentucky and Ohio Borderlands This talk draws on new research from runaway slave ads to describe the Underground Railroad movement as the primary democratizing social force in American history and culture. Enslaved African Americans started the Underground Railroad movement as an unplanned effort to free themselves. It evolved into an unspoken partnership between people of different ethnicities, perspectives, statuses, and life chances. The movement is the clearest collective example of the ideals of freedom and democracy as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. The Ohio River Borderlands was the setting of many Underground Railroad events and legal battles which shaped the America we know today. Projection screen and projector required. African Americans in the United States Military: From the Revolutionary War to the War in Vietnam This talk focuses on the role of African Americans in the U.S. Military from the Revolutionary War to the War in Vietnam. The independence movement leading to the Revolutionary War was an indirect result of the American experiment of enslavement. After emancipation, African Americans, legally free, quasi-citizens; played crucial roles in the Indian Wars, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the War in Vietnam. Their contributions and sacrifices abroad did not immediately result in greater freedoms and opportunities at home. This aspect of American history is just beginning to be portrayed and acknowledged in telling America’s story. Projection screen and projector required.
Stephen A. Brown Former Education Specialist Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP 8009 Schroering Drive Louisville, KY 40291 Work Phone: (270) 307-0150 Email: HelloStephenB@gmail.com	LINCOLN & FRONTIER LIFE 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 and Underground Railroad activity in all of Kentucky. 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. Primary documents from recent research into his 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 explain how her immersion in Kentucky politics proved invaluable to Lincoln’s political career. Projection screen required. Grab a Glut: Pioneer Life in Kentucky Grab a glut, hang on to that froe and let’s rive some shingles: This is an interactive talk about pioneer life and early Kentucky history. Learn about Kentucky’s native son, Abraham Lincoln, his rail splitting skills, the clothes he wore, the food he ate, and how tools changed the frontier.
Kathy Bullock Professor of Music Berea College Department of Music Berea, KY 40404 Work Phone: (859) 986-6088 Email: bullockka@berea.edu	MUSIC & CULTURE 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 required. 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. 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 required.
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 Home Phone: (859) 620-8846 Email: jcclaypool@fuse.net	Cultural History The Songs that Johnny Reb and Billy Yank Sang This 50-minute program offers a lively presentation with recordings of some of the most popular songs from the North and South during the American Civil War. Claypool discusses the origins, importance, and placement in historical context of each song. Lectern required. 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 required. Rascals, Heroes, and Just Plain Uncommon Folks from Kentucky In this 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 required.
Berry Craig Professor of History, West Kentucky Community and Technical College 409 Highland Street Mayfield, KY 42066 Work Phone: (270) 534-3270 Email: bcraig8960@newwavecomm.net	Politics & History This Hosesome Beverage Kentucky is said to be the buckle on the Southern Protestant Bible Belt. Yet the Bluegrass State’s most famous product is bourbon whiskey, allegedly invented by a Baptist preacher from Georgetown. Craig will tell the story of the origins of “This Hosesome Beverage,” which was so mellow that the legislature considered banning it. Lawmakers feared it would make “even women” imbibers. Lectern required. True Tails of Old-Time Kentucky Politics: Bombast, Burgoo, and Bourbon These three Bs once dominated Kentucky politics. 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 James H. Mulligan’s famous poem, “In Kentucky,” where “politics are the damnedest.” Lectern required.
Susan B. Dyer Kentucky Author 4557 Highway 1401 Harned, KY 40144 Home Phone: (270) 756-2573 Email: dyersl@bbtel.com	HISTORY The Holt House, Saving Irreplaceable History Dyer’s talk is a perspective on Judge Joseph Holt’s home, its many mysteries, legends, and historic events, and the immense project to acquire and restore it to its antebellum splendor that is underway today. The Holt House has won acknowledgments from Preservation Kentucky as one of the “Most Endangered Historic Places in Kentucky.” With acquisition complete, the Holt House is now the people’s home to share with Kentucky and the nation, the only home connected to Judge Joseph Holt that tells the complete story of the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy Trial. Projection screen, lectern, microphone and projector required. Lincoln's Advocate: The Life of Judge Joseph Holt The story of Judge Joseph Holt has not been told until now. Holt has been brought back in the biography, Lincoln’s Advocate: The Life of Judge Joseph Holt. Dyer’s book focuses on the personal side of Holt, his sharing his life with two beautiful Kentucky women whom he love dearly and lost in death as well as the stories that happened one hundred and sixty years ago. The remarkable journey of Joseph Holt’s humble beginnings, personal life, contributions, and instrumental work of keeping Kentucky in the Union during the Civil War will give listeners a clear idea of what life was like, as they learn how President Lincoln recognized Joseph Holt’s talents at the beginning of the Civil War when Holt was serving as Secretary of War under President Buchanan. Lincoln appointed Holt as the first-ever Judge Advocate General. After the assassination, Holt would have the responsibility of prosecuting the conspirators who had slain the very president who had appointed him to that office. Projection screen, lectern, microphone and projector required.
