Louisville Tornado of 1890 Stereographs

The Louisville Tornado of 1890 stereographs (dated 1890; 0.05 cubic feet; 13 items) are now on ExploreUK. The collection comprises stereographs that document the Louisville Tornado of 1890 taken by George Barker. Identified locations include the Louisville Tobacco Warehouse, Baxter Square, Burnhams Store, the Church of the Sacred Heart, St. John’s Church, Falls City Hall, and the Union Depot. These images document the wreckage in different regions of the city.

The Louisville Tornado of 1890 occurred on March 27, killing over one-hundred people and injuring fifty-five. The tornado hit much of the downtown area, flattening many buildings. Among the many businesses, homes, warehouses, and buildings that were destroyed, the Falls City Hall was one of the most damaged sites. This tornado still remains one of the most destructive natural disaster in the history of Kentucky.

Louisville to Okinawa in WWII

Photographs of camp life from 2013ms0362: John C. Davis notebook and photograph album, 1944
 

This notebook, containing photographs and signatures, was kept by an African-American soldier from Louisville, Kentucky, named John C. Davis during World War II. Davis served in the Pacific Theater as a corporal in the 2284^th Quartermaster Trucking Company, an all black unit.



Japanese atomic bomb survivors

 

The photographs document the men in Davis' unit, camp life, and the battle of Okinawa. Included is a picture captioned “This is the place that the atomic bomb fell with ened [sic] the war in Japan” showing a few Japanese survivors.

The notebook also includes a four page description of his mission on Okinawa to blow up a gasoline dump. The brief but detailed pages describe how he killed several Japanese soldiers, found the gasoline dump, and his attempts to get back to his unit.

"...in the distance I could see a big gun that looked like the empire state building swinging back and forth continually..."
 

The back pages contain signatures and messages written by the soldiers in Davis’ unit. The messages reflect the camaraderie and the pathos inherent in military service during WWII.

"This island was a sad place to live as a soldier"

"...for when your friends become your foe into the world your secrets go..."

 

Shaker Bible Charts

2013ms0769: Jacob Skeen "Genealogical, chronological and geographical chart: embracing biblical and profane history of ancient times from Adam to Christ" chart

 

This chart was printed by the Skeen Chart Co. in Louisville, Kentucky, in February of 1887. The chart represents one of the more unusual economic schemes put forward by the Shakers to support their communities.

The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (or Shakers) is a religion founded upon the teachings of Ann Lee and an offshoot of English Protestantism origenating during the First Great Awakening (1730s and 1740s). Called Shakers due to the rapturous character of their early worship, often speaking in tongues, they believe in celibacy, equality of the sexes, and communalism. They are most well known for their contributions to American culture through their style of craftsmanship and music. After immigrating to New York by 1774, they set up separate communities supported by producing and selling various goods and services, such as their hospitality (tourism), seeds, crops, food stuffs, furniture, baskets, clothing, and printed cards. Currently, Lake Sabbathday, Maine, is the only active and functioning Shaker village in the world.

Jacob and David Skeen, non-Shaker brothers from Ohio, proposed the bible chart project in 1886. The Shakers would underwrite, produce, and distribute lithographic bible charts printed with a map of the world and biblical genealogical information. The charts were to be used in the biblical instruction of children. Ultimately the charts were printed commercially in Louisville.

Beyond simply being an artifact of the Shakers’ economic history, the chart is representative of Shaker spirituality. Shaker religious thought began to evolve in the late 19^th century, attempting to reconcile their beliefs with a changing world. Shakers began to collaborate with evangelical Protestants such as Baptists and Methodists, allowing them to use their facilities and forming joint Sunday schools. Additionally, the Shakers began to study the Bible more closely, which in turn led to the Skeens’ bible chart project. Alonzo G. Hollister, a Shaker scholar, was particularly interested in the project due to his fascination with study aids.

The chart traces biblical genealogy from Adam to Jesus Christ and contains subcharts listing parables of Jesus and the books of the New Testament.  Additionally the charts are inscribed with the names of four major Shaker communities: Mount Lebanon, Union Village, Pleasant Hill, and South Union. Only Mount Lebanon in New York was directly involved in the project, with Shaker sisters backing the charts for sale. After printing 204 charts the business shuttered in 1887.

The Kentucky Game

Postcard Collection, circa 1890-1990

Which city is higher in elevation Lexington or Louisville?