Archive for category: Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Filson Historical Society is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 History Inspires Fellowship (HIF). This unique program will allow artists to interpret the Filson’s collections with a creative filter.

In recent years, the Filson has established relationships with regional artists, either through the artist’ donations of materials to its collection or by artists conducting research for creative projects. The HIF program will build upon those relationships by promoting the Filson Historical Society as a resource for artistic scholarly research and inspiration while strengthening the bond with the creative community.

For the 2024 cycle, 13 applications featuring a wide array of creative project ideas, were reviewed by a cross-departmental committee made up of six Filson staff members. Of the 13, four were selected to receive the fellowship. The candidates are as follows:

John Akre is a stop motion and digital animator who creates films in his home studio using a variety of materials and techniques, including paper cutouts, and drawing directly on movie film.  He also enjoys creating animation in public places with the help of anybody who passes by. His History Inspires project will use the Louisville Transit Company Records, survey plats, architectural records, streetcar photographs and maps to find imagery in the Filson collections to create an animated short film about the connections created by and inherent in the streetcars that once tied together the streets and citizens of Louisville, and the single screen cinema palaces that once gave Louisvillians their gathering spaces.  Because his animation work is often created with community collaboration, a temporary stop motion studio will be set up in the Filson’s Carriage House where the public will be able to help as part of the summer cultural pass programming at the Filson.

Tammy Burke is a contemporary artist and garment maker for a costume company. During her fellowship, she plans to examine two common decorative practices, mosaic and quilting, and create versions of them that counter their traditional forms. Gathering inspiration from the patterns of the mosaic tile work featured in the Fergusion Mansion, she will take what is otherwise an immobile solid artwork and design an article of clothing that can be viewed outside of the mansion, making the mosaic flexible and more accessible.  In turn, she will study the Filson’s extensive quilt collection to find inspiration from the various historic patterns and designs of these delicate items to translate into weather resistant glass mosaic panels to be displayed outdoors.  This project will showcase parts of the Filson collection that may seem out of reach and not only take the collections outside of the physical location, but outside their material limits.

Zed Saeed is a photographer and writer who is deeply invested in historical research. Many of his projects start out with weeks, and sometimes months of in-depth research into a topic.  As a History Inspires fellow, he intends to create a photo showcase drawing on the Filson’s manuscripts, photographs, library, and museum collections to gain understanding of the history of race relations in Louisville and the heyday of Walnut Street. The archival research will be incorporated into his creative process by photographing specific locations along what is now known as Muhammed Ali Boulevard to tell the tragic story of Walnut Street’s rise and fall, of race relations and the grand dreams of urban renewal that destroyed it.  Saeed’s project will culminate with an article in “Ohio Valley History,” a peer-reviewed scholarly journal jointly produced by the Filson Historical Society, the University of Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati Museum Center.

Ashley Thursby is an artist in her 16^th season with Louisville Ballet.  A dancer and choreographer, she plans to delve into the archives of Alun Jones-Helen Starr, and Vincent Falardo collections to create a dance piece where individuals can experience the power of storytelling that is built through connecting the mind and body with movement. By utilizing both visual and written design excerpts from the archives, she plans to create a work that can be performed in a non-traditional dance venue and incorporates audience participation.  Through this process of sharing, the stories of Louisville Ballet’s history will strengthen the ties of past and present within our arts community.

The History Inspire Fellows will begin their research in January 2024 and meet with Filson staff on a regular basis to discuss their progress. Each project for this cycle will conclude in Fall 2024 with an event sharing their project. These events will be open to the public and dates will be announced in the second half of the year. In 2026, an exhibit will be planned that will feature several of the artists’ work alongside the items utilized from the Filson’s collection.

A second round of History Inspires Fellowships for the 2025 cycle will open in the spring of 2024 with a fall submission deadline. To learn more about the Filson’s fellowship programs, please visit filsonhistorical.org/about-us/fellowships.

LOUISVILLE, KY – Since its founding in 1884, the mission of the Filson Historical Society has been to collect, preserve, and share the region’s history. The organization is proud to announce the latest manifestation of this continuing mission, the African American History Initiative (AAHI). The public launch of this initiative will be held on Friday, June 9 during the opening of the exhibit “A Better Life for Their Children.”

The AAHI will focus on preserving the stories and histories of Black citizens of Louisville, Southern Indiana, and the Ohio Valley region, providing greater public access to these important legacies, and promoting community partnerships to foster meaningful conversations about our past, present, and future. It will be a permanent component of the Filson’s Department Collections and Research, with a dedicated Curator of African American Collections. This long-term effort will expand the Filson’s collections and educational programs while building relationships and filling in gaps in the existing historical record.