Ronald Elliott Kentucky Author 317 South Sixth Street Bardstown, KY 40004 Work Phone: (502) 349-9480 Email: authoron@yahoo.com	Writers, Heroes, & History Great War's Greatest Hero? No less an authority than American Expeditionary Forces commander John J. Pershing declared that Samuel Woodfill was “the best soldier in the A.E.F.” Why is it, then, that Sergeant Woodfill stands in the shadow of World War I hero Alvin York? Elliott will answer that question, tell of the exploits that earned the Fort Thomas native his nation’s highest military honor, and relate the sad tale of Woodfill’s post-war life. Irvin S. Cobb — Kentuckian One of America’s most outstanding journalists, Irvin S. Cobb is the author of many memorable quotes. Among them: “being a New Englander is a chore and being a Virginian is a profession, but being a Kentuckian is an incurable disease.” In addition to being a famous newspaperman, author, lecturer, war correspondent, and humorist, Cobb was, indeed, the quintessential Kentuckian. Elliott will pass along the wit, humor, charm, and literary genius from the remarkable career of the man who, despite residing in Hollywood and New York, always signed in as “Irvin S. Cobb, Paducah, Kentucky.” 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? Because when we view the famous photograph all we see is simply American teamwork and victory: the names do not matter. However, each of those men has 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. Lectern and projector required.
John Faulkner Community Relations Manager Muhammad Ali Center 743 East Broadway, #110 Louisville, KY 40202 Work Phone: (502) 774-0463 Email: jefaulkner@mac.com	AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE Black in the 22nd Century In 1889 James Weldon Johnson wrote what was commonly known as the Negro national anthem, “Lift Evr’y Voice and Sing.” The last line of the first verse ends with the lyrics, “Let us march on ’till victory is won.” During the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s another anthem commonly sung was the protest song, “We Shall Overcome,” in which the last line of the first verse ends with the lyrics, “We shall overcome some day.” More than one hundred years has past since Johnson’s great call for action, so what to do for the next hundred? “Black in the 22nd Century” asks the question, what does victory look like and what day will that be and who declares that it is here? Lectern, microphone, and DVD player required. Life & Times of Muhammad Ali On October 1, 1975, Louisville’s legendary hero is battered and bruised but victorious after fourteen rounds of boxing with Joe Frazier. While still out of breath he composes himself to let the world know that, “Louisville, Kentucky, is the greatest city in the world!” Muhammad Ali’s life story is one of the most unique in the annals of American history. Ironically named after another Kentuckian, the 19th century emancipationist, Cassius Marcellus Clay (1810-1903), Ali would later reject the name, as he called it his “slave name,” to assert his new identity as a then follower of the Nation of Islam. Rich and textured as any great opera, filled with the backdrop of war, assassinations, millions of dollars, and tons of characters, Muhammad Ali’s life has comedy and tragedy as well as triumph and despair. Follow his story from wanting to fight the kid who stole his bike to his fight with Parkinson’s disease. Muhammad Ali is “The Greatest” of all time. Lectern, microphone, and DVD player.
John P. Ferré Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Communications Department of Communication University of Louisville Louisville, KY 40292 Work Phone: (502) 852-2237 Email: ferre@louisville.edu	RELIGION & POPULAR CULTURE Animals are People, Too: Pet Heaven in Popular Books Three out of four Americans may believe in heaven, but if the proliferation of books with titles such as Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates and Spirit Dogs: Heroes In Heaven is any indication, their belief extends beyond humans to the pets that they care for. In this presentation, Ferré will examine the reasoning in dozens of popular books to show how religious orthodoxy in America is in a state of flux. Lectern, microphone and projector required. Religion in Cyberspace: Messages from the Medium From e-mail and listservs to podcasts and social networks, American are finding various ways to use the Internet for religious purposes. Online religious traffic is soaring as religious groups rush to develop their online presence and individuals look for information about spirituality as well as ways to engage meaningfully with others. In this talk, Ferré will explore what religious uses of the Internet reveal about faith in contemporary America. Lectern, microphone and projector required.
