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Kentucky Cured: Fifty Years in Kentucky Journalism (American Chronicles)
by Al SmithAndrew Jackson fought a duel in rural Logan County, Kentucky. Jesse James robbed a bank there, and frontier lawyers began political careers. But a resentful Al Smith knew none of this when he got off the bus at Russellville, rented a room at a shabby hotel and asked for the nearest bootlegger. After losing two newspaper jobs in New Orleans, he was the new tramp editor of Russellville's little country weekly. He was thirty-one, and his life was in shambles. Fifty sober years later, his stories tell what happened after he was cured of his negative obsessions and discovered Kentucky was a land of the second chance. From county courthouse to the White House, read all about it.
Kentucky Derby Stories
by Jim BolusFrom photo finishes to the long-shot money winners, the Kentucky Derby is an American institution that thrives on the excitement of sport. And just like its counterparts—the Superbowl, the World Series, and the Indy 500—there are legends and stories to be told that exemplify the fervor that begins in Lexington nearly a whole month before the race. Kentucky Derby Stories captures that spirit with fifteen stories, both old and new, that feature the best moments in the Derby's history. Bolus spotlights the men and women who began and maintained the race--from the black jockeys to "Mr. Derby" Col. Matt Winn to Ben Jones, the Derby's most remembered trainer. This collection also focuses an eye on the runners, some whose greatness was a surprise to all. Some have been geldings, others competitors in famed rivalries, and there are those who came from nowhere to win the race. No matter what the circumstances of the victory, Bolus takes note of the most memorable horses decorating the winner's circle. Finally, this compilation looks at the unique elements of the Derby as seen over more than a century. Who are the celebrities who attend and have their stake in the race? What overseas nation is taking a winner's interest in the Derby? These are just a few of the unpredictable sides of the run Bolus and his stories introduce. A horse racing historian, author Bolus is a native of the Bluegrass State who has not missed a Derby since he was sixteen years old. His love for the race inspired him to interview past and present jockeys, owners, trainers, and fans and record many of the unique aspects of the Derby's history. He was a sportswriter for The Courier-Journal in Louisville for more than twenty years and his articles have appeared in Sports Illustrated as well as numerous racing magazines around the world. Currently he writes a regular horse racing feature in Daily Racing Form. Kentucky Derby Stories is his third and most detailed book on the "Run for the Roses."
Kentucky Derby Winner (Famous Horse Stories)
by Isabel McLennan McMeekinMany of the events in this book are true, though the author has introduced some fictional young people and their stories for interest. But it is true that in 1875, Aristides (Risty) truly won the very first Kentucky Derby at three years old. This is the story of the small but beautiful colt who became a winner, and young Jackie Spratt, the boy who loved and believed in him, no matter what the adults said.
Kentucky Folktales: Revealing Stories, Truths, and Outright Lies
by Mary Hamilton“An entertaining collection . . . It will encourage readers to explore the lore of their own communities, no matter how near to or far from Kentucky.” —Library JournalWinner of the Storytelling World Resource Award and the Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice AwardFolktales, legends, tall tales, and ghost stories hold a special place in the imaginations of storytellers and listeners. In Kentucky Folktales: Revealing Stories, Truths, and Outright Lies, Kentucky storyteller Mary Hamilton narrates a range of stories with the creativity only a master storyteller can evoke.Hamilton has perfected the art of entrancing an audience no matter the subject of her tales. Kentucky Folktales includes stories about Daniel Boone’s ability to single-handedly kill a bear, a daughter who saves her father’s land by outsmarting the king, and a girl who uses gingerbread to exact revenge on her evil stepmother, among many others. Hamilton ends each story with personal notes on important details of her storytelling craft, such as where she first heard the story, how it evolved through frequent retellings and reactions from audiences, and where the stories take place. Featuring tales and legends from all over the Bluegrass State, Kentucky Folktales captures the expression of Kentucky’s storytelling tradition.“A well-documented, lively, informative book . . . a major contribution to regional folklore.” —Louisville Courier-Journal
Kentucky Handicap Horse Racing: A History of the Great Weight Carriers (Sports)
by Melanie GreeneIn a handicap, horses are assigned weights based on their past performances as a way to try to create evenly matched fields. The better the horse, the heavier the weight assigned. In the United States, handicaps once accounted for the majority of stakes races and were known to boast large purses attracting the leading horses of the day. Kentucky-bred horses such as Discovery, Equipoise and Kelso won under the heaviest of weights, dominating the handicap division year after year, and were immortalized in the hall of fame. These equine stars brought recognition to the Sport of Kings and became renowned athletes for their courage, fortitude and durability. Join author and turf historian Melanie Greene as she recounts the harrowing tales of these noble steeds.
