Press
Check out the latest updates from the Filson and outside media.
Will Doty, “Filson Historical Society Fights Federal Grant Cut to Preserve Kentucky and Ohio Valley History,” LEO Weekly, April 26, 2025
Joseph Garcia, “Filson Historical Society stripped of federal grant to preserve Kentuckiana history,” WHAS11, April 22, 2025
Bill Burton, “Mitch McConnell biographer in Louisville to discuss his book,” Louisville Public Media, March 27, 2025.
Kevin Wilson, “Making the Past Present with Dr. Patrick A. Lewis,” featuring Dr. Patrick Lewis, Voice-Tribune, March 1, 2025.
State Journal Staff Report, “Lecture series starts spring season on Saturday,” featuring Dr. Patrick Lewis, The State Journal, January 6, 2025
Edward Marlow, “Trigg County Graduate Takes Over Filson Historical Society,” WKDZ 106.5 FM, January 3, 2025
Alan Lytle, “Lex Talk about our Indigenous history with Filson specialist Kelly Hyberger,” WUKY Radio, November 12, 2024.
“Gov. Beshear Makes Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions,” featuring the Filson’s Director of Curatorial Affairs Kelly Hyberger, WCLU Radio, November 2, 2024.
Dana McMahan, “I Got the 133-Year-Old Blueprints to my Home,” Apartment Therapy and Yahoo! Life, November 1, 2024.
Daniel Suddeath, “‘The Age of Grievance:’ New York Times writer, author discusses new book during Louisville visit,” News and Tribune, September 6, 2024.
Tara Bahrampour, “A stunning find in his family tree: The Bushes’ ancestors enslaved his relatives,” I, July 13, 2024
Curadhan Powell, “Ken Clay Renaissance Honor Awards being held at Filson Historical Society in July,” WLKY 32, July 7, 2024.
“Kentucky Historical Society Honoring 18 Individuals and Organizations at Annual History Awards,” Kentucky Historical Society, May 29, 2024
Sherlene Shanklin and Tre Muntz, “How the Lang Family influenced studies at the University of Louisville,” featuring the Filson’s Community Engagement Specialist Emma Bryan, WHAS 11, May 13, 2024
“Kentucky Life: The Great Kentucky Hoard,” featuring the Filson’s Director of Collections and Research, Patrick Lewis, KET, May 11, 2024
Megan Smith, “Building Community Through History: How We Contribute,” featuring the Filson’s Associate Curator of Collections Jana Meyer, Schmidt Associates Community News, May 7, 2024
“SEE IT: Here’s what the first Kentucky Derby looked like in 1875,” Courier-Journal, April 28, 2024
“Cheers to 140 Years of The Filson Historical Society,” LouToday, April 25, 2024
Megan Johnson, “Hammond Castle Museum Showcases Legacy of Artist Eric Pape This April,” Northshore Magazine, April 3, 2024
Divya Karthikeyan, “On a West End tour bus, pride and reflections of Black history abound,” featuring Donovan Taylor, former Community History Fellow, Louisville Public Media, February 24, 2024
“GOOD NEWS – Lewis Moving To President & CEO Of Filson Historical Society,” WKDZ Radio, February 8, 2024
Keith Kaiser, “The Filson Historical Society’s African American History Initiative shares the history of the region,” WDRB News, February 2, 2024
“The Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series – ‘King: A Life’,” Kentucky Monthly, January 20, 2024
Jen Selinsky, “Local author explores the history of Waverley Hills,” News and Tribune, December 4, 2023
Tammy Talley, “Good Morning: Falls of the Ohio to host 20th anniversary celebration,” Herald Bulletin, October 19, 2023
Tracy Heightchew, “Tracy Likes This One: Songs Between Others, Jewish Visions of Appalachia,” LEO Weekly, September 29, 2023
“Filson Historical Society receives 2 posters of St. James Court Art Show for preservation,” WDRB News, September 6, 2023
Shaquille Lord, “Exhibit at Filson Historical Society honors work behind ‘Rosenwald schools’,” featuring the Filson’s Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, WLKY 32, July 13, 2023
Sylvia Goodman, “Kentucky institutions begin to make progress repatriating Native American remains,” featuring the Filson’s Native American Collections Specialist, Kelly Hyberger, Louisville Public Media, June 12, 2023
Divya Karthikeyan, “Filson kicks off initiative to preserve Black history with Rosenwald schools exhibit,” Louisville Public Media, June 12, 2023
“From Bourbon to Bagels in Kentucky: Distilling Louisville’s Jewish history on a trip Across the JEW.S.A.,” featuring Filson Curator of Jewish Collections, Abby Glogower, Tablet Magazine, March 31, 2023
Sherlene Shanklin, “Kentucky World War II veteran, hatmaker documented her life through scrapbook,” featuring the Filson’s Community Engagement Specialist, Emma Bryan. WHAS 11, March 10, 2023