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 Home Phone: (859) 250-1153 Email: harrisda@nku.edu	African-American Culture & History Hail to the Red, White & Black: A Look at "the Colored Troops" of the Civil War This talk looks at the roles of African-American soldiers during the American Civil War. Oddly enough, these soldiers fought on both sides of the conflict. This talk focuses particularly on Kentucky’s Camp Nelson where, according to some figures, more than 10,000 African-American soldiers were encamped (including the recently reactivated 12th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery) making it the third largest recruiting and training depot for African Americans in the nation. Lectern and microphone required. Wanted: Freedom—Dead or Alive! This talk explores and honors the lives and legacies of Kentucky travelers on the Underground Railroad. Rare newspaper “wanted notices for runaways” that provide fascinatingly detailed insight into these courageous individuals inspired this talk. These and other archival newspaper clippings along with texts from “Slave Narratives,” poems, and Negro spirituals give further texture to the lives, personalities, and plights of those who sought freedom by any means necessary: some via the Underground Railroad, others via the “Train to Glory.” Lectern and microphone required. 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 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 and microphone required.
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 The Crucial Years: Kentucky in the First Two Years of the Civil War Why did Lincoln think to lose Kentucky would be to lose the whole game? Why did Kentucky take the course it did? What were the ramifications of its choices? In this cruel “Brother’s War,” Kentucky played a key role, and in this talk the personalities of the players, the role of chance and choice, and the decisions made and not made are all discussed. Lectern and microphone required. 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 while emphasizing their Kentucky connections. Lectern and microphone required. 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. This talk looks at Kentuckians who fought abroad, those who did their part at home, and the price paid by both. Klotter will conclude with an intriguing look at post-war predictions of the future. Lectern and microphone required.
Sue Lynn McDaniel Associate Professor, Special Collections Librarian, Department of Library Special Collections Western Kentucky University 1910 Karen Avenue Bowling Green, KY 42104 Work Phone: (270) 745-3246 Email: sue.lynn.mcdaniel@wku.edu	History & Culture Mountain Mourning: Southeastern Kentucky Funeral Customs, 1880-1915 If you want to learn about a community’s core values, explore how they bury their dead. At the turn of the 20th century, southeastern Kentuckians held firm to their traditional values of family, community, and religion. Nowhere are their persistent beliefs more evident than in the way they buried and memorialized their dead. The use of professional services was slow in coming to the mountain area because of its low population and its citizens’ understanding of proper respect for deceased loved ones. Although many of their customs are typical of other rural Kentuckians, the delayed funeral was a regional response to the challenges of terrain and communication, in a time and place where death was a frequent, unwelcome visitor. Southeastern Kentuckians bore witness to their belief in the importance of peaceful deaths, the existence of Heaven, eventual reunion with the deceased, and their dependence on God. Lectern required. Funny Little Thing Called Love At the turn of the 20th century, the rules and American society’s expectations concerning courtship prior to marriage were changing. Etiquette books and popular literature warned young men and women against being casual in their interactions with the opposite sex. Leap year, in particular, was celebrated at a time when young women could bend the rules and be more direct in their conquests of potential husbands. Across the state of Kentucky, men and women kept diaries and letters that give insights into their interpretations of appropriate behavior. Yearbooks and school literary magazines commented on daily life. Through their eyes, we view this funny little thing called love, Kentucky style. Lectern required.
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	History & Folklore Lawyer, Doctor, Funeral Director, and Sheriff Stories Stories told by state-wide lawyers, doctors, funeral directors, and sheriffs provide historical and personal insights relative to their professional jobs typically not available in formal records. The stories they tell describe serious, dangerous, pitiful, and humorous episodes, as well as numerous episodes in-between, including descriptive accounts about life and times before the advent of modern technology, marijuana growers, methamphetamine “meth” makers, and fatal users Lectern and microphone required. 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 the 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 and microphone required. 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 and microphone required.