While the Filson is one of the region’s premier historical archives and research institutions, the AAHI will also work to build partnerships with community institutions and organizations to promote access to the shared history of the Black community, creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. The Filson is committed to working alongside its partners to create a more inclusive and equitable society, and the AAHI is a vital part of this effort.

The AAHI will be supported by a $3.5 million dollar endowment, providing permanent funding for this initiative at the Filson. This investment will enable sustained engagement with the African American community and provide funding for salary, outreach, and associated program and collections expenses. To date, the Filson has received more than $2,260,000 in contributions and commitments toward this goal, including an $82,000 Brown-Forman Foundation grant for initial operations funding, to kick off this new chapter in the Filson’s history.

The public is invited to join the Filson in celebration and support of this important work by attending the public launch of the initiative, and the celebration of the Brown-Forman Foundation Grant, at 5:00 pm on Friday, June 9. The announcement will also celebrate the opening of the exhibit “A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America” which includes photographs, storytelling, and original curation by Andrew Feiler. The Filson is located at 1310 S. 3^rd St., Louisville. The AAHI announcement and exhibit opening are both free and open to the public.

For more information about the African American History Initiative, please contact Jamie Evans, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at gro.l1742196531aciro1742196531tsihn1742196531oslif1742196531@snav1742196531ej1742196531 or (502) 635-5083. For more information on Filson happenings, please visit filsonhistorical.org.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Filson Historical Society will host the Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series on Thursday, June 22 at 6:00 p.m. at The Kentucky Center – Bomhard Theater. Featuring author Karen Tumulty and her book, “The Triumph of Nancy Reagan,” this interview style lecture will be moderated by Richard Clay, President and CEO of the Filson.

The made-in-Hollywood marriage of Ronald and Nancy Reagan is more than a love story—it’s the partnership that made him president. Of the pair, Nancy was the one with the sharper instincts about people, the superior radar for trouble, and the keen sense of how to secure his place in history. The only person in the world to whom Ronald Reagan felt truly close, Nancy understood how to foster his strengths and compensate for his weaknesses. Neither timid nor apologetic about wielding her power, Nancy Reagan made herself a place in history.

But that confidence took years to develop. Nancy’s traumatic early childhood instilled in her a lifelong anxiety and a craving for security. Born into a broken marriage, she spent seven years yearning for the absent mother who abandoned her to pursue an acting career. When she met Ronnie, who had a difficult upbringing of his own, the two fractured halves became whole. And as Ronnie turned from acting to politics, she did too, helping build the scaffolding of his rise and cultivating the wealthy and powerful figures who would help pave his way. Not only was Nancy crucial in shaping Ronald’s White House team and in softening her husband’s rhetoric, she became an unseen force pushing her husband toward what she saw as his grandest purpose—to shake his image as a warmonger and leave behind a more peaceful world.

This book explores the multifaceted character of Nancy Reagan and reveals new details surrounding the tumultuous presidency. The Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty spent four years interviewing the people who knew this couple best and draws on overlooked archives, letters, memoirs, and White House records, compiling the most extensive biography of Nancy Reagan yet. From the AIDS epidemic to tensions with the Soviets and the war on drugs, this book shows how Nancy Reagan became one of the most influential First Ladies of the century.

Karen Tumulty is a political columnist for The Washington Post. Before joining the Post, Tumulty wrote for Time magazine. She is based in Washington, DC.

The Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series will be held on Thursday, June 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Kentucky Center – Bomhard Theater, 501 West Main St., Louisville. Tickets are free for Filson members and $26.33 for non-members (taxes and fees included).  Tickets for this event must be purchased from The Kentucky Center Ticket Service. Please call (502) 584-7777 or visit kentuckyperformingarts.org for tickets.

Initiated in 1993 as a memorial to the life of Gertrude Polk Brown and made possible by the generous support of her children, Dace Brown Stubbs and G. Garvin Brown III. The Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series has brought both nationally and internationally recognized historians and journalists to Louisville, many of them Pulitzer Prize winners. Speakers are selected based on their overall excellence in research, writing, and speaking and are not restricted to historians. The Filson hosts up to five lectures per year in this series.

LOUISVILLE, 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 and internationally with research interests related to the history and culture of Kentucky and the Ohio Valley.

The following candidate has been awarded a one-week Filson Fellowship:

Dr. Matthew Stanley, Associate Professor of History, University of Arkansas, “Capital Reconciliation: Owners, Workers, and the Political Economy of Blue-Gray Reunion.”