Sherlene Shanklin, “‘A very diverse, crazy place’: The history behind West Louisville’s racetrack, Miles Park: The history behind west Louisville’s Miles Park racetrack,” featuring Filson Volunteer, Steve Zollner, WHAS 11, February 20, 2023
Dawne Gee, “Chickasaw neighborhood sharing its history through a book,” featuring 2022 Filson Community History Fellow, Cheri Bryant Hamilton, WAVE 3, February 8, 2023
Sophia Lee, “Black, gay publication gives visibility to Louisville’s West End through authentic storytelling,” featuring 2022 Filson Community History Fellow, Talesha Wilson, Queer Kentucky, January 30, 2023
Kevin Gibson, “‘Olde England on the Ohio’ Celebrates Louisville’s Perspective on the Tudor Revival,” Kevin Gibson Writer blog, January 23, 2023
Kirby Adams, “Here’s a sneak peek at the 2022 St. James Court Art Show ‘A Sense of Place’ print,” Courier-Journal, September 1, 2022
Gretchen Hunt, “City leaders, partners celebrate Women’s Equality Day Aug. 27 at the Filson,” Courier-Journal, August 25, 2022
Grace McKenna, “In Your Backyard | The ‘spotted’ history Louisville’s Butchertown neighborhood,” featuring Vice President, Julie James and Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, WHAS 11, August 7, 2022
Stephanie Wolf, “The backstory on Benedictine, a Derby-adjacent sandwich spread,” featuring Associate Curator of Collections, Jana Meyer, WFPL, May 3, 2022
Richard H. C. Clay, “New book explores 4 myths about slavery outlined in ‘My Old Kentucky Home.’ Why it matters,” Courier-Journal, April 27, 2022
Erika Rucker, “Upcoming Filson Exhibit Explores ‘Louisville’s Lost Architecture’,” Leo Weekly, April 13, 2022
The American Institute of Architects, “Owsley Brown II History Center selected by AIA as recipient of 2022 Architecture Award,” February 15th, 2022
Richard H. C. Clay, Patrick A. Lewis and John Stern, Opinion Contributors, “Filson Historical Society: To explore and question our past services our future | Opinion,” Courier-Journal, February 14, 2022
Erika Rucker, “The Filson Obtains Items From A Pioneering Black Louisville Educator, Creates Scholarship In Her Name,” Leo Weekly, January 24, 2022
The Notebook Issue 15, Highlighted the Filson’s Kentucky Covid-19 Poster Project and its Artists, A New Vision of Health, January 7, 2022
Emma Johansen, “Metadata as restorative justice: a case study of the Sanders-Bullitt digital collection” Part I, Part II. NCPH.org, December 30, 2021 and January 6, 2022
February – Rose McBride, “Old Kentucky State Penitentiary’s role in Underground Railroad,” featuring Manuscripts Cataloger, James Prichard, WHAS 11, February 6, 2021
March – Rose McBride, “Showcasing the working women of Kentucky in the 19th, 20th centuries,” featuring Director of Collections Access, Jennie Cole, WHAS 11, March 7, 2021
April – Rose McBride, “Louisville woman tells her story of the Civil Rights movement,” WHAS 11, April 18, 2021
May – Rose McBride, “The Filson Historical Society celebrates 137 year anniversary,” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, WHAS 11, May 16, 2021
June – Rose McBride, “What is the history of Juneteenth, our newest federal holiday?” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, WHAS 11, June 19, 2021
July – Rose McBride, “A closer look at Louisville Fresh Air Camps,” featuring Director of Collections Access, Jennie Cole, WHAS 11, July 18, 2021
August – Rose McBride, “The 1887 Jennie Bowman murder trial,” featuring Manuscript Cataloger, James Prichard, WHAS 11, August 8, 2021
October – Rob Harris, “LGBTQ History Month | A look back at the first Lesbian marriage case in United States history,” featuring Collections Assistant, Emma Johansen, WHAS 11, October 24, 2021
November – Rob Harris, “Rare photograph shows history of military in Kentucky,” featuring Curator of Photographs and Prints, Heather Potter, WHAS 11, November 11, 2021
Emma Johansen, “Metadata as restorative justice: a case study of the Sanders-Bullitt digital collection—Part I,” History @ Work, The National Council on Public History Blog, December 30, 2021
Dawne Gee, “Wave Country, Filson Historical Society,” featuring Community Engagement Specialist, Emma Bryan, WAVE 3, October 20, 2021
WLKY Digital Team, “Congressman Yarmuth announces more than $500,00 in funding for 3 Louisville institutions” WLKY News, October 4, 2021
Haeli Spears, “Louisville museums, Filson Historical Society get boost from ARP funds” Spectrum News 1, October 4, 2021
Maggie Jones, “On a Kentucky Riverbank, A Path to Remembrance,” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, The New York Times, June 9, 2021
