100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601
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When I was in the 5th grade, my dad, Cliff, took me for a visit to the Old Capitol, the
home of the KHS. Back then, the musuem was in the Old Statehouse itself, and precious items, such as long rifles, were all over the place, where you could get up close and personal. It was a fascinating afternoon.
One of my most gratifying finds in my genealogical research was the fact that a cousin, John Hopkins Harney (1806-1868), was one of the founders of the Ky Historical Society, back in 1836. He was born in Bourbon Co, and was considered somewhat of a genius. In 1828, he became the first Professor of Math at Indiana University, and in the 1830s was affiliated with the Louisville Collegiate Institute, and wrote the first textbook on Algebra by an American. He became influential through his ownership and editorship of "The Louisville Democrat", one of several newspapers which later merged to become "The Louisville Courier Journal". He served a term or two as a representative in the Ky legislature, and was the State Printer at one time, having printed the book "The Ky Adjutant Generals Report on Ky's Union Troops", which is today an important work for historians and genealogists. John was a personal friend of Judge John Rowan, of Bardstown, and My Old Kentucky Home fame, and who also was one of the founders of the KHS. Coincidentally, Judge Rowans daughter married John Milton Harney, another cousin, from Tennessee, who's portrait hangs above a downstairs fireplace in My Old Kentucky Home. One of John's sons was Will Wallace Harney, who taught at both Transylvania College, and the University of Kentucky, in Lexington. He later became the first or second principal of the Old Louisville Male School, and then was in the newspaper business with his father. After his father died, he started a newspaper at Kissimmee, Florida, and wrote articles for Harpers Bazaar, extolling the virtues of Florida, so much so, that he became known as a sort of one-man tourist bureau. One of John Hopkins Harney's grandsons was Benjamin Robertson Harney (1871-1939), who is credited with having created "ragtime" music, while playing saloons in and around Louisville. Ben played vaudeville and all around the world with the greats of his time, including Sophie Tucker.
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the KHS, and have volunteered over the years in various ways, but mainly by
offering my services in computer programming. I rewrote the software for their "Kentucky Cemetery Records
Project". I also rewrote the software to manage the KHS membership and mailing list database, however, both of these pieces of software are now obsolete or will become obsolete, with newer, commercial, software. I am really excited about the new Kentucky History Center, which opened in April 1999, near the Old Capitol, in downtown Frankfort. As a life-long resident of Frankfort, and a frequent visitor to the KHS, I was appalled at the conditions in which priceless historical artifacts were being stored. Thank goodness for Libby Jones, the beautiful wife of former Governor Brereton Jones, who played a highly visible role in getting the Kentucky History Center funded. This facility was overdue, and I'm am just as proud of it as I was of the Ky State Library and Archives Building, when it opened in 1982. Frankfort is a beautiful river town. Come visit. Click here to visit the KHS Web Site. |