Mortuary of Lexington, Kentucky Scrapbook

The John M. McCalla Mortuary of Lexington Kentucky Scrapbook has been digitized and is now available on ExploreUK.

This scrapbook contains funeral notices and newspaper obituaries collected by General John M. McCalla (1793-1873). McCalla began to collect funeral notices when he was a child and eventually amassed a collection of over 400 notices. The notices and obituaries in this scrapbook are primarily for the funerals of citizens of Lexington, Kentucky. The collection covers a period of over 40 years (1802-1846) and includes notices for prominent Kentuckians like Henry Clay, Eliza Todd (mother of Mary Todd Lincoln), and Charles Wilkins (then-owner of Mammoth Cave).

 Funeral notice for Mrs. Jane Luckie, killed by lightning at the Presbyterian Church, funeral held July 21, 1817

Funeral notice for Mr. John Boswell, killed in a duel, funeral held April 19, 1818

“Trickles” Sixty Years on the Same Campus

A typed draft of “Trickles” Sixty Years on the Same Campus, an autobiography by H.H. Downing, has been digitized and is now available on ExploreUK.

Dr. H. H. Downing was an alumni of the University of Kentucky and later worked there as a mathematics professor and men’s tennis coach. His autobiography “Trickles” details his early childhood, his student experience at the University of Kentucky, his service during World War I, and reminiscences on his time employed at the University.

Page 1 of the Preface of “Trickles”, circa 1950s

Montgomery County Historical Society, Anderson Chenault papers

The Montgomery County Historical Society, Anderson Chenault papers have been digitized and are now available on ExploreUK.

Anderson Chenault (1826-1878) was a farmer in Madison and Montgomery Counties, Kentucky. These papers primarily relate to Chenault as a slaveholder and include bills of sale for slaves, letters, receipts, contracts, and powers of attorney.

Receipt for Anderson Chenault’s purchase of a coffin for the wife of Jim from Chenault’s farm, December 28, 1868

Special Visitors at UK Libraries today!

The Archivist of the United States will join President Capilouto, Provost Tracy, and the University of Kentucky Libraries for the presentation of the 2nd Annual Earle C. Clements Innovation in Education Award. The award is sponsored by Tyler and Bess Abell who also created the Earle C. Clements Graduate Assistantship in UK Libraries. Please join us today at 4pm in the Great Hall at the Margaret I. King Library for the presentation and reception.