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 forthcoming books Ancient Creek and Other Folktales, 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 news-paper in Kentucky. At age 53, Wilgus reflects on his own life transition and social changes in contemporary America. Projection screen, microphone, and projector (video/DVD) required. 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) required.
Nikos Pappas 212 Catalpa Drive #1 Lexington, KY 40502 Home Phone: (859) 533-2814 Email: nikos.pappas@uky.edu	MUSIC & CULTURE Music and the Genteel in Mid-19th Century America Before the days of recorded sound, the only music anyone heard was performed live. Because of this phenomenon, a musical ability served an integral part in polite society throughout the 19th century. Further, musical works also functioned as items of topical interest, relating to newsworthy events, famous people and places, societal issues, and many others. This talk will explore the role of music in polite society, drawing upon Kentucky compositions to explicate music among the genteel and its role in shaping people’s understandings of topical events in the era of the War Between States. Focus will be given to both Union and Confederate sides of the conflict, featuring detailed historical context and live performance. Lectern, microphone and tuned piano required. Commemorating the Civil War through Fiddle Music Of all the events in our nation’s history, few evoke such a strong image as the Civil War. This phenomenon remains as true today as it did for the witnesses to this cataclysmic conflict. Often not a part of elite society, the average soldier and citizen of the day would commemorate these events and its military leaders through musical pieces on the one instrument of social equality: the fiddle. As a result, many Kentucky musicians preserved these tunes through oral tradition. Entering into the mindset of the common citizenry though its fiddle music allows not only for a rare glimpse into the personal ramifications of this conflict, but also perhaps a greater understanding of the Civil War itself. This presentation will focus on the events and people commemorated in Kentucky fiddle tunes, featuring oral history, social and historical context, and live performance. Lectern and microphone required.
Ron Pen Director, John Jacob Niles Center for American Music; Director, Appalachian Studies Program Coordina University of Kentucky School of Music 105 Fine Arts Building Lexington, KY 40506 Home Phone: (859) 527-3536 Email: ron.pen@uky.edu	Music I Wonder as I Wander: John Jacob Niles Pen gives us a portrait of celebrated Kentucky musician John Jacob Niles as told through sight and sound in the words of Bob Dylan, Henry Miller, Jean Ritchie, and others. Niles is revealed as a musician, singer, composer, author, flyer, inventor, carver, artist, luthier, cook, builder, poet, farmer, folklorist, and husband — all in one lifetime (1892-1980). Power Point projector required. John Jacob Niles and Singing Soldiers John Jacob Niles, iconic Kentucky musician, was a flyer in World War I. During the “war to end all wars” he collected music from African-American soldiers and published the collection as Singing Soldiers, and from white doughboys he published Songs that My Mother Never Taught Me. Through site and sound, the musical world of World War I will be recreated with particular emphasis on the music that Niles collected. Power Point projector required.
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) 445-5122 Email: sreigler@aol.com	History & Culture Food Ways of the Kentucky Frontier In the 18th century, explorers and settlers coming through the Cumberland Gap or floating down the Ohio River to what would become Kentucky, certainly didn’t have the option of stopping along the highway for a quick snack, or even of packing a picnic basket. How did these intrepid (and hungry) pioneers eat? Join former Courier-Journal restaurant critic and travel writer, Susan Reigler, for a culinary journey through the Kentucky frontier. Items on the menu include leg of bear and pigeon pie. Whatever came from the garden and from the day’s shooting went into the pot to simmer as an original Kentucky dish — burgoo. Believe it or not, there were even some vegetarian pioneers, who managed much more than nuts and berries. Recipes (and perhaps a sample or two) provided for talk attendees. Power Point projector, projection screen, and laptop or computer required. How to Make Kentucky's State Parks Your Base Camps for Exploring Civil War History Most who are acquainted with the Civil War in Kentucky know of the pivotal Battle of Perryville, the site of which is preserved as a Kentucky State Park near Danville. Many more Kentucky places related to the Civil War are preserved in, or near, our state parks. There are parks associated with both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. One park preserves the site of Ulysses S. Grant’s first victory in the conflict under his command. Yet another commemorates a general whose name became a whiskery English eponym. And where Union gunboats once fired on a Confederate sympathizer’s estate, golfers tee off by a lake. Reigler will illustrate her talk with Pam Spaulding’s photographs from their Complete Guide to Kentucky State Parks. Power Point projector, projection screen, and laptop or computer required.
