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The Filson receives ARP grant from Kentucky Humanities

Louisville, Ky – The Filson Historical Society is thrilled to report on all that the organization has accomplished with the American Rescue Plan grant it received from Kentucky Humanities.

Through the receipt of the American Rescue Plan grant from Kentucky Humanities, the Filson was able to fund general operating costs for the organization while closed to the public due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Filson closed to the public for more than a year due to the ongoing public health crisis, halting in-person events including research appointments, lectures, programs, and special events. Despite the closure to the public, no staff were furloughed or let go; instead, the organization switched to a completely digital format for programs and research, all of which were free to the public.

The Filson’s online presence has grown exponentially with the switch to remote work, allowing individuals who were unable to physically visit the Filson, whether due to COVID-19 or other restrictions, to engage virtually with 44 digital collections and 28 exhibits. The organization offered 59 programs, and Filson staff delivered 24 talks in the community. These efforts resulted in 8,342 people being served with expanded outreach to people from 35 states and 6 countries including the United States.

The Filson reopened for in-person research appointments on September 1, 2021. All events continue to be held virtually through the end of December.

For more information on the Filson’s upcoming events, please visit filsonhistorical.org/events or call (502) 635-5083. For more information on the Filson’s Covid-19 policies, please refer to the reopening plan listed on the website.

This project is partially funded by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Kentucky Humanities.

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 share 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 the Ferguson Mansion in Old Louisville and offers research facilities, event, and rental space.