Kentucky Holt American Anthem: Modern American History
by Edward L. Ayers Robert D. Schulzinger Deborah Gray White Jesus F. de la TejaNIMAC-sourced textbook
Kentucky Horse Trails (Sports)
by Ercel EllisErcel Ellis Jr. was born into the Thoroughbred horse business and has worked in it for seventy-five years.He has been an owner, breeder, trainer, writer and radio broadcaster. His radio show, Horse Tales, has run for twenty years. For all his work, he won the Charles W. Engelhard Award for contributions to the industry. During his life, Ercel has amassed a trove of stories on some of the biggest names in Thoroughbred racing, like Mata Hari, Spy Song and world-famous Man o' War. He also includes stories of lesser-known horses like Dark Mirage, El Chico, Blue Peter and By Jimminy. Join Ercel as he entertains with fascinating stories from more than seven decades with Thoroughbreds.
Kentucky Justice, Southern Honor, and American Manhood: Understanding the Life and Death of Richard Reid (Southern Biography Series)
by James C. KlotterWhen attorney John Jay Cornelison severely beat Kentucky Superior Court judge Richard Reid in public on April 16, 1884, for allegedly injuring his honor, the event became front-page news. Would Reid react as a Christian gentleman, a man of the law, and let the legal system take its course, or would he follow the manly dictates of the code of honor and challenge his assailant? James C. Klotter crafts a detective story, using historical, medical, legal, and psychological clues to piece together answers to the tragedy that followed. "This book is a gem. . . . Klotter's astute organization and gripping narrative add to the book's appeal. . . . [He] has written a fascinating book that will be of interest to a wide audience." --American Historical Review "A moving story well told, it does force the reader to reflect on our own era and consider whether we value leaders who respect the rule of law or those who believe that honor demands swift and bloody vengeance no matter the costs." --Ohio Valley History "A rich and compelling work that offers fresh insights into the tense interplay among religion, law, and honor in the American South." --Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
Kentucky Marine: Major General Logan Feland and the Making of the Modern USMC
by David J. Bettez“Follows the changes in the Marine Corps from its role as colonial infantry to amphibious assault force . . . us[ing] the career of Maj. Gen. Logan Feland.” —Allan R. Millett, author of Semper FidelisWinner of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s Colonel Joseph Alexander AwardA native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Major General Logan Feland (1869-1936) played a major role in the development of the modern Marine Corps. Highly decorated for his heroic actions during the battle of Belleau Wood in World War I, Feland led the hunt for rebel leader Augusto César Sandino during the Nicaraguan revolution from 1927 to 1929—an operation that helped to establish the Marines’ reputation in guerrilla warfare and search-and-capture missions. Yet, despite rising to become one of the USMC’s most highly ranked and regarded officers, Feland has been largely ignored in the historical record.In Kentucky Marine, David J. Bettez uncovers the forgotten story of this influential soldier of the sea. During Feland’s tenure as an officer, the Corps expanded exponentially in power and prestige. Not only did his command in Nicaragua set the stage for similar twenty-first-century operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Feland was one of the first instructors in the USMC’s Advanced Base Force, which served as the forerunner of the amphibious assault force mission the Marines adopted in World War II.Kentucky Marine also illuminates Feland’s private life, including his marriage to successful soprano singer and socialite Katherine Cordner Feland, and details his disappointment at being twice passed over for the position of commandant. Drawing from personal letters, contemporary news articles, official communications, and confidential correspondence, this long-overdue biography fills a significant gap in twentieth-century American military history.
Kentucky Maverick: The Life and Adventures of Colonel George M. Chinn
by Carlton Jackson&“An absorbing story about how the Lincoln veteran George Watt managed to escape from Nazi-occupied Belgium.&”—San Francisco Review of Books November 1943: American flyer George Watt parachutes out of his burning warplane and lands in rural Nazi-occupied Belgium. Escape from Hitler&’s Europe is the incredible story of his getaway—how brave villagers spirited him to Brussels to connect with the Comet Line, a rescue arm of the Belgian resistance. This was a gravely dangerous mission, especially for a Jewish soldier who had fought against Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Watt recounts dodging the Gestapo, entering Paris via the underground, and finally, crossing the treacherous Pyrenees into Spain. In 1985, he returned to Belgium and discovered an astonishing postscript to his wartime experiences. &“A story of what is best in human beings triumphing over what is worst.&”—John Sayles, author of Yellow Earth &“One of those rare little narratives that engage the reader from the first page to the last . . . It is about the human spirit and those willing to risk their lives for a stranger.&”—Library Journal "A hell of an adventure story."―Ring Lardner, Jr., author of The Ecstasy of Owen Muir &“This is one of my favorite books about World War II, and the first I have read that is about the Comet Line and the people who helped with running it.&”—Armchair Interviews &“This is an interesting and exciting account that provides a first-person examination of the plight of an individual airman, and insights into the scope, risks, and techniques of the Belgian and French underground movements.&”—Col. Stetson M. Siler, USAF (Ret.)