Albert Schmid Chair, Hotel-Restaurant, Hospitality and Beverage Management P.O. Box 34331 Louisville, KY 40232 Work Phone: (502) 938-2560 Email: aschmid@sullivan.edu	Culture, Cuisine, & History Tales from the Barrel — Stories Related to America's Native Spirit — Bourbon The vast majority of America’s native spirit is made in Kentucky. Schmid will explore the reason that the Bluegrass State became the home to the purest whiskey in the world. He will also discuss the development of bourbon through stories starting with the Whiskey Rebellion and ending post Prohibition. Some of the stories are featured in Schmid’s new book, The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook (University Press of Kentucky, 2010), while other stories did not make the final edit. Schmid is also the author of The Hospitality Manager’s Guide to Wines, Beers and Spirits. Culinary Tourism in Kentucky Kentucky has a unique culinary tradition. Schmid will discuss the development of Kentucky cuisine and will place some of the dishes in historical perspective. In addition, Schmid will define the culinary tourist as well as the concepts related to culinary and gastronomic tourism. His talk will explore the industries that create tourism and expenditures by tourists. Schmid will also touch on culinary dishes that are considered authentic in the Bluegrass State and discuss the development of culinary tourism. Slow Food vs. Fast Food We live life in the fast lane running from one event to another leaving little time for the simple things like cooking. Instead we rely on “fast food” to go with our fast lives. Schmid will discuss what we lose by not slowing down to cook slow food with our family, and more importantly, what we gain with slow food. Schmid will identify ways to begin family food traditions that will last for generations. He will also discuss the benefit of teaching the next generation how to cook.
Alice Shaughnessy-Begay Folklorist P.O. Box 70 Caneyville, KY 42721 Work Phone: (270) 879-3319	Folk Culture Folk Medicine in Kentucky Kentucky’s folk medicine has its roots in the European settlement of the region in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The English, Scots, and Irish settlers to Kentucky brought with them plants unfamiliar to the United States as a safeguard from the medical dangers they would face. Plants and herbs are not the only form of folk medical practice in Kentucky. Faith healers, blood stoppers, fire blowers, and iridologists are folk medicine practitioners active in Kentucky. Folk healing is often transferred from family member to family member according to specific practices. It is in the telling of the stories of Folk Medicine in Kentucky that connects our past to the present and suggests that perhaps the healing properties of folk medicine lie in their powerful connection with family, community, and the land. The Painted Quilt Block: An Eight Foot by Eight Foot Story of Kentucky Folklife The Kentucky Clothesline of Quilts Trail is an open-air folk art gallery, displaying swatches of quilt patterns affixed to the agricultural architecture of the Commonwealth. The trail of painted quilt blocks has infused new life and new meaning to the once utilitarian chore of quilting. Quilting classes, quilting bees, and “bed turnings” are shedding the moth balls and opening the windows to a new generation of quilters. The painted quilt blocks have extended that once private artistic expression to the expression of folk art in public spaces. Through Shaughnessy-Begay’s work with the Grayson County Clothesline of Quilts Project, she has discovered that these beautiful works of folk art tell a story beyond the quilt pattern, color scheme, and strokes of a paint brush. Owners of the painted quilt blocks have accidentally become oral historians of their property, their family, and their connection to their community. The Kentucky Clothesline of Quilts Trail is a series of stories about folklife in Kentucky and each one begins with a favorite quilt.
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 twenty-four members. Affrilachian Poet Bianca Spriggs-Floyd 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-Floyd will provide a themed reading based on cultivating awareness of cultural diversity in the state of Kentucky. Having grown up in the Bluegrass State, her work reflects the challenges and triumphs of Kentucky’s history as a border state — the lore, the people and the land. Spriggs-Floyd will discuss the creative process, how each poem was inspired 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.
