When Irish Eyes Were Smiling: St. Patrick's Day Postcards from 100 Years Ago

Curated by Jeff Suchanek and scanned by Lewis Warden.

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A Knockout Kentuckian!

"Ali sizes up opponent with reaching left" [undated]
James Edwin Ed Weddle Photographic Collection 1948-1981
Available on KDL http://name.kdl.kyvl.org/KUKAV-1997AV27-0103

Well, a technical knockout (TKO) anyway.

Today, in 1964, famous Louisvillian Muhammad Ali became the youngest boxer to win the Heavyweight title, at 22 years of age. Then known as Cassius "Louisville Lip" Clay, he took the title from Sonny "Big Bear" Liston, after Liston refused to return from his corner for the 7th round. It was prior to this match that Ali uttered his well-known line, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

With rumors swarming regarding Clay's association with Malcolm X, the following day (2/26/1964), he changed his name to Cassius X, renouncing the surname of his family's former slaveholders. [Note: Cassius M. Clay was named for his father who, in turn, was named after the 19th-century Kentucky emancipationist.] Within the following year, Clay changed his name again to Muhammad Ali, in relation to his Islam conversion.

Ali had an extremely successful boxing career. Before his first title - which he held for 3 years until it was taken away when it was stripped due to his refusal of the Army draft for religious reasons - he won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics. He later regained the Heavyweight Championship twice, holding it for almost half of the 1970s. Throughout his life he has been passionately active in Civil Rights reform, using his celebrity to champion the cause, even after his 1984 diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

His athletic and societal achievements have afforded him numerous accolades, including the 1997 Arthur Ashe Courage Award, Kentucky Athlete of the Century (1999, Kentucky Hall of Fame), and Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005). He even lit the torch at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics! His social activism continues, as does his boxing legacy, through his daughter, Laila (she started her career in 2002).

Happy Founder's Day University of Kentucky

Jean Ritchie, folk singer and UK graduate, being presented the school's first Founders Day award by President Donovan.

According to the April 4, 1944 Board of Trustees Minutes President Donovan recommend that the University celebrate the day of its founding. "Some time ago I requested Professor E. L. Gillis, who is probably as familiar with the history of the University as any man connected with it, to study various dates that might be considered as an appropriate date on which to celebrate a Founders Day Program. After considerable research, Professor Gillis has suggested that February 22 would be a very appropriate time for such a celebration. It was on February 22, 1865, that the General Assembly of Kentucky approved a bill establishing an Agricultural and Mechanical College in connection with Kentucky University (now Transylvania). Therefore, February 22, 1865 is the date on which the University of Kentucky actually came into existence as a state institution."

“Progressive Hearts: Valentine’s Day Postcards From 100 Years Ago”

Curated by Jeff Suchanek and scanned by Lewis Warden.

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Martin Luther King Interview Featured on WUKY 1/19/2010

WUKY featured an oral history interview from the Robert Penn Warren Civil Rights Oral History Project conducted in 1964. The WUKY piece features Warren's intriguing interview with Martin Luther King Jr. Warren, former poet laureate and author of such great works as All the Kings Men, interviewed over forty Civil Rights leaders and activists including Stokely Carmichael, James Baldwin, Vernon Jordan, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Warren's interviews were used for his book Who Speaks for the Negro. The audio and transcripts for the oral history project are available and fully searchable online at http://kdl.kyvl.org (follow links to oral history).

A Capitol Idea - Commemorating 100 Years of Service: The New State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky

Curated by Jeff Suchanek and scanned by Lewis Warden.

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Divided Loyalties & Sharing Stars

Hathaway Family Collection pa59m113-0014
Available on KDL: http://name.kdl.kyvl.org/KUKAV-PA59M113-0014

During the Civil War, Kentucky was a valued border state, which meant though both Union & Confederates wanted it (partially due to its resources & strategic geographic location), it declared loyalties to neither - in theory, of course. In practice, the official state government flew a Union flag over Frankfort's Capitol Building. However, the Confederacy also accepted the ordinance of secession from a convention representing 64 counties, and, on December 12, 1861, Kentucky became the 13th - and, purportedly, the center star on the Confederate flag. A version of the Confederate flag is pictured above.

Kentucky's Confederate government was never more than a provisional government; formed quickly and readily mobile, until a permanent, stable one could be established. As with much of history, it is arguable when this process truly began, but secessionists and southern delegates first met to discuss joining the Confederacy in October 1861. The following month, a sovereignty convention, chaired by John C. Breckinridge, met in Russellville for 3 days. This time, the shadow government formed adopting the 1850 Kentucky Constitution, a capital (Bowling Green, though they conceded to meet anywhere, for realistic purposes), a Governor (George W. Johnson), and a 10-member council, with judges and other officials, as necessary. Their first act was to secede from the Union. Though it was through irregular procedure, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, a native Kentuckian, had reccommended their admittance when he first heard of their meeting - and accepted!

Success of Kentucky's Confederate government was not to be, however. Union forces had a general stronghold on the state, meaning the mobile government stayed behind the Confederate lines, which changed greatly throughout the constant Kentucky battling over the following year. The Confederacy required militia quotas from each state, which they were never able to fulfill. Even Confederate KY's first Governor volunteered, only to die at the Battle of Shiloh. His replacement was Richard Hawes. Despite seizing area banks, Confederate KY was never able to pay the required taxes either. Nevertheless, they attempted to establish their permanent government with an inauguration at an occupied Frankfort in October 1862. This again, failed, leading to the Battle of Perryville. For the remainder of the war, Confederates (with the exception of raiders) never officially saw their home state. The shadow government only existed on paper and with the Senators and Representatives in the Confederate Congress. When the Confederacy disappeared, so did Confederate Kentucky.

The image above commemorates the Confederacy, its flag, and the efforts of those who seceded from the United States of America. But is it in a proud manner or is it satire? What do you think?