Kentucky Moonshine
by David W. MaurerA concise, lively history of how the Bluegrass State became famous for illicit distilleries, by the author of The Big Con. When the first American tax on distilled spirits was established in 1791, violence broke out in Pennsylvania. The resulting Whiskey Rebellion sent hundreds of families down the Ohio River by flatboat, stills on board, to settle anew in the fertile bottomlands of Kentucky. Once there, they used cold limestone spring water to make bourbon and found that corn produced even better yields of whiskey than rye. Thus, the licit and illicit branches of the distilling industry grew up side by side in the state. This is the story of the illicit side—the moonshiners&’ craft and craftsmanship, as practiced in Kentucky. This entertaining, deeply researched slice of history also includes a glossary of moonshiner argot, shedding light on such colorful terms as puker, slop, and weed-monkey.
Kentucky Passion: Wildcat Wisdom and Inspiration
by John Huang Del DuduitWildcat Wisdom for the Big Blue Nation!For more than a century, the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team has built a winning tradition that feeds the Big Blue Nation. The history of the winningest program in college basketball is peppered with unforgettable moments and personalities.In Kentucky Passion, Del Duduit and John Huang help fans reexperience some of the most memorable seasons and shots and meet key players and coaches. Readers will learn how they too can rise to challenges and find success through the inspiring stories from Wildcat history. Weekly stories showcasing legendary coaches including Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari, standout players including John Wall, Kyle Macy, DeAndre Liggins, Goose Givens, and Aaron Harrison, and indelible highs and lows (yes, the BBN still hates Laettner) illustrate the value of persistence, hard work, resiliency, teamwork, and more.Kentucky Passion is for every citizen of the Big Blue Nation and for every sports fan who relishes well-deserved victories, moans at surprise defeats, or wants to learn more about one of the most storied teams in college sports.
Kentucky Rebel Town: The Civil War Battles of Cynthiana and Harrison County
by William A. PennThis unique Civil War history chronicles the hard-fought battles and divided loyalties of a pro-Southern county in Union Kentucky. When the Civil War broke out, Kentucky was officially neutral—but the people of Harrison County felt differently. Volunteers lined up at the train depot in Cynthiana to join the Confederate Army, cheered on by pro-Southern local officials. After the state fell under Union Army control, this &“pestilential little nest of treason&” became a battlefield during some of the most dramatic military engagements in the state. Because of its political leanings and strategic position along the Kentucky Central Railroad, Harrison County became the target of multiple raids by Confederate general John Hunt Morgan. Conflict in the area culminated in the Second Battle of Cynthiana, in which Morgan's men clashed with Union troops led by Major General Stephen G. Burbridge—known as the &“Butcher of Kentucky&”—resulting in the destruction of much of the town by fire. In this fascinating Civil War history, William A. Penn draws on dozens of period newspapers as well as personal journals, memoirs, and correspondence from citizens, slaves, soldiers, and witnesses to provide a vivid account of the war's impact on the region.
Kentucky Rising: Democracy, Slavery, and Culture from the Early Republic to the Civil War
by James A. Ramage Andrea S. Watkins&“The authors integrate the cultural, social, economic, and military history of the state into a highly readable, interesting story of antebellum Kentucky&” (Marion Lucas, author of A History of Blacks in Kentucky). Kentucky Rising presents a comprehensive view of the commonwealth in the sixty years before the Civil War. Covering everything from architecture and entertainment to the War of 1812 and the politics of slavery, historians James A. Ramage and Andrea S. Watkins explore this crucial but often overlooked period to reveal an era of great optimism and progress. Drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources, Ramage and Watkins demonstrate that the eyes of the nation often focused on Kentucky, which was perceived as a leader among the states before the Civil War. Globally oriented Kentuckians were determined to transform the frontier into a network of communities exporting to the world market and dedicated to the new republic. Kentucky Rising offers a valuable new perspective on the eras of slavery and the Civil War. &“An outstanding, beautifully written book that centers on Kentucky's contributions to the nation during the antebellum era.&” —Bowling Green Daily News
Kentucky Speedway (Images of Modern America)
by Kevin KellyThe history of Kentucky Speedway is as colorful as the flags waved from its flag stand and the cars that dart around its 1.5-mile track. The path to its position on NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series schedule included more twists and turns than the roads leading to Sparta, Kentucky. Ultimately, it took Speedway Motorsports Inc. buying the track from its founders in 2008 for developer Jerry Carroll's vision to be realized three years later when the venue hosted its inaugural Quaker State 400. It is all part of the history of a speedway that brought a major-league sport to the Bluegrass State.