Sandra Staebell Western Kentucky University 1906 College Heights Blvd. #1092 Bowling Green, KY 42101 Work Phone: (270) 745-6260 Email: sandy.staebel@wku.edu	Popular Culture & Art Fabulous Flappers:1920s Fashion in the Jazz Age Take a visual journey back to the 1920s, a time when women bobbed their hair, hemlines rose, and societal norms changed radically. This program will incorporate photos, fashion plates, albums, and other materials in a look at fashion trends in the 1920s America with a particular emphasis on what the women of Kentucky were wearing. Projection screen and lectern required. Nature's Bounty as Interpreted in Quilts & Textiles Nature has inspired generations of American quilters, weavers, and fiber artists. Whether serving as a design element or providing the pattern name, plants and animals have influenced the design of many historic textiles, particularly quilts and coverlets, and provided unique opportunities for the interpretation of the glory of nature. This program is based on Power Point images with a particular emphasis on quilts and coverlets with Kentucky connections. Program hosts may wish to invite audience members to bring their own quilts with natural themes for show and tell after the talk. Projection screen and lectern 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 Website: 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. 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. You Might as Well Laugh Mother Always Said From country stores to country clubs, Kentuckians have ever been known for their humorous stories about the everyday, stories that also provide rapier insight into what is important and what is not. In this entertaining presentation culled from her most popular NPR commentaries, Stamper continues in this tradition. She explores various challenges of her ordinary life in Kentucky — the state a Gallup Poll has deemed “most mentally depressed” — including her misadventures as a counterfeit southern cook and her experience as a Decades Diet group leader in one of America’s plumpest states. And always she tiptoes along Erma Bombeck’s “thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy, and tragedy.” Lectern and microphone required.
Ernest M. Tucker Deptment of History Ashland Community College 1400 College Drive Ashland, KY 41101 Work Phone: (606) 326-2030 Email: ernie.tucker@kctcs.edu	MUSIC & FOLKLORE "My Mother's Songs" Professor Tucker’s grandmother was born slightly before the Civil War and grew up as a farmer’s wife with former slaves as neighbors. They taught Tucker’s grandmother their songs which she in turn taught to his mother and she sang them to Tucker and his siblings as children. This presentation will include these songs and others, exciting stories about them, and direct audience participation. Lectern and microphone required. Take a Feather from a Ground Hog: Eastern Kentucky Folk Medicine Tucker’s presentation will involve more than thirty-five years of collecting Eastern Kentucky folk remedies and the stories that go along with them. Interviewing more than four thousand people who lived in a time when hospitals and doctors were scarce in the region. He has recorded his findings in a book-length manuscript on folk medicine in Eastern Kentucky’s recent past. Lectern and microphone required.
Maryjean Wall PhD, author of How Kentucky Became Southern: Tale of Outlaws, Horse Thieves, Gamblers, And Breeders University of Kentucky 183 Woodlark Road Versailles, KY 40383 Work Phone: (859) 312.2803 Email: maryjeanwall@gmail.com	History & Folklore Changing Perceptions: Turning Kentucky into Horse Country Violence and lawlessness plagued Kentucky after the Civil War, dissuading wealthy capitalists of the Northeast from bringing their race horse-breeding operations to Kentucky. Bluegrass breeders did not find a way to persuade these wealthy men to buy horse farms in Central Kentucky until the generation after the war. It was then that Kentucky’s identity changed from a border state to a southern state. This talk reveals how this turn occurred in the national imagination and how it sent the wealthy Northeastern men into denial over the lawless culture of Kentucky, bringing them to the Bluegrass, recentering horse country. Power Point projector and projection screen required. Icons of Rural Life Lost:The Mules of Appalachia William Faulkner wrote, “Some Homer of the cotton fields should sing the saga of the mule and of his place in the South.” The same should be said about the mules of Appalachia. This talk reflects on the cultural changes in Eastern Kentucky as seen through the popularity followed by the decline in the mountains of the mule: a creature once so ubiquitous that it witnessed every stage of the transition from fodder to fuel. Power Point projector and projection screen required. My Old Kentucky Home: Fast Horses and African American Free Towns Numerous “free towns” or rural hamlets established during or after slavery in Central Kentucky produced much of the work force needed to maintain the horse farms that became iconic to the region. This talk is built around one of the most famous African American horseman that these hamlets produced: champion jockey Jimmy Winkfield. Racism and lack of opportunity drove him from the United States to Russia, where he rode for royalty and then escaped the Bolsheviks. A flight across mountains on horseback eventually brought him to France where he became a highly praised jockey, then a respected horse trainer, and a wealthy man. Power Point projector and projection screen required.