The following candidate has been awarded a two-week Filson Fellowship:

Dr. Robert Murray, Associate Professor of History, Mercy College, “Hemp in the Ohio Valley.”

The Filson anticipates that fellows will publish the results of their research in “Ohio Valley History,” a peer-reviewed journal published jointly by the Filson, the Cincinnati Museum Center, and the University of Cincinnati.

To learn more about the Filson’s fellowship programs, please visit filsonhistorical.org/education/research-fellowships/. Filson Fellowships are made possible in part by the Bullitt Homestead Preservation Trust and the Boehl Trust.

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Since its founding in 1884, The Filson Historical Society has preserved the region’s collective memory, not only of Kentucky but also of the Ohio Valley and the Upper South. The Filson continues to collect and tell the significant stories of the region. An independent historical society, The Filson serves the public through its extensive research collections and numerous educational opportunities. The Filson is headquartered in Mansion in Old Louisville and offers research facilities, events, and rental space.

LOUISVILLE, 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 interview style lecture will be moderated by Richard Clay, President and CEO of the Filson.

When eleven-year-old Cornelius Vanderbilt began to work on his father’s small boat ferrying supplies in New York Harbor at the beginning of the nineteenth century, no one could have imagined that one day he would, through ruthlessness, cunning, and a pathological desire for money, build two empires—one in shipping and another in railroads—that would make him the richest man in America. His staggering fortune was fought over by his heirs after his death in 1877, sowing familial discord that would never fully heal. Though his son Billy doubled the money left by “the Commodore,” subsequent generations competed to find new and ever more extraordinary ways of spending it. By 2018, when the last Vanderbilt was forced out of The Breakers—the seventy-room summer estate in Newport, Rhode Island, that Cornelius’s grandson and namesake had built—the family would have been unrecognizable to the tycoon who started it all.

Now, the Commodore’s great-great-great-grandson Anderson Cooper, joins with historian Katherine Howe to explore the story of his legendary family and their outsized influence. Cooper and Howe breathe life into the ancestors who built the family’s empire, basked in the Commodore’s wealth, hosted lavish galas, and became synonymous with unfettered American capitalism and high society. Moving from the hardscrabble wharves of old Manhattan to the lavish drawing rooms of Gilded Age Fifth Avenue, from the ornate summer palaces of Newport to the courts of Europe, and all the way to modern-day New York, Cooper and Howe wryly recount the triumphs and tragedies of an American dynasty unlike any other.

Written with a unique insider’s viewpoint, this is a rollicking, quintessentially American history as remarkable as the family it so vividly captures.

Katherine Howe is a “New York Times” bestselling and award-winning writer of historical fiction. Her adult novels are “The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane,” which debuted at #2 on the “New York Times” bestseller list in 2009 and was named one of “USA Today’s” top ten books of the year, and “The House of Velvet and Glass,” which was a “USA Today” bestseller in 2011. For young adults, Katherine has written “Conversion,” which received the 2015 Massachusetts Book Award in young adult literature, and a New York City-based literary ghost story called “The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen,” which was named a 2016 “Must Read” for young adults by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. In 2014, she edited “The Penguin Book of Witches” for Penguin Classics, a primary source reader on the history of witchcraft in England and North America which made a regional bestseller list and which has been translated into Spanish and Russian. “The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs,” her latest novel for adults, was published by Henry Holt and Co in summer 2019. She co-wrote “Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty” with Anderson Cooper, out now from Harper. Her upcoming books include her next novel, “A True Account of Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself,” forthcoming 11/21/23 from Holt, along with a nonfiction reader called “The Penguin Book of Pirates”. She is currently at work on her next project with Cooper, also for next fall, called “Astor”.

The Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series will be held on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Kentucky Center – Bomhard Theater, 501 West Main St., Louisville. Tickets are free for Filson members and $26.33 for non-members (taxes and fees included).  Tickets for this event must be purchased from The Kentucky Center Ticket Service. Please call (502) 584-7777 or visit kentuckyperformingarts.org for tickets.

Initiated in 1993 as a memorial to the life of Gertrude Polk Brown and made possible by the generous support of her children, Dace Brown Stubbs and G. Garvin Brown III. The Gertrude Polk Brown Lecture Series has brought both nationally and internationally recognized historians and journalists to Louisville, many of them Pulitzer Prize winners. Speakers are selected based on their overall excellence in research, writing, and speaking and are not restricted to historians. The Filson hosts up to five lectures per year in this series.