Kentucky Stand
by Jere WheelwrightPeriod and regional flavor for a novel of the wilderness that was Kentucky during Revolutionary years; and of a young Marylander who won his spurs fighting with Boone and other frontiersmen beyond the Alleghenies. Young Jim, in a huff because he'd quarrelled with blonde Mary, gained his grandmother's permission to leave for Kentucky, travelled Boone's Wilderness Road to Boonesborough, took part in the defense of the log stockade against Indian attack, and met a frontier girl who contributed to his maturing.
Kentucky Sweets: Bourbon Balls, Spoonbread & Mile High Pie
by Sarah C. BairdKentuckians from frontiersmen to modern-day pastry chefs have put their marks on the state's baking history. Residents of the commonwealth have plenty of rich recipes and time-honored traditions, like pulling parties, where folks would gather to make taffy. Stack cakes originated from Appalachian weddings, where guests would each offer a layer of cake to the bride and groom, who then added the jam to hold the creation together. The decadent Modjeska confection gets its name from a Victorian-era candy maker's crush on a popular Polish actress. Join author Sarah Baird on a whirlwind trip--complete with recipes--that examines the delectable history of unique Kentucky treats from pawpaws to chocolate gravy..
Kentucky Woman
by Norah HessTrapping, drinking corn whiskey, and carousing with squaws--that was what Spencer Atkins called a perfect life. He wanted no part of a wife and children while he could live in his pa's backwoods cabin as a carefree bachelor. Fresh from the poorhouse, Gretchen Ames had barely escaped bonded servitude. Her hardscrabble past a painful memory, she would marry no man who'd refuse her a home and family. Although they were the unlikeliest couple, Spencer and Gretchen found themselves grudgingly sharing a cabin, working side by side, and fighting an attraction neither could deny. ...
Kentucky and the Great War: World War I on the Home Front (Topics in Kentucky History)
by David J. BettezThe award-winning author of Kentucky Marine “has crafted an excellent account of how World War I impacted Kentucky socially, economically, and politically” (Journal of America’s Military Past).From five thousand children marching in a parade, singing, “Johnnie get your hoe . . . Mary dig your row,” to communities banding together to observe Meatless Tuesdays and Wheatless Wednesdays, Kentuckians were loyal supporters of their country during the First World War. Kentucky had one of the lowest rates of draft dodging in the nation, and the state increased its coal production by 50 percent during the war years. Overwhelmingly, the people of the Commonwealth set aside partisan interests and worked together to help the nation achieve victory in Europe.David J. Bettez provides the first comprehensive analysis of the impact of the Great War on Bluegrass society, politics, economy, and culture, contextualizing the state’s involvement within the national experience. His exhaustively researched study examines the Kentucky Council of Defense—which sponsored local war-effort activities—military mobilization and preparation, opposition and dissent, and the role of religion and higher education in shaping the state’s response to the war. It also describes the efforts of Kentuckians who served abroad in military and civilian capacities, and postwar memorialization of their contributions. Kentucky and the Great War explores the impact of the conflict on women’s suffrage, child labor, and African American life. In particular, Bettez investigates how black citizens were urged to support a war to make the world “safe for democracy” even as their civil rights and freedoms were violated in the Jim Crow South. This engaging and timely social history offers new perspectives on an overlooked aspect of World War I.
Kentucky and the Illinois Central Railroad
by Clifford J. DowneyThe Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR) operated approximately 600 miles of mainline track throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky, stretching from the Mississippi River to the central part of the state. In addition to Louisville, the state's largest city, the ICRR also served dozens of small towns. Kentucky's economy was built around coal mining and farming, and the ICRR played a major role in both industries. ICRR's coal trains served as a conveyor for Kentucky coal moving to Midwest factories, and the road hauled a wide variety of agricultural products, including tobacco, grain, and fresh fruit. No mention of the ICRR would be complete without discussing the fleet of fast passenger trains that whisked Kentucky residents to and from distant cities. To maintain the locomotives that hauled all these trains the ICRR operated one of the nation's largest locomotive repair shops in Paducah.