Alex Horton, “Army continues to honor Confederate unit histories, even as base names draw scrutiny,” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, The Washington Post, March 11, 2021
Jordan Culver, “A bust of the lone Black adventurer in the Lewis and Clark expedition mysteriously appeared in an Oregon park. Who was York?” featuring Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, USA Today, March 7, 2021
Dawne Gee, “Finding your voice, fighting for equality: The Story of Dinnie Thompson,” featuring Director of Collections Access, Jennie Cole, WAVE 3, March 1, 2021
Bob Hill, “Heroes or losers? History shows Trump’s rise and failure a familiar story,” featuring Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, Leo Weekly, December 2, 2020
Ian Bateson, “Is There a Place for the President of the Confederacy?” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, The New York Times, October 8, 2020
Chris Sutter, “Historians share the turbulent journey of slavery in Kentucky” featuring Director of Collections and Research, Dr. Patrick Lewis, WDRB, June 28, 2020
Pam Platt, “Louisville honoring trailblazing sculptor who broke the mold for women,” featuring Curator of Photographs and Prints, Heather Potter, Courier-Journal, June 20, 2019
Ashlie Stevens, “Curious Louisville: Who Were The Caldwell Sisters?” featuring Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, 89.3 WFPL, April 5, 2019
Ashlie Stevens, “Curious Louisville: What Was Old Louisville Called Before It Was ‘Old?’,” featuring Curator of Collections, Jim Holmberg, 89.3 WFPL, March 5, 2019
The Filson will be closing at Noon on Friday, May 2nd for Oaks Day.
Open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm
The Filson is closed to the public the 3rd Friday of every month.
1310 S. 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40208
(502) 635-5083
Plan Your Visit to the Filson! To register or purchase tickets for our events, please visit our Events Page.
The Research Library is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30pm; we are closed on the third Friday of each month. Appointments are not required, but feel free to reserve a seat online – learn more here. We also provide remote research services; please complete our research request form online here.
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The Filson Announces Spring 2023 Fellowship Recipients
/in PressLOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Filson Historical Society is pleased to announce the winners of the Spring 2023 round of Filson Fellowships. These fellowships encourage the scholarly use of our nationally significant collections by providing researchers with financial support for travel and lodging. Candidates were chosen from a strong pool of applicants from around the country […]
The Filson to host The Old Seelbach Jazz Bar Reunion Concert April 16
/in PressLOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Filson Historical Society will host The Old Seelbach Jazz Bar Reunion Concert, the first installment in the annual Jazz at the Filson series on Sunday, April 16. The concert features Dick Sisto, Tyrone Wheeler, Jason Tiemann, and special guest Steve Davis Jazz at the Filson is a three-part series of jazz […]
The Filson to host Katherine Howe as GPB speaker on March 14
/in PressLOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Filson Historical Society will host the Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. at The Kentucky Center – Bomhard Theater. Featuring “New York Times” bestselling author Katherine Howe and the book she wrote with Anderson Cooper, “Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty,” this […]
“People, Passage, Place: Stories of the Ohio Valley” opens Jan. 13
/in PressLOUISVILLE, KY – The Filson Historical Society will host a public exhibit opening for “People, Passage, Place: Stories of the Ohio Valley” on Friday, January 13, 2023 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. This exhibit is curated by Emma Bryan, Hannah Costelle, Abby Glogower, Kelly Hyberger, James J. Holmberg, Maureen Lane, Patrick A. Lewis, Heather J. Potter, […]
The Filson Historical Society to host a public exhibit opening Nov. 4
/in PressLOUISVILLE, KY – The Filson Historical Society will host a public exhibit opening for “Olde England on the Ohio: Louisville’s Tudor Revival” on Friday, November 4, 2022, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. This exhibit is guest curated by Dr. Daniel Gifford. Louisville’s residents and visitors often note the city’s proliferation of Tudor Revival architecture. From homes to […]