The Kentucky Encyclopedia

About this book

The Kentucky Encyclopedias 2 000-plus entries are the work of more than five hundred writers. Their subjects reflect all areas of the commonwealth and span the time from prehistoric settlement to todays headlines recording Kentuckians achievements in art architecture business education politics religion science and sports. Biographical sketches portray all of Kentuckys governors and U.S. senators as well as note congressmen and state and local politicians. Kentuckys impact on the national scene is registered in the lives of such figures as Carry Nation Henry Clay Louis Brandeis and Alben Barkley. The commonwealths high range from writers Harriette Arnow and Jesse Stuart reformers Laura Clay and Mary Breckinridge and civil rights leaders Whitney Young Jr. and Georgia Powers to sports figures Muhammad Ali and Adolph Rupp and entertainers Loretta Lynn Merle Travis and the Everly Brothers. Entries describe each county and county seat and each community with a population above 2 500. Broad overview articles examine such topics as agriculture segregation transportation literature and folklife. Frequently misunderstood aspects of Kentuckys history and culture are clarified and popular misconceptions corrected. The facts on such subjects as mint juleps Fort Knox Boones coonskin cap the Kentucky hot brown and Morgans Raiders will settle many an argument. For both the researcher and the more casual reader this collection of facts and fancies about Kentucky and Kentuckians will be an invaluable resource.