Kentucky and the War of 1812: The Governor, the Farmers and the Pig (Military)
by Doris D. SettlesHow the Bluegrass State Helped Win a War While not a single battle of the War of 1812 was fought on Kentucky soil, Kentuckians were involved to the very end. Henry Clay and his War Hawks convinced Congress and President Madison to declare war, and helped negotiate the Treaty of Ghent that ended it. After two massacres of Kentucky militia on the Northwestern front, Governor Isaac Shelby, still the only sitting governor to lead troops into battle, more than 4,000 locals and a pig marched to Canada to defeat the British and kill Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames. Author Doris Dearen Settles explains how Kentuckians won the war of 1812 and why it is far more significant than textbooks record.
Kentucky's Bluegrass (Postcard History Series)
by Wynelle Scott DeeseWithin these pages are vintage postcards, created between 1900 and 1950, that depict an area known across the country as Kentucky�s Bluegrass. From its horse farms to its military forts and river commerce, this seventeen county region exemplifies the spirit and pride of Kentucky, and the images preserved on these postcards bring the history of this unique area to life.
Kentucky's Bluegrass Music
by James C. ClaypoolIt is likely that most fans of bluegrass music would concede that no state should be more associated with bluegrass music than Kentucky--and rightly so. Bluegrass music draws its name from the band that Kentuckian Bill Monroe formed during the late 1930s and 1940s. Bill named his band Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys to honor his home state. Eventually, the music these bands and others like them were playing came to be known as bluegrass music. Later, another Kentuckian, Ebo Walker, while playing with the Bowling Green-based bluegrass band, New Grass Revival, coined the phrase "newgrass" to describe the band's progressive style of music. Other Kentuckians such as Bobby and Sonny Osborne, J. D. Crowe, Ricky Skaggs, and Dale Ann Bradley have become bluegrass stars. Some of the musicians from Kentucky covered in this book are quite famous--some are not. Famous or not, all of them have a deep-rooted passion for the music they play.
Kentucky's Civilian Conservation Corps (Vintage Images)
by Connie M. HuddlestonBy the time Franklin D. Roosevelt took his first oath of office,the Great Depression had virtually gutted the nation�s agricultural heartland. In Kentucky, nearly one out of every four men wasunemployed and relegated to a life of poverty, and as quickly as the economy deflated, so too did morality. �The overwhelming majority of unemployed Americans, who are now walking the streets�would infinitely prefer to work,� FDR stated in his 1933 appeal to Congress. So began the New Deal and, with it, a glimmer of hope and enrichment for a lost generation of young men.From 1933 up to the doorstep of World War II, the Civilian Conservation Corps employed some 2.5 million men acrossthe country, with nearly 90,000 enrolled in Kentucky. Native Kentuckian and CCC scholar Connie Huddleston chronicles their story with this collection of unforgettable and astonishing photographs that take you to the front lines of the makeshift camps and through the treacherous landscape, adversity, and toil. The handiwork of the Kentucky �forest army� stretches from Mammoth Cave to the Cumberlands, and their legacy is now preserved within these pages.
Kentucky's Cookbook Heritage: Two Hundred Years of Southern Cuisine and Culture
by John van WilligenA Southern historian combs through Kentucky cookbooks from the mid-nineteenth century through the twentieth to reveal a fascinating cultural narrative. In Kentucky's Cookbook Heritage, John van Willigen explores the Bluegrass State's cultural and culinary history, through the rich material found in regional cookbooks. He begins in 1839, with Lettice Bryan's The Kentucky Housewife, which includes pre-Civil War recipes intended for use by a household staff instead of an individual cook, along with instructions for serving the family. Van Willigen also shares the story of the original Aunt Jemima—the advertising persona of Nancy Green, born in Montgomery County, Kentucky—who was one of many African American voices in Kentucky culinary history.Kentucky's Cookbook Heritage is a journey through the history of the commonwealth, showcasing the shifting attitudes and innovations of the times. Analyzing the historical importance of a wide range of publications, from the nonprofit and charity cookbooks that flourished at the end of the twentieth century to the contemporary cookbook that emphasizes local ingredients, van Willigen provides a valuable perspective on the state's social history.